According to Savills, as of mid-June 2026 VC volumes into London’s life science industry had already reached £2.2bn, 50% above the level seen at the same point in 2025, driven by the £1.55bn deal for London’s Isomorphic Labs.

The international real estate advisor says that while VC investment into ‘pure’ AI companies overshadows life science volumes due to the sheer numbers involved, the biotech and pharmaceutical industries are broadening thanks to AI’s advance, especially in terms of drug discovery, and will continue to grow. Indeed, according to Savills research presented at the conference, pharma-AI co-investment has become the operating model of some of the most ambitious life science companies who have partnered with AI companies as they look to harness models to accelerate drug delivery.

Tom Mellows, Head of Science, Savills, comments: “The ‘pure’ AI requirements which have driven substantial amounts of take-up across London this year are the vanguard of a new phase for the UK science sector: it is broadening and maturing as science occupiers look to embed AI within their research. While activity has, so far, been focused in the capital, almost inevitably more requirements will be coming to locations such as Oxford and Cambridge, given their established expertise. This evolution in how science research is undertaken is impacting what occupiers need from their buildings, be it dry or wet lab space, cleanrooms, data centres, pilot plants or advanced manufacturing.” 

The keynote speaker at Savills fifth annual Science, held at The London Centre on 10 June, was Dr Laura Gilbert CBE, leading expert in AI, data science, and digital transformation and former Director of Data Science at 10 Downing Street. She was then joined on a Savills-hosted panel by Liam Ward, Director of Venture Café London, Dr Samana Brannigan, Head of Health Technologies, Innovate UK, and Matt Bigam Director, Commercial Life Sciences & Innovation, Wellcome Genome Campus.