In addition, the UK Government has introduced measures to safeguard sensitive sectors of the economy, like life sciences, from potential national security risks through the National Security and Investment regime. This allows the Government to investigate certain investments if they could impact national security, and introduces new actions for companies when receiving investments.
Physical and digital security
The BIA works with the UK Government’s National Protective Security Authority (NPSA) and National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) to provide support, advice and guidance on all aspects of protective security for the biotech sector.
Below are some key resources which may be of use to companies looking to ensure they have appropriate measures in place to address security concerns. These resources, provided by the NPSA and NCSC, are generic, and companies should seek professional advice unique to their circumstances if needed
- Secure innovation: advice for companies
- Secure Innovation: advice for investors
- Secure Innovation Action plan
- Guidance for industry on research collaborations
- Cyber security advice for SMEs
- Cyber security advice for large organisations
National security and investment
The National Security and Investment regime requires certain types of investments in companies working on Synthetic Biology and Artificial Intelligence to have proposed investments cleared by the Government ahead of completion to ensure there is no risk to national security.
The UK Government has produced guidance on the NSI Act - we recommend members review this to better understand their obligations and to answer key questions about the regime.