A fast evolving hub for scientific innovation and growth
Put Yourself at the Centre Of Scientific Discovery
Kent’s life sciences sector has created some of the most revolutionary and world renowned medicines in existence and continues to innovate and discover for tomorrow’s world
Pfizer, Viatris, Diasorin, Jazz Pharmaceuticals, Smiths Medical and over 2,015 other life science sector companies have made Kent and Medway their home over the years, putting the county on the map as a key location for UK science: from bio-tech, pharmaceuticals and diagnostics to global science logistics, med-tech manufacturers and contract research organisations.
Two of the UK’s leading science parks – Discovery Park and Kent Science Park – allow businesses access to highquality labs and state-of-the-art facilities while benefiting from more affordable and cost-effective rates, compared to London, just 1 hour away.
In addition to Discovery Park, a 220-acre science and technology campus, designated as one of six life science opportunity zones, there is Kent Science Park in Sittingbourne
– part of the UK wide Pioneer Group science park family with further clusters developing at Innovation Park, Medway and Kent Medical Campus in Maidstone. As of March 2024, some 65,500 jobs are supported by the life sciences sector in the region..
Kent’s science parks and universities have also shaped a collaborative environment in the region where students, scientists and business professionals
can thrive through research, development and innovation. These local initiatives coupled with dedicated undergraduate courses and the new Kent & Medway Medical School will ensure that you can find the right staff, trained to professional standards and with an understanding of the latest life science challenges.
Thanks to the county’s perfect location between Europe and the ‘Golden Triangle’ of London, Oxford and Cambridge, your business will be fully immersed in a vibrant and international scientific community.
Interested in joining some of the UK’s best scientific minds located in Kent?
2,015plus
life science enterprise in Kent and Medway.
65,500
job supported by the Life Science sector.
Noble Prize
winning discoveries.
“Our success is not only down to our own efforts serving our customers, but also due to the network of organisations here in Kent that support businesses, such as Locate in Kent and Kent County Council.”
Key Locations – Find office, manufacturing and lab space at leading science parks in Kent
Fast evolving into a hub for innovation and growth for life sciences and medical research, Kent is home to two of the UK’s leading science parks as well as Maidstone Innovation Centre.
Discovery Park has established itself as one of the UK’s top science parks, with a fantastic track record in drug discovery. Industry-leading labs and small scientific teams work side-by-side in the 220-acre science park, including Pfizer, Mylan, Genea Biomedx, BSPG Laboratories and Algaecytes.
Situated just outside Sandwich, the park offers world-class laboratory spaces, offices and manufacturing facilities for micro, medium and large businesses. Complete with modern and flexible office space, Discovery Park offers a unique campus setting that invites innovation and collaboration amongst businesses and gives them space to grow. Further development plans are in the works to accommodate more growth for life sciences companies, with advanced manufacturing facilities and increased supply chain optimisation and collaboration opportunities.
Discovery Park has also worked with Pfizer and Canterbury Christ Church University to create a Community Lab, allowing students to work in a professional environment through their studies.
Kent Science Park in Sittingbourne offers over 500,000 sq. ft. of high-spec, purpose-built laboratory and business accommodation across 47 buildings. The site is perfect to nurture start-ups and to serve expanding or mature companies focusing on agri-tech, biotech, biopharma and more.
The park has been the setting for Nobel Prize winning discoveries and was awarded the UKSPA Best Life Science Research Facility in South East England in 2016. Tenants include Ino Therapeutics, Aesop and Plantworks.
The Maidstone Innovation Centre is a brand-new hub for the med-tech, life science, and
healthcare sectors, specialising in Digital and AI. This cutting-edge facility provides 30,000 sq.
ft of state-of-the-art serviced office and workshop spaces, meticulously designed to cultivate
an environment conducive to this flourishing sector. Creating a dynamic and collaborative
ecosystem that is expected to generate around 270 jobs and bring in a further £120m to the
local economy over the next decade. At its heart, the hub hosts esteemed industry leaders
such as Michelson Diagnostics Ltd world leading imaging technology experts in skin research
and XT Biomed, a distinguished Medical Technology manufacturer, alongside PharmaEthical,
a trailblazing Health Tech company, along with various other innovative enterprises.
Kent Medical Campus is a fully integrated centre of excellence for health, science and education in the South East. This space will provide a new ecosystem for life science innovation, and is expected to generate around 270 jobs and bring in a further £120m to the local economy over the next decade.
Kent’s largest privately-run hospital, KIMS Hospital, opened as part of the first phase of the campus, employing more than 300 staff with 250 clinicians. Plans were approved in 2019 for a £9.5m innovation centre offering facilities to SMEs working in the life science, healthcare and med-tech sectors.
To support life sciences’ growth in Kent, local universities and the business sector have developed specific programmes to train the scientists of tomorrow. The Kent & Medway Medical School, opened in 2020, is a collaboration between the University of Kent and Canterbury Christ Church University and local healthcare organisations to offer first-class medical education and research in the county.
Based at the universities’ Canterbury campuses, the school aims to be first choice for all those aspiring to achieve excellence in person-centred medical care in the UK.
In addition, The University of Kent’s School of Bio-sciences is a leading centre of research, education and training in biological sciences.
Finding the right talent at competitive costs
To support the life sciences growth in Kent, local universities have developed programmes to train the scientists of tomorrow. The University of Kent’s School of Bio-sciences is a leading centre of research, education and training in biological sciences and is regarded as one of the top places to study in the UK. Canterbury Christ Church University (CCCU) has developed the Kent and Medway Engineering, Design, Growth and Enterprise Hub.
Kent Medical School
The two universities’ commitment to training more scientists and medical professionals has also shone through when they both announced the upcoming Kent Medical School. The first medical school in Kent, it will bring the two universities and local healthcare organisations together to train students in a patient-focused way. This will allow Kent’s graduates to gain invaluable skills and experience that will benefit both residents and life science and healthcare businesses.
The Community Lab at Discovery Park
Kent’s education and science communities have a track record of outstanding work readiness partnerships. Discovery Park has worked with Pfizer and Canterbury Christ Church University to create a Community Lab, allowing students to work in a professional environment through their studies. An industry liaison laboratory opened in 2016 at Discovery Park allowing PhD students from Canterbury Christ Church University to work alongside science tenants to support research. These local initiatives ensure that you can find the right staff, amongst a pool of graduates trained to professional standards and with an understanding of the latest life science challenges.
Find out how these businesses benefit by locating in Kent
Immerse yourself in a collaborative, scientific environment
Science parks and universities in Kent have shaped a collaborative environment in which students, scientists and business professionals can all thrive through research, development and innovation. Joining soon-to-be scientists and industry-leading life science companies will allow you to benefit from their experience in building and growing a successful scientific venture in Kent, but this is not the only advantage of locating in Kent.
Thanks to the county’s perfect location between Europe and the ‘Golden Triangle’ of London, Oxford and Cambridge your business will be fully immersed in a vibrant and international scientific community. Quick links to London and Europe, as well as international airports, will allow you to access leading science academia and meet your clients easily whether they are local or across the country.
Interested in joining some of the UK’s best scientific minds located in Kent? From property and site location to funding advice and sector expertise, Locate in Kent can help your life science company to reach its potential.
Read more about the support we offer to Kent’s life science sector in our free factsheet.
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Karima Kamel, Business Development Manager
E-mail: enquiries@locateinkent.com
Direct: +44 (0)1732 520700