Oxfordshire has the key ingredients that make up a world-class innovation ecosystem: a flourishing environment for innovation and business creation; world-leading experts in knowledge and technology development; and a dynamic, agile, and skilled workforce. Nearly 6% of the population, or 25,000 people, work in Oxfordshire’s life sciences sector.

Oxfordshire in general – and Oxford in particular – has also attracted significant interest from overseas investors in office and laboratory space. GIC (Singapore), for example, acquired a 40% stake in Oxford Science Park in 2021. A further 11 million sq ft of office and lab space is in the development pipeline (source: Savills).

Global players such as Moderna, Novo Nordisk, Ipsen, Abbott Diabetes Care, Oxitec (part of Precigen), Evotec, Sysmex, Agilent and Vertex are based in the county. Biotech pioneer Moderna has selected Harwell as the location for its Moderna Innovation and Technology Centre (MITC).