German multinational biopharmaceutical firm BioNTech is committing up to £1 billion in a 10-year investment in the UK, it’s been announced.

New research centres for R&D and AI, and subsequently hundreds of highly-skilled jobs, are to be created thanks to this investment—which is one of the biggest investments in the history of UK life sciences.

The firm behind mRNA vaccines notably used to tackle COVID-19, as well as cancer immunotherapies, will invest in the UK over the course of the next decade as part of a plan to significantly expand its presence here.

It will see the creation of two new R&D hubs, the first to be based in Cambridge. The Cambridge centre will be focused on genomics, oncology, structural biology, and regenerative medicine.

The AI hub, to be based at BioNTech’s planned UK headquarters in London, will enable the firm to undergo medical research using AI, including looking into understanding disease causes, drug target selection, and predictive analytics.

These are set to foster more than 400 new skilled jobs over the decade, including researchers in areas such as clinical and scientific drug development, bioinformatics, and a range of supporting functions.

BioNTech signed an agreement finalising the investment together with the UK’s science secretary Peter Kyle.

As part of the agreement, the government will contribute up to £129 million in grant funding over ten years.

“This investment will propel the growth-driving life sciences sector to new heights, delivering cutting-edge facilities, building careers in the future-facing jobs we want our children to have, and ultimately unlocking progress in medical science that could save lives,” Kyle said.

“This is a clear indication of how we will deliver the government’s Plan for Change: working together with the best and brightest businesses and innovators to unlock their potential, and then reap the benefits for the economy, health and more that their drive and genius can deliver.”

The agreement builds on the government’s existing strategic partnership with BioNTech to provide up to 10,000 patients with investigational personalised cancer immunotherapies by 2030.

Uğur Şahin, the co-founder and CEO of BioNTech, remarked: “This agreement marks the next chapter of our successful strategic partnership with the UK government.

“Together, we have already made a meaningful difference in expanding access to investigational personalized cancer therapies for patients.

“Now, we are taking the next step to accelerate and broaden our research and development efforts advancing towards our vision to translate science into survival for patients.”

Recommended reading

• UK Scientists Create Thousands of Digital Twin Hearts in New First
• NHS App Reforms Cut Waiting Times, While AI Speeds Appointments Up
• Glasgow Researchers to Explore If “Neurobots” Can Help Treat Epilepsy

As it stands, the UK’s life sciences sector is worth £108 billion to the economy, providing more than 300,000 highly-skilled jobs across the country.

The UK Government aims to boost UK life sciences to greater heights however, through measures like its commitment to investing up to £520 million in the sector via the Life Sciences Innovative Manufacturing Fund.

When it comes to investment in medical research itself, every £1 spent on research delivers a return of 25p every year after that, according to the Academy of Medical Sciences.