A new independent evaluation report has revealed far reaching impacts emerging from activity on the Babraham Research Campus. As well as providing significant contributions to the UK and global life sciences sector, the campus has delivered major gains to the local Cambridge and wider UK economy.
Designed to create value
Babraham Research Campus is one of five research and innovation campuses supported with funding the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC).
It is designed to benefit from the world-leading research taking place across the region, which includes the Babraham Institute, one of BBSRC’s strategically supported bioscience research institutes.
As the evaluation shows, the institute’s co-location with 60 biotech companies adds significant value to this dynamic ecosystem.
Key findings
Key findings include:
- Babraham Research Campus is delivering an annual economic contribution of £538 million to the local economy, an 89% increase from 2019
- companies based at the campus boast a collective valuation exceeding £3.15 billion
- job creation has more than doubled, reaching 9,400 positions, including 2,000 located onsite
- fundraising by campus companies is accelerated by six months compared to those based elsewhere
- ready access to the Babraham Institute is key to the success of the research and innovation campus, with 75% of campus companies accessing the institute’s world-leading infrastructure, skills and expertise
This new report confirms Babraham Research Campus’ status as a dynamic ecosystem where early-stage companies are nurtured so that innovation can flourish.
Unwavering commitment
Professor Anne Ferguson-Smith, BBSRC Executive Chair, said:
This evaluation underscores the pivotal role Babraham Research Campus plays not just within the Cambridge life science ecosystem, but across the broader UK and global arenas.
We owe a debt of gratitude to Derek Jones and all at Babraham Research Campus Ltd for their unwavering commitment to this venture and the tremendous success they continue to achieve.
As a beacon of innovation and collaboration, Babraham Research Campus exemplifies BBSRC’s commitment to foster environments where scientific inquiry and entrepreneurship intersect with extraordinary results. This report highlights the substantial economic contributions and dynamic growth of those companies on Campus, which pay testament to our sustained investments in cutting-edge research and innovation facilities and expertise across the UK.
By nurturing early-stage companies, BBSRC is accelerating groundbreaking discoveries that show tremendous promise in re-defining health outcomes and economic prosperity worldwide.
Accelerating success
The report also underscores the success of Accelerate@Babraham, the pre-seed funding and support programme the campus provides for early-stage life science ventures. Established in 2018, the programme has nurtured 26 companies to date.
At the time of compiling the report, those early-stage companies had raised £72.5 million in funding and had a combined market value of £139 million.
Since publishing the report, the funding of these companies has reached £100 million. Employing a combined total of 117 people, these start-ups have achieved returns of 1.9 times the initial investment.
Those companies have also accelerated their fundraising timelines by 12 months, compared to peers outside the programme.
A sense of community
Derek Jones, Chief Executive Officer at the Babraham Research Campus Ltd, said:
This new report shows that companies at Babraham Research Campus are raising 20% more investment six months faster than those based elsewhere, accelerating their discoveries and creating jobs and economic impact for the UK economy.
This isn’t just about numbers, it’s about the ripple effects these successes have on innovation, health outcomes and economic prosperity. It also reflects the importance of Babraham Research Campus being a place with capabilities and community rather than just being a space within which to locate.
Find out more
Read the report: the economic impact of the Babraham Research Campus.
Credit: Babraham Research Campus
Further information
About BBSRC’s research and innovation campuses
BBSRC’s five research and innovation campuses are at the forefront of scientific advancement. Centered around BBSRC’s eight strategically supported bioscience research institutes, each campus fosters a unique ecosystem for innovation.
The five campuses are:
- AberInnovation
- Babraham Research Campus
- Norwich Research Park
- Pirbright Campus
- Roslin Innovation Centre
- Rothamsted Enterprises
Each campus provides a unique environment where companies can access specialist facilities and world-class research expertise. They nurture early-stage innovation, attracting crucial private investment while helping translate exceptional research into impactive social and economic outcomes.
Collectively, BBSRC’s campuses support more than 4,100 jobs across the UK. They host over 200 companies, contributing significantly to the national economy. To date, the five campuses have attracted more than £1.2 billion in private investment.
Playing a critical role in driving scientific breakthroughs for societal and economic gain, BBSRC’s five campuses are instrumental in maintaining the UK’s position as a global leader in bioscience.
Top image: Babraham Research Campus. Credit: Babraham Research Campus
