Businesses, partners and parliamentarians came together alongside Oxfordshire County Council and Advanced Oxford to celebrate the county’s life sciences sector at a high-profile event in Parliament on 18 May.
The event, hosted by Baroness Blackwood of North Oxford, showcased the work of Oxfordshire organisations to improve lives, strengthen the economy and reinforce the UK’s position as a global leader in life sciences.
It also gave businesses a platform to engage directly with national policymakers on the opportunities for growth and the challenges facing the sector, including skills and investment.
Oxfordshire’s innovation on the national stage
Speakers from Immunocore, Perspectum and Pictura Bio spoke about their innovative approaches to healthcare and the unique growth potential of Oxfordshire’s innovation economy. They also highlighted challenges facing the sector, including attracting and retaining talent and the need for investment and capital.
Councillor Neil Fawcett, Deputy Leader of Oxfordshire County Council, said: “Oxfordshire is one of the UK’s leading centres for life sciences innovation, with world class research being translated into real improvements in people’s lives.
“This showcase highlighted both the scale of opportunity in our county and the importance of continuing to invest in skills, infrastructure and partnerships to support future growth.
“By bringing businesses and policymakers together in Parliament, we are helping to ensure Oxfordshire continues to play a vital role in driving innovation and better outcomes for communities across the UK.”
A connected ecosystem with global reach
Baroness Blackwood of North Oxford said: “It was a pleasure to host the Oxfordshire Life Sciences Innovation Showcase and to welcome a range of dynamic and ambitious life sciences organisations to Parliament.
“What distinguishes Oxfordshire is not just the excellence of its science, but also the consistency with which that science is translated into companies, products, and into patient and social benefit. And this innovation is taking place right across Oxfordshire within a deeply connected ecosystem where research, infrastructure, and enterprise all reinforce one another. This county-wide connection is what makes Oxfordshire such a great place to invest in.
“Oxfordshire innovation has had a global impact, from the roll out of the R-21 malaria vaccine across Africa, to advances in cell and gene therapies and digital health. In addition, growth in Oxfordshire contributes directly to growth in the UK, with investment collaboration flowing into other regions and supporting a more connected national innovation economy.
“Events like these matter because they showcase that innovation in action, and this showcase was about connection: discovery connecting with delivery, innovation connecting with investment, regional strength connecting with national ambition.”
Advanced Oxford: taking Oxfordshire’s challenges to Westminster
Sarah Haywood, Managing Director of Advanced Oxford, said: “It is important for the region to communicate its strengths and the role it plays within the UK and global innovation economy.
“When we hear about the amazing work that our companies are undertaking, as highlighted by our speakers and the other companies in the room, we see the difference they are making. This includes new treatments for cancer and the delivery of a Community Diagnostics Centre by Perspectum, which is redesigning diagnostic pathways for patients in Oxfordshire, while increasing capacity and reducing waiting times for diagnosis.
“Despite the exciting work in our life sciences sector, we know there are challenges and barriers to growth that we must address. Our series of parliamentary receptions has given us an opportunity to take these issues directly to Westminster.
“We will only see the growth of these companies if we also address the skills challenges we are facing. We need to strike a balance between growing skills locally and creating a welcoming environment that attracts and retains talent from around the world.”
Looking ahead
Oxfordshire’s life sciences sector continues to demonstrate that world-leading science and real-world impact can go hand in hand. Events such as this parliamentary showcase play a vital role in connecting regional strength with national ambition, and in ensuring that the voices of Oxfordshire’s most innovative businesses are heard where decisions are made.
