Guidance

UK life sciences trade organisations, membership associations, clusters, and research and innovation networks

Updated 1 December 2021

UK life sciences trade organisations, membership associations, clusters, and research and innovation networks support:

• business growth
• competitiveness
• innovation

Association of British Healthtech Industries (ABHI)

ABHI is the industry association for the medical technology sector in the UK. It champions the benefits and use of safe and effective medical technologies to deliver high quality patient outcomes.

Membership is open to manufacturers as well as service companies involved in the sector, such as distributors, professional groups and lawyers.

Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI)

ABPI represents all innovative research-based biopharmaceutical companies and is leading an exciting new era of biosciences in the UK.

It’s recognised by government as the industry body negotiating on behalf of the branded pharmaceutical industry for statutory consultation requirements, including the pricing scheme for medicines in the UK.

AXrEM

AXrEM is the UK trade association representing the interests of suppliers of diagnostic medical imaging, radiotherapy, healthcare IT and care equipment in the UK. The majority of diagnostic medical imaging and radiotherapy equipment installed in UK hospitals is supplied by AXREM members.

It’s primary role is to help promote and develop the industry by providing a collective interface to address the regulatory and technical needs of the UK healthcare market, both public and private.

BioIndustry Association (BIA)

The BIA is the trade association for innovative enterprises involved in UK bioscience. It works to further the interests of members and the industry both nationally and internationally.

Members include start-ups, emerging and more established bioscience companies; pharmaceutical companies; academic, research and philanthropic organisations; and service providers to the bioscience sector.

Bionow

Bionow supports business growth, competitiveness and innovation within the biomedical and life science sectors across northern England. The Bionow membership base includes start-ups and early stage firms as well as established growth-oriented companies.

BioPartner UK

BioPartner UK is an independent, government-accredited trade organisation, promoting international partnering for trade, investment and collaborations with UK life science companies.

It signposts to UK expertise and leads delegations to promote the UK presence at major international biopharma conferences. By operating in partnership with the UK government and event organisers, BioPartner assists all UK companies with access to government grants and discounted entry fees. Members of the BioPartner Programme receive extra benefits and support to effectively trade overseas.

Bioprocessing Research Industry Club (BRIC)

BRIC is a partnership between BBSRC, Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) and a consortium of leading companies to support innovative bioprocess-related research, including that needed for the manufacture of complex biopharmaceuticals.

BRIC funded research addresses bioprocesses at all scales of operation, from the small amounts required for preclinical studies through to post-licence bulk manufacturing.

BIVDA

BIVDA (formerly the British In Vitro Diagnostics Association) represents the IVD Industry in the UK, to government, professional bodies, the public, and at the European Diagnostic Manufacturers Association. It supports members on regulatory issues and promotes the clinical and cost utility of IVDs in the provision of effective healthcare, both in acute diagnosis and in the prediction and prevention of disease.

British Dental Industry Association (BDIA)

BDIA is the UK’s national trade association, representing and supporting the collective interests of manufacturers and suppliers of dental products, services and technologies.

It has a member community of over 125 companies and plays a pivotal role in driving standards for the provision of quality oral healthcare.

British Generics Manufacturers Association (BGMA)

The BGMA represents the interests of UK based manufacturers and suppliers of generic medicines, and promotes the development of the generic medicines industry in the UK.

British Healthcare Trades Association (BHTA)

BHTA is the UK’s oldest and largest healthcare association, founded in 1917.

Its members make or sell assistive technology products that help people live more independently. These range from wheelchairs and scooters to stairlifts, seating and positioning products, patient support surfaces, rehabilitation products, stoma and continence products, prosthetics, orthotics and augmentative communication devices for people with limited speech.

Clinical and Contract Research Association (CCRA)

CCRA represents organisations which provide clinical and contract development services for the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries.They also support those people who choose to take part in clinical trials.

CCRA helps ensure that patients and volunteers receive the very best professional attention and information through every stage of their participation in trials.

Digital Health and Care Alliance (DHACA)

DHACA is a non-profit sector-led organisation that furthers the cause of digital health and care systems in the UK and Europe, championing scalability and interoperability.

It’s an independent membership-led body representing those who want to create an opportunity to develop large-scale, collaborative business models through the promotion of open standards, collaborative architectures, and interoperability.

DigitalHealth.London

DigitalHealth.London aims to bring together clinicians with healthcare providers, entrepreneurs and industry to speed up the adoption and commercialisation of digital health technologies, and signpost clear routes to market for entrepreneurs.

Ethical Medicines Industry Group (EMIG)

EMIG is a network of life science companies and organisations working to advance patient access to medicines.

GAMBICA

GAMBICA is the trade association for instrumentation, control, automation and laboratory technology in the UK.

The association covers industrial automation products and systems; process instrumentation and control; laboratory technology; test and measurement equipment for electrical and electronics industries.

Health and Care Research Wales

Health and Care Research Wales facilitates the successful delivery of commercial research in the NHS and promotes Wales as an effective place to do research.

It provides an infrastructure to support and increase capacity in research and development (R&D), runs a range of responsive funding schemes and manages resources to promote, support and deliver research in health and social care.

Knowledge Transfer Network (KTN)

KTN is a network partner of Innovate UK. It links new ideas and opportunities with expertise, markets and finance through its network of businesses, universities, funders and investors.

KTN combines in-depth knowledge in all sectors with the ability to cross boundaries. It accelerates innovation and technology exploitation in the health industries sector including medical, biotechnology, medical technology, diagnostics and pharmaceutical industries.

Life Sciences Hub Wales

Life Sciences Hub Wales is an arm’s length body of Welsh Government. They exist to catalyse innovation and collaboration between industry, health, social care, and academia - making a positive difference to people, families, and businesses across the nation.

Their vision is to make Wales the place of choice for health, care, and wellbeing innovation by:

• accelerating the development and adoption of innovative solutions that support the health and social care needs of Wales
• partnering with industry to advance economic development across the life sciences sector in Wales, driving business growth and creating jobs

Medcity

MedCity promotes life sciences investment, entrepreneurship and industry in England’s greater South East region by:

• providing a single front door and concierge service for industry and investors looking for partners, infrastructure and expertise
• facilitating and supporting collaboration to turn innovations into commercial products and services
• fostering an environment that supports and encourages entrepreneurialism
• raising awareness globally of the region’s rich life sciences ecosystem

Medilink East Midlands

Medilink East Midlands aims to help life science companies establish, develop and grow. It provides specialist support to boost the region’s economic output from life sciences by overcoming barriers to growth.

Medilink North of England

Medilink North of England is a membership-based professional organisation with a remit to stimulate growth and innovation in the medical and health technology sector throughout the North West.

Medilink South West

Medilink South West is the region’s life science industry network, providing organisations with specialist advice, events, and opportunities.

They aim to reduce the barriers to commercial growth in order to boost the South West’s economic output from life sciences.

Medilink West Midlands

Medilink West Midlands is a membership organisation with a remit to stimulate growth and innovation in the medical and health technology sector.

MediWales

MediWales is the life science network for Wales. It’s owned by its members and managed through a board of member-elected non-executive directors.

Members are largely made up of academics, businesses and clinicians, along with business support organisations and research centres.

National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Clinical Research Network

The NIHR:

• funds health and care research
• translates discoveries into practical products, treatments, devices and procedures, involving patients and the public
• works with charities and the life sciences industry to help patients gain earlier access to breakthrough treatments
• trains and develops researchers to keep the UK at the forefront of international research

The Clinical Research Network (CRN) provides the infrastructure that allows high-quality clinical research funded by charities, research funders and life-sciences industry to be undertaken throughout the NHS.

NHS Partners Network (NHSPNs)

NHS Partners Network represents independent sector healthcare providers.

NHSPN’s functions and services focus on:

• sharing information and intelligence
• providing a voice for the independent sector
• collecting, producing and disseminating data
• influencing policy-making and decisions
• being a point of contact between members and healthcare regulators
• holding events for members and the wider independent sector

NHS Research Scotland

NHS Research Scotland promotes and supports excellence in clinical and translational research in Scotland so that patients can benefit from new and better treatments.

It connects NHS, industry and academia to accelerate the development of new treatments, devices and diagnostics to tackle complex healthcare needs.

Northern Health Science Alliance (NHSA)

The NHSA is a health partnership across the North of England. It unites 8 cities and 15 million patients for health and wealth benefit. It has delegated authority across the North’s leading universities, research-intensive NHS trusts and 4 Academic Health Science Networks, with board-level approval to enter into collaborative research partnerships.

Northern Ireland Clinical Research Network (NICRN)

The NICRN promotes research within Northern Ireland and develops close partnerships and productive working relationships with important individuals and groups across the Network and the wider research community.

It ensures that targets, including accrual of patients into trials, are achieved and maintained

OBN

OBN is the UK’s largest and most innovative not-for-profit R&D membership organisation for Life Sciences with over 400-member companies, ranging from start-ups through to unicorns and Big Pharma.

Their goal is to nurture innovative and successful life sciences companies and new products and services, and to create opportunities to facilitate collaboration and new business generation.

They conduct more than 40 high-quality networking events per year throughout the country, including:

• BioTrinity (Europe’s leading Biopartnering and Investment Conference, London)
• BioForward (Birmingham)
• BioSeed (London)
• OBN Awards (Oxford)

OBN support services include professional training, market intelligence, purchasing, advisory services, and advocacy.

ONE Nucleus

One Nucleus is a not for profit membership organisation for international life science and healthcare companies. Members include pharmaceutical, biotech, medical device and diagnostic companies, and associated technical and commercial service providers.

Regener8

Regener8 enables the translation of university and industry research in regenerative medicine into commercial products and clinical benefits.

Science Industry Partnership (SIP)

The Science Industry Partnership is an initiative that seeks to develop the right scientific and technical skills which are aligned to the manufacture of future medicines.

Membership is available and allows access to a range of support.

South East Health Technologies Alliance (SEHTA)

SEHTA is one of the largest healthcare technology networking organisations in the UK. It has 1,300 members from 20 different countries. Its database of more than 7,000 contacts spans academia, industry, clinicians, the NHS and wider health and social care providers, local government, policy-makers, research councils and funding bodies.

techUK

techUK represents the companies and technologies that are defining today the world that we will live in tomorrow. More than 900 companies are members of techUK. Collectively they employ about 800,000 people, about half of all tech sector jobs in the UK. These companies range from leading FTSE 100 companies to new innovative start-ups. The majority of our members are small and medium-sized businesses.

TSA

TSA (formerly known as Telecare Services Association) is the industry body for Technology Enabled Care (TEC), representing the largest industry specific network in Europe. It brings together a growing membership of organisations across local government, health and the private sector. TSA is a not-for-profit membership based organisation, with a current membership of over 350 organisations across the UK and overseas

TSA organises the annual International Technology Enabled Care Conference and drives quality throughout the sector through its internationally recognised Integrated Code of Practice.