Life Sciences Opportunity Zone

In 2016, the LLEP and key partners submitted a proposal for Charnwood Campus to be recognised as the UK’s first Life Science Opportunity Zone (LSOZ).

Recognising the potential of this fantastic Life Sciences asset, in the heart of the Midlands, a consortium of partners formed to address the challenge set down by George Freeman on his launch of the ‘Transforming UK Life Sciences: A toolkit for action’, at the Campus in March 2016.

The result of the partnerships’ work is the proposal below, which establishes the joint vision for the site as ‘a key part of the UK’s Life Sciences Infrastructure and an environment, to inspire discovery, encourage collaboration and accelerate business growth for the Med-Tech and Biopharma community.’

Local businesses Almac and 3M, alongside research and government institutions, supported by the Office for Life Sciences, came together to set out a combined vision and plan for achieving the full potential of Charnwood Campus, supporting the growth of the UK Life Sciences industry in the Midlands.

Charnwood’s potential to support the growth of Life Sciences in the region is significant, a fact recognised in the Midlands Engine Sciences and Innovation Audit, which identified the site as supporting a key market opportunity for growing Medical Technologies and Pharmaceutical within the region, and the sector’s contribution to support the delivery of the UK’s Industrial and Smart Specialisation strategies.