Cheshire and Warrington’s transition to a thriving, diverse life sciences hub was built on crossborder collaboration that recognised its interconnectedness with neighbours across the North West as part of the Cheshire Science Corridor. 

Evolution

Cheshire and Warrington has emerged as a scientific hub, particularly in life sciences, data and AI, drug discovery, advanced therapies, diagnostics, medtech, and advanced pharmaceutical manufacturing.

Cheshire and Warrington has a distinct USP in life sciences around drug discovery, and also recognises that it benefits from proximity to (and contributes to) life sciences activities in both Greater Manchester and Liverpool City Region.

Cheshire and Warrington has been referred to as “a compact geography with a lot of drug discovery” with unique expertise “from molecules to medicines”. Within the radius of a 10-minute car journey it is now possible to find the expertise, facilities, IP, and the money to discover new chemical entities, new cell therapies and get them validated, tested, and manufactured. The cluster actively sought to make the most of the benefits from proximity to Greater Manchester and Liverpool City Region, fostering a collaborative and interconnected life sciences ecosystem.

The evolution of the cluster is a story of transition from an industry dominated by a single firm to one with a diversity of life sciences companies that emerged from the departure of AstraZeneca’s global R&D operations. Alderley Park, once the site of AstraZeneca’s R&D operations, is the focal point of the cluster and now functions as science park and innovation campus, hosting over 250 businesses. The site, now part of Bruntwood SciTech, is part of the broader Cheshire Science Corridor, which spans 40 miles along the M56 and encompasses 1,300 advanced manufacturing businesses and around 160 life science companies. The recent addition of the University of Liverpool signals a strategic effort to formalise links into the LCR innovation ecosystem and to create a sense of identity among industry participants to provide contrast to neighbouring clusters.

Impact of cluster approach

The region has leveraged its industrial legacy, support networks, and proximity to research assets in neighbouring regions. However, it faces the indirect consequence of missing out on significant placebased funding that tends to recognise city-regions.

The cluster has been effective at developing external networks, building a localised identity, and playing to the region’s strengths. The transformation of Alderley Park serves as a valuable lesson for regions facing significant economic changes, emphasising the importance of collaboration and adaptation to foster innovation and growth