BIA celebrates breaking 500 members after Moderna enters membership

The BioIndustry Association (BIA) today has announced that its membership has passed 500 companies, as mRNA global player Moderna entered into the trade association’s membership.

The BIA is the voice of the innovative life sciences and biotech industry, enabling and connecting the UK ecosystem so that businesses can start, grow and deliver world-changing innovation. The Trade Association’s diverse membership includes entrepreneurs, multinational companies, SME’s and early-stage companies, alongside investors and professional services, charities and research organisations.

Steve Bates OBE, Chief Executive of the BIA said: “Our growth as a Trade Association and passing 500 members is a result of the UK being a key cluster in the global biotech and life sciences industry. We have a growing pipeline of entrepreneurs and start-ups, with new exciting companies deciding to make the UK their home. We are a favoured destination for international investments and partnerships to realise the opportunities in turning incredible science into life-changing and planet-saving products. I am delighted that Moderna, who is a leader in the global mRNA space, has decided to invest in the UK ecosystem and engage with our innovative, collaborative and expert community through BIA membership.”  

Darius Hughes, UK General Manager at Moderna said: “We are delighted to join the BIA as the 500^th member. Moderna’s vision is to harness the power of mRNA science to create a new generation of transformative vaccines and medicines for patients and we have plans to expand our presence in the UK through investments in research and development. The UK has a world-class life sciences and research community, and we recognise the importance of working with the BIA and its members to ensure the benefits and ambitions of the UK life sciences vision are realised in practice.”

The BIA has grown alongside the UK ecosystem, increasing and diversifying its offer to all parts of the ecosystem to influence, connect and save through BIA membership.

The BIA advocates and campaigns to ensure that the interests of its members are represented to key policymakers, regulators and stakeholders, notable BIA campaigns include creating a UK industrial strategy for the sector through the 2021 Life Sciences Sector Vision, supporting the industry’s response to COVID-19 and Brexit, launching the Biomedical Catalyst and calling for continued government investment, and preventing harmful changes to R&D tax credits.   

The Trade Association runs prominent UK sector events such as the annual BIA Gala Dinner and BioScience Forum, which this year has innovated to TechBio UK recognising the advancements within the sector in digital, data and AI. The BIA also runs popular regional and Women in Biotech events in key and emerging clusters across the UK and virtually around the world. The BIA Business Solutions programme saved its members £7 million on 7,000+ products across the lab and office supplies and 1,800+ hours on procurement of research, project management, purchasing, insurance, legal and quality services in the last year.

The BIA has increased its staff headcount significantly in the last two years to support its members' priorities and activities and has announced the location of new offices in Central London. 

ENDS

1. For further information please contact Jack Fellows, Strategic Communications and Media Manager at the BIA, [email protected]
2. BIA is the key thought leader for the sector – working across a wide range of related issues including policy, finance, science, regulatory, legal, talent, engineering biology and techbio.
3. Previous keynote speakers at BIA events include Sir Pascal Poirot, Dame Kate Bingham, Sir Tony Blair, Dr June Raine and Matt Hancock MP.
4. Steve Bates OBE has been Chief Executive of the BIA for ten years and the Chairman of BIA the Board is Dan Mahony, entrepreneur in residence at Evotec.