Unlocking investment in UK Deep Biotech
In this blog, Linda Bedenik, Senior Policy and Public Affairs Manager at BIA, shares insights from the BIA's first-of-its-kind funding and investment analysis into UK Deep Biotech.
The climate crisis is one of humanity's greatest challenges, demanding urgent action and innovative solutions across every sector. At the BIA, we firmly believe that Deep Biotech, the ingenious application of engineering biology, holds the key to a truly sustainable future.
We're excited to present a fresh analysis and original data on the UK’s investment landscape from our updated edition of our report, Deep Biotech: Disruptive innovation for global sustainability. This comprehensive report also includes five new case studies of innovative SMEs and a refreshed policy section outlining our deep biotech policy asks across three priority areas: finance, infrastructure, and regulation. These recommendations, developed through extensive consultation with our membership, underpin our engagement with government and regulators.
Today, we're taking a closer look at the Unlocking investment section of this report, a treasure trove of data that paints a clear picture of the dynamism and potential within UK Deep Biotech. We've distilled these crucial findings into a powerful infographic (see below!) to help you grasp the scale of opportunity at a glance.
UK Deep Biotech investment in numbers
An industry ready for the next stage
The UK Deep Biotech ecosystem is looking to mature. The emerging shift from numerous seed deals to fewer, larger later-stage investments signals a sector poised for scale and commercialisation. As Dr Karolina Zapadka of Parkwalk Advisors observes, capital is now concentrating on ventures ready for significant growth. Agriculture and food are leading this charge, attracting over half of all private investment and showcasing the UK's expertise in sustainable practices and novel foods. Public funders like Innovate UK remain crucial, providing vital early support that catalyses private investment.
The path forward: Our policy asks
To fully unlock UK Deep Biotech's potential, strategic support is vital. Our report highlights key policy priorities:
- Sustained investment: Continued public and private funding, including targeted initiatives like the Mansion House Reforms, are essential to bring innovations to market.
- Enabling regulation: A clear, agile, and supportive regulatory framework is crucial to accelerate development and adoption.
- Scaling Infrastructure: Improved affordability, accessibility and availability of UK infrastructure.
Read the full "Deep Biotech: Disruptive innovation for global sustainability" report.
