CEO blog: Autumn Budget priorities, regulatory innovation in healthcare AI and global outreach
Chris Molloy
CEO, BIA
Dear colleagues,
We march through September to the familiar rhythm of an autumn season and the sound of the machinery supporting UK life sciences moving across budget, regulation, policy, global advocacy and access to capital.
There is much to do - and being done - in support of our start-ups and scale ready companies. But our community needs to feel the delivery of our national plan and to lean in strongly to co-develop solutions where we see they are needed.
We burned the midnight oil in our budget submission setting out a clear, pragmatic blueprint to ensure British biotechs can start, scale, stay and serve the world from here. This week we are out across the nation and the world to give both a home and away advantage for our companies: knitting together our R&D infrastructure in service of the sector and supporting our companies at BioShanghai.
On those two themes we welcome the continued flow of further money from British Business Bank and today’s announcement of Scotland’s R&D partnering agreement with Massachusetts.
Last week also saw a landmark moment for our data and digital health community with the publication of the National Commission into the Regulation of AI in Healthcare recommendations. Alongside this, the BIA has formally submitted our representation to HM Treasury for the Autumn Budget 2026.
We’ve also kicked off our autumn political dispatches, with Director of Policy and External Affairs, Dr Martin Turner, attending the Reform UK conference in Birmingham.
Our focus remains on translating strategic momentum into real-world commercial advantages for our members
In this update:
- BIA submission to Autumn Budget 2026
- Party conference season kicks off: Coverage from Reform UK
- National Commission into the Regulation of AI in Healthcare publishes recommendations
- Global advocacy: Jane Wall leads BIA delegation at BioShanghai
- Spotlight on Scottish life sciences
- Defra and OPSS webinar: Navigating ABS and DSI regulations
- RNA Vaccines and Therapeutics Conference returns to London
BIA submission to Autumn Budget 2026
The BIA has submitted its formal representation to HM Treasury ahead of the Autumn Budget 2026, setting out bold, actionable steps to support British companies, reward risk-taking founders and investors, and drive sustainable economic growth. Our proposals focus on giving UK life science and biotech companies strong ‘home and away’ advantages in a global race for innovation and investment, ensuring they can start, scale, stay and serve the world from here.
Central to this vision is bringing forward UKRI and Innovate UK funding for the sector, expanding the British Business Bank’s budget across the private funding continuum, and unlocking pension capital to fuel high-growth ventures. Alongside expanding access to finance, our submission calls for targeted measures to maximise the real-world value of public investments. We are pressing the government to grant UK SMEs preferential access to publicly funded R&D infrastructure, data and regulatory expertise. It’s also essential the government protects R&D tax reliefs, and strengths reliefs for investment, including restoring the ERIS rate to 33p/£ and incorporating capital expenditure. Finally, we have pressed the government to fully deliver on the commitments outlined in the UK-US Pharmaceutical Arrangement to raise NHS spending on medicines and improve access to medicines for rare disease patients.
Party conference season kicks off: Coverage from Reform UK
With the autumn political party conference season now underway, the BIA is attending gatherings across the political spectrum to ensure our members' voices are heard where relationships are built and policies take shape. To open our autumn conference coverage, our Director of Policy and External Affairs, Dr Martin Turner, attended Reform UK’s annual conference in Birmingham last week, engaging with shadow leadership on life sciences, industrial strategy, and broad economic competitiveness. Log in to the BIA website to read Martin’s full member-exclusive write-up.
National Commission publishes recommendations on healthcare AI regulation
The MHRA’s National AI Commission has officially published its recommendations for the future regulatory framework of AI in healthcare.
The recommendations align directly with our Life Sciences Sector Plan commitment to streamline market access while maintaining high standards of patient safety. Crucially, the framework proposes a proportionate, risk-based route to market, clear mechanisms for product updates, and better integration of real-world evidence to support adoption across the NHS.
BIA was pleased to contribute directly to the Commission’s work through Dr Michalis Papadakis (Founder of Brainomix and member of BIA’s Data, AI and Genomics Advisory Committee). A predictable, agile regulatory environment gives innovators and investors the confidence needed to scale technologies in the UK, accelerating patient benefit and economic growth.
Global advocacy: BioShanghai and UK-China collaboration
While we advance domestic policy, BIA is maintaining an active presence across key international markets. This week, our Managing Director, Jane Wall, is in Shanghai leading a BIA delegation across BioShanghai Week 2026 in partnership with the UK Department for Business, Innovation, Science & Trade (BIST).
Her four-day itinerary includes representing UK life sciences at the official BioShanghai Networking Reception, co-hosting the UK Life Sciences & Healthcare Innovation Forum, leading site visits to major biotech clusters like Zhangjiang Pharma Valley, Bayer Co.Lab and Guosheng Health Cloud Park, and engaging with investors at the Jefferies APAC Healthcare Conference. Deepening our ties with international manufacturing, clinical, and investment ecosystems ensures UK biotechs remain globally competitive and well-connected.
Spotlight on Scottish life sciences
In a boost for Scottish biotech, the UK and Scottish Governments have jointly backed the launch of the new Scotland-Massachusetts Bio-Bridge, creating a direct partnership with the world-leading East Coast life sciences ecosystem.
I recently had the pleasure of seeing the incredible innovation Scotland has to offer on my recent visits to Edinburgh, Glasgow and Dundee, where I caught up with pioneering BIA members including Resolution Therapeutics, RoslinCT, TauRx and Nebu-Flow. This new initiative will drive further innovation, cross-border collaboration, market access, and investment flow. Connecting Scotland's £4.9 billion life sciences sector to Massachusetts' VC and academic network reinforces our 'home and away' ambition: ensuring British biotechs can start, scale, stay and serve the world from the UK.
Continuing our strong Scottish momentum, we are heading back to Edinburgh on 30 September for Women in Biotech: Data-ready today for an AI tomorrow. Hosted at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh, this evening event features BIA Managing Director Jane Wall alongside industry leaders from RoslinCT, Ingenza and DTG to explore how digital readiness fuels AI-driven growth. Register now to join us. Our Director of Policy and External Affairs, Dr Martin Turner, will then be heading up to meet members in Aberdeen in mid-October and attend the Scottish National Party annual conference there.
Defra and OPSS webinar: Navigating Nagoya and Digital Sequence Information (DSI)
If your organisation uses genetic resources or sequence data in R&D across pharmaceuticals, biosolutions or agritech, join DEFRA and the OPSS for an essential joint webinar on Thursday 17 September (10:30–12:30 BST). The session offers clear, practical guidance on complying with UK Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) regulations under the Nagoya Protocol and provides key updates on the rollout of the Cali Fund. Read more details and register on the BIA website.
RNA Vaccines and Therapeutics Conference 2026
The BIA is proud to co-host the 4th annual RNA Vaccines and Therapeutics Conference taking place this week from 15-16 September at BMA House in London.
Delivered alongside our partners CPI and Imperial College London, this flagship two-day gathering brings together leaders across academia, biotech, pharma, and government to explore the latest advances in encoded RNA medicines, delivery technologies, and translational pipelines.
Wishing you all a successful and productive week ahead.
