CEO blog – 15 June 2026
New AI infrastructure, the MHRA AI Sandbox, life science leadership, global advocacy and BIA’s upcoming events
Chris Molloy
CEO, BIA
Dear Colleagues,
From sovereign compute to AI regulatory sandboxes, this has been a week that underlines just how much is moving in and for data-driven UK life sciences – and how much depends on us all making the most of it.
Government is investing in the infrastructure and talent pipelines that ambitious biotechs and services companies need, our regulators are creating the space to test and prove transformative R&D technologies and our community continues to grow and connect.
The funding ground is thawing – albeit too slowly – for early-stage companies, but there is genuine momentum and alignment in support of the sector. Our job, as ever, is to make sure that policy words translate into tangible, predictable actions for our members and through them, for the economy and for patients.
The £1.1 billion AI hardware plan: building the foundations
The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) used London Tech week to unveil a major strategy to secure the UK's compute capability and keep tech talent on home soil.
The package includes £750 million for a new national supercomputer, due to be deployed by 2030, and £400 million for AI chips – with Government purchasing specialist and next-generation inference chips directly from UK-based firms. The explicit goal is to encourage companies to start, scale and stay in the UK.
This matters for our sector. The ability to run large-scale computational workloads – whether for drug discovery, genomics or clinical data analysis – depends on the infrastructure being there. Sovereign compute is not an abstract concept for us; it is the foundation on which the next generation of TechBio will be built.
The skills dimension deserves equal attention. A new Centre for Doctoral Training in Chip Design and the TechFirst programme – supporting 500 additional PhDs in AI hardware fields – signals that Government understands the pipeline challenge. Talent and infrastructure must move together if the UK is to hold our position.
MHRA AI / NAM Sandbox: a genuine first
The MHRA's AI Sandbox was our top tech week announcement – a first-of-its-kind regulatory environment designed to test how artificial intelligence can accelerate medicines development, improve patient safety and reduce reliance on animal testing.
Funded by the Government's Regulatory Innovation Office, the sandbox will allow companies and researchers to explore AI tools that predict how medicines behave in the human body, with up to five AI-driven approaches tested in its first phase.
UK innovators are developing new AI-driven technologies and UK biotechs will also adopt them, but these systems need to be taught, tested and proven in a rigorous, safe space – which this sandbox delivers.
Strengthening the UK-China relationship
While we push the line domestically, the BIA team is bolstering our relationships globally. This week, our Managing Director Jane Wall is visiting Shanghai and speaking at the CPHI conference alongside Government colleagues.
The visit takes in Suzhou Industrial Park and BioBAY, Zhangjiang Pharma Valley, and meetings with companies and investors – a packed itinerary designed to explore a sophisticated, strong bilateral relationship with China.
Showcasing UK life sciences strength in San Diego
Next week, Natalie Garrett will be joining me at BIO 2026 in San Diego on behalf of our members and the UK life sciences sector. It is the largest and most comprehensive event for global biotech.
We will showcase the UK as a unique destination for world class biotech, investment, scientific and clinical services and R&D partnerships. Your priorities – on financing, data access, regulation and the broader macro conditions – will be at the forefront of our conversations.
Bringing life science leadership together
All of that global work is grounded in our community at home, and we are privileged to host thousands of you throughout the year at our events.
Last week, our Life Science Leadership Summit brought together some of the best minds in UK biotech. It was a flagship, two-day event that will be generating ideas and introductions for months to come. Highlights included an eye-opening fireside chat from Will West, CEO and Founder of CellCentric and a session on the rise of China.
Join us at upcoming BIA events
There are only a few tickets left for TechBio X, taking place this Thursday 18 June at AstraZeneca's DISC facility as a headline anchor of Cambridge Wide Open Week. It is a timely gathering, given the wave of ambitious UK initiatives designed to unlock the potential of data-driven life sciences. Secure your place now.
Finally, a reminder that our Summer Party returns on 2 July at Inner Temple Gardens, London. Join over 400 colleagues from across the sector for an evening of cocktails, canapés and high-level networking in the heart of London.
Wishing you a productive week ahead. Onwards…
