16th July 2025

MediWales First Impressions: UK Life Sciences Sector Plan – Relevance for Wales

We welcome the UK Government’s new Life Sciences Sector Plan, which introduces a clearer focus on manufacturing, NHS adoption pathways, and support for regional and devolved life sciences economies.

The plan reflects several priorities MediWales has consistently promoted, including improving NHS market access, supporting SME growth, and expanding investment beyond traditional centres. It presents opportunities for Welsh Government, NHS Wales, universities, and Wales-based life sciences businesses, particularly SMEs in medical technology and diagnostics. Taken together, these measures signal a more inclusive and positive approach, recognising both the strengths and future potential of the life sciences sector in Wales.

Key Points for Wales

Regional Development & Clusters
The UK Government will work with the Welsh Government to support life sciences cluster growth. Wales’s existing strengths in diagnostics, medical technology, and advanced manufacturing are well placed to benefit. This aligns with MediWales’s long-standing call for more coordinated UK-Wales collaboration, as outlined in our responses to the UK Industrial Strategy and NHS 10-Year Plan consultations.

We particularly welcome the opportunity to align this new plan with the Cardiff Capital Region’s Life Sciences Strategy, which already prioritises med tech innovation, skills development, and advanced manufacturing as key growth sectors for Wales.

SME Growth Support
A new UK-level SME service aims to help high-potential companies to scale. Welsh SMEs should explore eligibility, especially for UKRI R&D funding and British Business Bank growth capital. This directly responds to MediWales’s previous comments highlighting the need for UK-wide growth capital and R&D support accessible to Welsh firms.

MedTech Innovation Pathway
NHS market access reforms include a streamlined Innovator Passport and expanded NICE coverage for devices and diagnostics. This is directly relevant to Welsh med tech companies seeking UK-wide NHS adoption and is in line with MediWales’s long-term calls for a clearer innovation pathway.

Manufacturing Investment
The Life Sciences Innovative Manufacturing Fund (£520 million) could support Welsh sites. Companies involved in med tech, diagnostics, and advanced therapies manufacturing are encouraged to monitor funding calls.

Data & AI
New national platforms for health data and clinical trials will be developed. Collaboration across the UK is planned, presenting potential for Welsh research organisations to engage. This complements NHS Wales’s digital health ambitions and aligns with recommendations MediWales has made about integrating Wales into UK-wide AI and health data initiatives.

Health and Care Research Wales will have a key role in ensuring Wales’s research infrastructure is integrated into UK-wide health data platforms, clinical trials, and skills programmes. Active engagement will be essential to maximise both economic and health system benefits for Wales.

Skills & Workforce Development
The UK Government commits to working with devolved administrations to address sector skills gaps. There is scope for alignment with existing Welsh skills strategies, including life sciences sector-specific programmes focused on regulatory science, AI, and digital health.

Next Steps
Investing in Health: Unlocking Finance for Welsh Life Sciences
MediWales is holding a collaborative event with British Business Bank on 1st October. This event will be a timely opportunity to explore how Welsh life science companies can benefit from new opportunities to access finance. You can learn more about the Investing in Health event here.

In the meantime, the MediWales team will dig deeper into the opportunities created by the Plan. If you have any comments, opinions or requests, please contact our team to participate in this process.