North West Business Insider brought together senior figures from across the life sciences ecosystem to assess how Liverpool City Region is building momentum as a national hub for innovation and investment.
It is no surprise that Liverpool City Region was shortlisted for European Capital of Innovation 2026.
Few UK cities can match its recent momentum in science, research and commercial innovation, driven by deep partnerships between universities, NHS Trusts, industry and government.
Anchored by the Knowledge Quarter and world-class institutions such as the University of Liverpool, the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine and the Royal College of Physicians, the city region has carved out a distinctive strength in health and life sciences.
Unique assets like iiCON, Sci-Tech Daresbury and its Pharma Cluster now sit at the forefront of the Combined Authority’s economic strategy, the delivery of which is supported by the UK Government’s designated Investment Zone, known locally as the Life Sciences Innovation Zone, which is helping to drive growth and provides further opportunities for investment.
Against this backdrop, leaders from across the region and the wider UK came together for an Insider roundtable to explore why Liverpool City Region has become one of the strongest places in the country for health and life sciences, and how that strength is already translating into real impact.
Professor Janet Hemingway, founding director of iiCON and Professor of Tropical Medicine at LSTM, opened the discussion by stressing the importance of focus. Rather than trying to compete on every front, she argued that Liverpool’s advantage lies in doubling down on the areas where it already leads.
“I think we know where our real strengths are. We’ve had two audits to actually look at that over the last five or six years. Infection prevention and control is something that we do really well in Liverpool. Digital and materials innovation is the other sub-sector within health and life sciences that we do well.”
These two pillars, she said, are deeply interconnected.
“And if you look at those two pillars, there is a clear intersect between them. We’ve coalesced around those strengths to make sure there is an offering to the wider world to showcase what we can do in those areas.”
For Hemingway, the priority now is clarity and confidence.
“I think we need to nucleate around those things we’re really good at, make sure the world knows we’re good at those things, then grow the cluster around that … We’re as good as anybody, if not better than anybody in the world in those specific areas.
“We have a big opportunity. I wouldn’t say it’s a once in a lifetime opportunity, but it’s getting close to that,” she added.
“I agree with Janet,” said Lindsay Sharples from Health Innovation North West Coast and also chair of the Health & Life Sciences Cluster Board. “I think we’re on the edge of something fabulous, and it’s incumbent not just on the people attending this roundtable, but wider stakeholders. I think the bringing together of the specialist trusts is fantastic, and I do agree that it feels like a once in a lifetime opportunity. It’s difficult for the people who work in those trusts, but if they’re receptive to working with businesses, and they say that they are, then I think that it’s brilliant news for investors.”
That global opportunity was echoed by Dace Dimza-Jones, a Department for Business and Trade specialist in life sciences inward investment. She said Liverpool’s international brand, infrastructure and connectivity give it a clear advantage.
“When I work with international businesses, they usually organise missions – for example, we might take Indian companies to London, Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool so they have the opportunity to explore not just the Golden Triangle but also the regions. This is important for me because it is vital life sciences investment doesn’t just go into Oxford and Cambridge, but also into the regions.”
She praised the region’s outward-facing approach.
“I really want to praise the Combined Authority in the Liverpool City Region because they are truly global, and if you want to drum up interest about your region you have to go out. Liverpool does that well. It was really interesting that in September we hosted a Swiss company and the CEO asked ‘is there an airport in Liverpool?’ because people don’t always realise that the city is so well connected.”
For Dimza-Jones, the city’s personality is an additional selling point.
“Liverpool has something I’d call ‘Spirit of the City’. And for many companies, when they move their business, staff and their families, it’s really important not just that there’s going to be amazing, well-equipped labs, affordable rent, it’s also about the city itself… It just seems like everyone in life sciences in Liverpool are on the same page.”
Colin Sinclair, CEO of Sciontec and the KQ Liverpool Innovation District, said refining and communicating the right narrative is now essential.
“It’s this story of real smart specialisation around infection prevention, control, materials chemistry, particularly the crossover of that into AI and robotics… It’s about cross-sector innovation.”
He said Liverpool’s ability to bridge disciplines is now a clear strength.
“I think we’re getting really good at building those links between health, life sciences, chemistry, technology and data, and I think that’s a real USP for Liverpool as well.”
But clarity about genuine niches is crucial, he added.
“I think it’s also about being genuine about the niches… and then it becomes about attracting occupiers. We undoubtedly have great universities and great NHS Trusts, but we do need more companies… and we’ll get those occupiers by getting the common narrative right, but also by simply getting our brand out there.”
Talent is another area where Liverpool City Region stands out, strengthened by universities, the NHS and the city’s wider innovation environment.
Geoff Davison, Bionow’s CEO, pointed to the strength of the pipeline.
“One thing that hasn’t been talked about that much is the skills we have in Liverpool and the young people coming through. The only life sciences-focused university technical college is in Liverpool… if you want to get excited about the future, visit and speak to some of the teachers and students there.”
He said engaging with students shows the region’s true potential.
“Seeing the world through their eyes, understanding their ambitions and their backgrounds makes you realise that it’s something Liverpool should be really proud of.”
That theme was echoed by Steve Sanghera, CEO at Inventus Group, which is exploring UK expansion.
“We’re obviously involved with digital health and AI, which is growing at a pace… so we need young people, young brains, so if Liverpool is focusing on cultivating young talent, there’s nothing to stop us building some kind of innovation centre dedicated to clinical trials and AI within clinical trials.”
He said the company is already investing heavily.
“We’re bringing out a brand new telehealth suite of products next year, investing millions of dollars into that… because our philosophy is simple, without patients and clinicians we don’t have a sector.”
Liverpool’s attractiveness to growing companies is already clear. Beyond global names such as Kyndryl, the region continues to attract a steady flow of health and life sciences businesses.
Lorna Green, of LYVA Labs, sees this firsthand.
“We’ve actually ‘attracted’ 12 health and life sciences businesses to this region from other parts of the country, and they’ve not just come for our money. They’ve come because of the ecosystem,” she said.
“We’ve attracted businesses from London and the South East, from Lancashire, Manchester and Cheshire… and that’s really exciting for Liverpool, especially if we continue to build on that.”
Her team has also helped early-stage firms secure crucial support.
“We’ve also shown that we can bring grants into some of the early-stage companies and support them to get some of that vital early-stage R&D.”
She said Innovate UK’s direction is encouraging.
“Everything is going to be very targeted and focused, and I think that can only be good for Liverpool’s health and life sciences space.”
Universities continue to play a leading role in building this ecosystem. Sonja Vujovic, the University of Liverpool’s Head of Innovation, Partnerships and Place, highlighted new opportunities.
“My first point is around this emerging cluster in microbiome and biofilms. It’s a new area which is really exciting for lots of businesses who are continuing to build on the work of lots of partners here in Liverpool. My second point is a longer-term one, we’re looking at building Health Innovation Liverpool on the Academic Health Sciences Campus, which is all about linking research, the health trust and businesses together. This is an ambitious long-term project.”
Professor Benedict Michael, Professor of Neuroscience and MRC Clinician Scientist, emphasised the accelerating importance of AI and data.
“What we have got in Liverpool City Region is actually, not that AI is the panacea for everything, is this ability for bolt-on, large language models to extract specialist data and high-volume data. Because it’s by doing that that we can understand our population and improve health outcomes. For example, we can understand what percentage of the population has disease X between ages A and B who have trialled drugs 1 and 2, and that’s how we serve our population effectively, and that’s how we’ll bring in outward and inward investment, whether it’s big biotechs or small clinical trials. That, for me, is a really exciting prospect.”
Gary Leeming, from the University of Liverpool’s Civic Health Innovation Labs, agreed.
“AI and machine learning is going to be transformational in how we do so much. I’ve seen in the research that we’re doing how we can better identify patients and cohorts for clinical trial recruitment in mental health. While I can’t go into specifics at this stage, there are things that we’re doing that are going to lead the way in this area. What we need to underpin things like this though is data.”
Antony Shimmin, COO and co-founder of MyCardium AI, said growth must benefit everyone.
“We talk a lot about grant funding and research funding, but… the poorest people in our society aren’t necessarily going to university… so what we have to do is improve general aspirations in the city. There’s a real narrow window of opportunity to make Liverpool a place where not just people but also businesses can grow.”
For Matt Biagetti, cluster manager for Health & Life Sciences at Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, the growth of the sector is not just an economic story; it has the potential to transform everyday life for people across the region.
“We have the opportunity here in the region to improve health outcomes, and I think that’s what we need to be focused on in terms of all of our solutions, structures and plans. We have the health and life sciences experts in the city region to do that, we just need to get the system right.”
He stressed that the true measure of success will be how innovation translates into better health for local communities.
“If we bring together the right technologies, opportunities and health systems, we can genuinely improve the lives of people in our region, and a stronger health sector will deliver that.”
But sustained investment is essential. Lee Lindley, a life sciences and deep tech specialist at Mercia Asset Management, said investors look for strong support systems.
“Investors are looking for genuine innovation solving important problems… and whether that eco-system is supporting its early-stage businesses to attract customers, to attract the right talent.”
Infrastructure also matters.
“Have they got access to the right facilities so they can scale? … have they got access to the lab space they need?”
He said collaboration is critical.
“Everyone needs to work together and talk a lot, because the last thing you want is a company with a great idea standing alone trying to fight for its own success.”
Graham Bond, partner and co-head of life sciences at RSM UK, said scale-up investment will define the next phase.
“With all the vibrancy of Liverpool, the opportunity is there, but it’s about leverage… Early stage is fine, but it’s the scale-up piece after that… at times we trim around the edges so there’s a real opportunity to improve.”
As Professor Hemingway and others noted, Liverpool may be approaching a once-in-a-lifetime moment, and the region’s leaders are taking it seriously.
The Health & Life Science Cluster board for the city region has a Health and Life Sciences Cluster Vision and an Action Plan designed to bring strengths together, accelerate innovation, attract investment and support companies to scale, aligning with the Government’s industrial strategy. The Vision and Plan complements the Life Sciences Innovation Zone to deliver future economic growth.
What emerged at the roundtable was a shared sense of confidence. Liverpool already has the ingredients many regions are still trying to assemble: world-class research, clinical excellence, collaboration, strong inward-investment appeal and a growing ecosystem of companies.
The challenge now is less about proving potential and more about telling the story, clearly, consistently and boldly. If LCR continues building momentum and strengthening partnerships, it will not just participate in the UK’s life sciences future. It will help shape it.