Cambridge is now the UK’s most investible hub for science, according to a new data report which reveals how the Cambridge region has had the highest growth of any UK region outside the capital in the last decade and attracting unprecedented levels of international capital.
According to the new report from Beauhurst, Cambridge Enterprise, Innovate Cambridge and Cambridge Innovation Capital, Cambridge is a national economic asset where early-stage life sciences and deep tech companies have raised £7.9billion since 2015. International investors are now involved in nearly 40% of all deals, up from just 7% a decade ago.
With a long history in global life sciences excellence, Cambridge has solidified its position as Europe’s premier deep-tech and life sciences hub. The latest report, published ahead of the fourth annual Innovate Cambridge Summit, follows Dealroom data published earlier this year which showed Cambridge was #1 in Europe for deep tech VC per capita, and was second globally to only the Bay Area when it came to unicorns per capita.
The announcement follows the Government’s commitment of at least £15m in cornerstone funding for the Cambridge Innovation Hub — a 2.7-acre site designed to unite science, capital and entrepreneurship at the heart of the city’s innovation ecosystem. Supported by the Cambridge Growth Company, the Hub is a key public-private partnership driving Greater Cambridge’s long-term growth and alignment with national innovation priorities.
The announcement was made as the Innovate Cambridge Summit brings together entrepreneurs, investors, policymakers and political leaders. This year’s speakers include Science Minister Lord Vallance and Local Government Minister Matthew Pennycook MP, Tom Adeyoola (CEO, Innovate UK), Professor Zoubin Ghahramani (VP of Research, Google DeepMind), Roxanne Varza (Director, Station F, Paris) and Sir Nigel Wilson (Chair of Cambridge Innovation Capital and Canary Wharf Group).
Global Hub for science investment
Cambridge’s innovation ecosystem has grown by almost 80% in the past decade, from 473 active companies in 2015 to 848 in 2025. Since 2015, the region’s life sciences and deeptech ecosystem has scaled faster than any UK region on an investment-intensity basis: 359% growth in equity per company and a 699% rise in annual funding. Cambridge leads in life sciences investment, attracting £2.49 million per company in 2024, more than double Oxfordshire and more than 2.5x Greater London’s investments.
Across all sectors, Cambridge companies raised £1.6 million in equity per company in 2024, a 385% increase since 2015 and the strongest growth of any UK region. Cambridge is also strong in growth-stage companies, with the area raising £42.8 million per company on average, higher than any other region in the UK.
International investors choose Cambridge
Foreign investment is flowing to Cambridge given its status as a global hub for scientific and technological research, boasting over 5,000 innovation-driven companies, 36 research parks, five hospital trusts, two universities, and a thriving startup and investor community. The data shows:
- UK-based investors accounted for 93% of deals in 2015, but just 60% in 2024
- US participation in Cambridge funding rounds has more than doubled, rising from 8% to nearly 19% of all deals over 10 years
- European investors now represent 12% of deals, up from 2% in 2015
This shift demonstrates the growing global confidence in Cambridgeshire’s innovation ecosystem.
Innovate Cambridge Summit 2024
Science-led growth and spinout success
Cambridge’s spinout companies, born from University research, are powering this momentum, with spinouts accounting for 27.9% of all equity raised in the region. Total spinout investment has grown from £46 million in 2015 to £879 million in 2024, with life science spinouts raising an average of £8.4 million each in 2024, the highest for any UK city.
This growth and success have been embodied by Cambridge-born success stories, including CellCentric, a leading clinical-stage biotech developing novel cancer therapeutics ($120 million Series C in May); CuspAI, an AI-driven materials discovery company ($100 million+ Series A in September); and Featurespace, a world leader in adaptive behavioural analytics for financial crime prevention, which was sold to Visa in a £700 million deal last year. In addition, the £435 million invested into Bicycle Therapeutics in 2024 was the UK’s second-largest equity deal into a spinout.
Venture Cafe Connect launch
This year’s summit will also see the launch of the Venture Cafe Connect in Cambridge. This partnership will bring international best practice to the city and provide access to the Venture Cafe global network connecting Cambridge innovators, entrepreneurs, and small businesses through free, high-impact programming and events.
“Cambridge is one of the world's most fertile grounds for innovation to take root, and blossom into opportunities for investment, job creation, and progress in fields ranging from life sciences to deep tech.”
Lord Vallance continued, “As impressive as these figures are, there is still more potential here for us to unleash. This is precisely why we are backing the Cambridge Innovation Hub, as part of our programme of work across Government to boost the entire Oxford to Cambridge Growth Corridor, and fulfil its promise as an economic engine the whole nation benefits from.”
Professor Deborah Prentice, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cambridge, said: “Fast-tracking the Innovation Hub will help drive UK growth. It will connect entrepreneurs, investors, corporates, and our world-class researchers. It will quickly become Europe’s leading destination for early-stage deep tech and life sciences companies, and means Cambridge will continue to be a global leader in research and innovation. The world is coming to Cambridge for science. Government support means that work will now start at pace to make the Innovation Hub a reality.”
Professor Andy Neely OBE, Chair of Innovate Cambridge, said: “Cambridge’s science and innovation ecosystem is one of the UK’s greatest economic assets. The data shows that the world is increasingly looking to Cambridge to find the breakthrough ideas that can change lives and drive global progress.”
Dr Kathryn Chapman, Executive Director, Innovate Cambridge, said: “The Summit is a chance to demonstrate how Cambridge continues to lead on innovation worldwide. Recognition as the fastest-growing UK hub for science investment, combined with cornerstone funding for a new international innovation hub, reflects the success of our unified vision and commitment to building a truly global innovation economy.”
Dr Michael Anstey, Partner at Cambridge Innovation Capital and co-founder of Innovate Cambridge, said: “Cambridge’s reputation as a global hub for science and technology is a strategic advantage for the UK economy. It’s an innovation ecosystem that combines world-leading research with exceptional entrepreneurial talent and a robust global venture capital network. This creates a proven pipeline for translating scientific breakthroughs from the lab into world-leading businesses.”
Dr Jim Glasheen, Chief Executive, Cambridge Enterprise, said: “International investors recognise that Cambridge is where world-class science becomes world-changing business. The strength of our spinouts and scaling companies shows how research excellence can power economic growth and societal impact.”
