AI at the heart BioNTech’s UK expansion

BioNTech has announced it will establish an artificial intelligence (AI) hub in London as part of its plans to invest up to £1bn in the UK over the next 10 years. 

In a joint statement with the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT), the German biotechnology company stated it will broaden its R&D activities in a deal that will build on the strategic partnership with the UK government that commenced in 2023. 

The new deal will be supported by a UK government grant of up to £129m over 10 years, which will be used to establish two new R&D centres in the country. The first of these centres will be in Cambridge and the location of the second is currently being planned. The Cambridge R&D centre will focus on genomics, oncology, structural biology, and regenerative medicine. 

The company has also announced it will strengthen its footprint in its London-based UK headquarters, which will accommodate BioNTech’s AI hub. This hub, which will be led by its wholly owned subsidiary InstaDeep, will advance the company’s AI-powered medical research.

BioNTech acquired UK-headquartered InstaDeep in 2023 (see AI provider InstaDeep to be acquired by BioNTech) following earlier collaboration and investment in the business (see InstaDeep raises $100m to expand AI decision making business). AI is a key component in BioNTech’s business strategy and has been deployed across its preclinical and clinical operations. The acquisition of InstaDeep has expanded its capabilities in AI-driven drug research and the development of immunotherapies and vaccines. 

The new investment from the UK government follows last month’s announcement that the UK government and the Wellcome Trust will invest up to £600m to create a new health data research service intended to accelerate clinical trials and drug development. The life science sector is a key driver for economic growth in the UK and AI will be an increasingly important tool in accelerating that growth. 

Posted by: Dale Peters at 10:09

Tags: investment   research   government   AI   R&D   life+sciences   DSIT