Mayor Visits South Cambridgeshire Life Science Hubs to Spotlight Regional Innovation
13/06/2025
Babraham Research Campus and Wellcome Genome Campus welcomed Paul Bristow, Mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, for a tour showcasing the region’s globally significant life science strengths.
The Mayor visited South Cambridgeshire’s leading life science hubs - Babraham Research Campus and Wellcome Genome Campus - to gain firsthand insight into the world-class science, innovation, and business growth taking place on site.
Babraham Research Campus: Supporting Early-Stage Biotech Growth
The visit began at Babraham Research Campus, a UKRI-BBSRC funded innovation campus that provides state-of-the-art lab space and support for early-stage bioscience companies. Home to more than 60 life science ventures, the Campus combines a vibrant entrepreneurial community with access to a world-leading research institute.
The Campus plays a pivotal role in the regional economy, contributing to the creation of over 9,400 jobs in South Cambridgeshire and attracting investment through its unique environment for collaboration between industry and academia.
During the visit, the Mayor met with Dr Louise Jopling, Chief Scientific and Innovation Officer at Babraham Research Campus, to discuss how the Combined Authority can further support its growth. Topics included connectivity between science parks, opportunities for apprenticeships, and building the future skills pipeline.
“Babraham Research Campus holds an exceptional position in the UK’s life science ecosystem, providing the ideal environment for early-stage bioscience companies to grow and scale,” said Dr Jopling. “We look forward to working with the Mayor to further strengthen Cambridgeshire’s position as a global life science leader.”
Wellcome Genome Campus: Advancing Genomic Research and Open Science
The Mayor then visited the Wellcome Genome Campus, a globally renowned hub for genomic science and biodata innovation. Home to leading institutions including the Sanger Institute and EMBL-EBI, the Campus is at the forefront of major scientific breakthroughs and champions open data to accelerate global research progress.
The site is now preparing for a major expansion, growing from 125 to 440 acres and increasing the number of people working on-site from 3,000 to up to 9,000 in the coming years.
“We were honoured to host the Mayor and share our vision for the Campus,” said Robert Evans, Chief Executive of the Wellcome Genome Campus. “We are building a growing community of world-leading organisations in genomics, AI, and health data, committed to science that improves lives — with strong local engagement and open access to our world-class facilities.”
Championing the Region’s Global Strength
Reflecting on the visit, Mayor Paul Bristow said:
“Visiting these campuses, it’s clear that what’s done here is extraordinary. They are creating breakthroughs, building businesses, and putting our region on the global map.
My job is to make it easier for these brilliant people to succeed — whether that’s by improving public transport links or ensuring local people have the skills to be part of this future.
I want the world’s best people and companies to say, ‘this is the place to be’ — and for our communities to share in that success.”