A new London Life Sciences Strategy sets out an ambitious plan to make London the most attractive city in the world for life sciences innovation — and to ensure that innovation translates into better, fairer care for all Londoners.

London is home to nearly ten million patients, three of the world’s top 15 research universities, and more than 2,700 life sciences companies. Yet promising innovations have long struggled to move beyond localised pilots into system-wide change.

Today’s strategy is a co-ordinated response to that challenge.

Chris Streather, London’s Medical Director, said: “London has every ingredient needed to be the world’s leading city for life sciences — outstanding researchers, a vast and integrated NHS, world-class data assets and a thriving commercial ecosystem.

“What has been missing is the co-ordination to bring all of this together at scale. This strategy changes that. For the first time, we have a coherent, system-wide plan to move innovations from promising pilots to widespread adoption — and to make sure that the benefits reach every Londoner, not just those in the most advantaged communities.”

The strategy addresses barriers to scale through six linked programmes spanning funding, procurement, data and regulatory support.

A key practical change is the introduction of the London Innovator Passport — a new digital approvals system hosted on MedTech Compass. Currently, companies must submit similar information in different formats to multiple NHS buyers across London.

The Innovator Passport means a company demonstrates its value once and is recognised across all of London, removing duplication for suppliers and NHS organisations alike.

The strategy also establishes an MHRA Regulatory Sandbox — a controlled testing environment for innovative medical technologies, with an initial focus on AI-driven devices and diagnostics. Selected companies will be able to develop and test new tools safely alongside clinicians, accelerating the path from development to adoption.

London already holds one of the world’s largest health data assets. The London Secure Data Environment contains de-identified data for nine million Londoners, drawn from GPs, hospitals, mental health services and social care. The strategy expands safe access to this data for universities, innovators and approved researchers, opening up new opportunities for research into cardiovascular disease and health inequalities.

The ambition is not innovation for its own sake. Health inequalities across London have worsened since the Covid-19 pandemic, and the strategy is focused on outcomes that matter: earlier cancer detection, better support for people with long-term conditions, and a meaningful reduction in health inequalities across the capital.

As the six programmes take effect, London will increasingly operate as a co-ordinated Health Innovation Zone — with shared priorities, pooled expertise and a clear path from pilot to adoption.