Health Secretary Andrew Lansley and Euro MP Vicky Ford visited the Babraham Research Campus in Cambridge to see how the proposed £44 million investment in their constituencies will contribute to economic growth for the life sciences industry and the region.

As a leading hub of life sciences innovation in the UK, the campus plays a key role supporting the region’s early-stage biomedical enterprises while also helping to attract inward investment.

The funding is enabling the campus to build on its current strengths in research and innovation and expand the infrastructure to support the UK’s life sciences industry.

This is expected to help drive economic growth through the creation and development of new companies and new jobs, as well as extending the impact of public investment for society and the economy of the region and the UK. Lansley said: “It is wonderful to see first-hand the excellent work that is done here at the Babraham Research Campus in South Cambridgeshire. This significant £44m boost from the Government will help to foster new research and create new jobs in our region, putting Babraham firmly at the forefront of world-class biomedical and life-sciences research.”

Babraham’s Bioincubator Buildings, which currently accommodate 28 early-stage life sciences companies, are central to the campus’ mission to create a supportive, entrepreneurial environment promoting bioscience innovation. Construction of a 5th Bioincubator Building is expected to start later this month, providing a further 20,000 sq ft of flexible laboratory and office space as 30 lettable units.

The campus tour included a visit to the Bioincubator Buildings and facilities such as the Technology Development Lab (TDL), which was established to support early-stage biomedical ventures through providing access to state-of-the-art equipment and scientific expertise of the TDL staff.

Mrs Ford said: “I was extremely impressed by what I saw and learnt at Babraham. Here the UK is investing in our world-leading research capacity. The benefits not only support science and economic growth but also develop an understanding of medical conditions and diseases which we all hope will lead to better treatments in the future.

“I was also able to discuss with Professor Wakelam and his colleagues the substantial European budget for research and development. Whilst many researchers around Cambridge and the UK have benefited from EU funding, it is still far too bureaucratic.

“Many colleagues in the European Parliament would like to divert parts of this science budget to less well off countries - that would be a mistake. Ideas discovered in centres of excellence like the Babraham Research Campus can help solve problems faced in all countries. Science funding must nurture excellence.”

A unique aspect of the Babraham Research Campus is the proximity of a world-leading academic institute with commercial ventures, potentially facilitating the commercialisation of ideas emanating from basic bioscience research and delivering economic benefit.

Professor Michael Wakelam, director of the Babraham Institute said the recent further investment would help to maximise the impact of public investment in bioscience research and strengthen the campus as a cluster for science and innovation in the UK.