Relocating to Success: The Role of Location in Lab Efficiency
Location, location, location. The old real estate mantra still rings true, and most definitely applies to lab space.
In the scientific community, a lab’s location can be critical to its overall success. As research becomes increasingly collaborative and multidisciplinary, the need for strategic placement has never been more important. Whether it’s proximity to top academic institutions, access to a specialized talent pool, or being part of an innovation ecosystem, the right location can accelerate research outcomes, foster partnerships, and drive commercial success. Relocating is more than space alone; it’s about positioning your research and business to thrive in a competitive landscape, where location can significantly influence access to resources, funding, and growth opportunities.
Along with being CEO of Discovery Park, one of Europe’s largest R&D destinations located in Kent, in the South East of England, I have a long background in real estate as part of Midos Group. This family office invests in real estate across the UK, specifically in assets where it sees an opportunity to add value in the long term.
Discovery Park has been a major center for life science for nearly 70 years and is home to over 160 companies across a growing tenant community, from dynamic start-ups through to global corporations. Situated just over one hour from London, the park offers a range of impressive facilities across its 220-acres that cater to the diverse needs of innovative companies.
The UK is immensely proud of its thriving life science industry, punching well above its weight. As the first country to provide a COVID-19 vaccine, the UK’s life science sector turns over £94 billion per year and employs over 280,00 people. The new Labour Government has singled out life sciences as a critical partner for plans to deliver positive change and economic growth, making the industry a key priority for further investment and development. The regulatory environment and financial incentives have never been better to locate in the UK.
I’m passionate about supporting future talent and innovation, and through Discovery Park Ventures, we are forging ahead with investments in early-stage life science and technology companies, allowing them to scale at speed. It’s one of many initiatives in the UK which supports entrepreneurs and ambitious businesses to collaborate, innovate, and grow.
Historically, the majority of UK life science investment happened inside the ‘golden triangle,’ comprising the capital city of London and university heavyweight cities Oxford and Cambridge. However, things have changed, with Discovery Park being named one of six designated Life Sciences Opportunity Zones by the UK Government’s Office for Life Sciences in 2020, home to a thriving life science cluster outside the triangle.
The South East of England boasts over 33,000 STEM graduates, ensuring a steady supply of skilled professionals to drive business growth. Being so close to London provides further access to a strong talent pool, enhancing the ability to attract top-tier professionals. Furthermore, Discovery Park is home to The Skills Hub, a strategic partnership between Kent Universities and businesses providing a consistent talent pipeline stream and supporting upskilling of current workforces within the Park.
Location is key to a successful lab set up, and there are a number of factors to consider:
Connectivity and logistics: A successful lab needs easy connectivity for team members and client visits. Infrastructure is critical for manufacturing, with roads, airports and ports being essential for distribution. Consider proximity to your target markets if you’re aiming to expand your footprint.
Access to talent: Consider proximity to talent in the form of existing life science clusters, as well as nearby academic institutions with strong STEM credentials to provide a skilled workforce.
Network and community: Don’t underestimate the impact of being part of a network, enabling collaboration, business support and investment opportunities. Being close to like-minded companies allows for knowledge exchange and growth. We’ve seen great successes from the Barclays Eagle Lab on site at Discovery Park, it provides start-ups and scale-ups with the knowledge, mentoring and networking opportunities they need to progress and, in some cases, even demo their businesses to a select group of hand-picked investors.
Space and flexibility: Speed and efficiency are key to getting therapies to market faster than ever. We’re increasingly seeing life science companies prioritizing flexible lab spaces over conventional lab design to keep up with the pace of innovation.
Put your people first: With the rise of home working, it's more important than ever for labs and offices to meet the needs of teams, with people actively choosing to come into work. Don’t disregard the importance of social spaces and the additional draw of daycare, gyms and restaurants, which all have a huge impact on quality of life.
Your ideal lab location may have some form of compromise. The ‘golden triangle’ is renowned in the UK, but space is limited and at a premium, therefore coming with higher living costs. Well-connected regional science parks with the space to scale can provide the same benefits and more, with lower living costs for staff. In Kent for example, there are ample nurseries and early education providers on our doorstep and house prices are on average 44 percent cheaper than London. These factors contribute to an optimal quality of life which has been the driver for a number of our tenants at Discovery Park.
Thinking long term
To ensure a successful lab set up, it's essential to also look ahead to the future. Businesses are constantly evolving, so the ideal space should flex to meet your changing needs. Check contracts and offerings to ensure you have flexibility and consider how your support network might need to change too. It was crucially important to me that Discovery Park had support services for all sizes of business—from the newest start-up to global leaders entering new markets.
Case study: Asymchem at Discovery Park
Asymchem is a global technology-driven contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) providing services to the pharmaceutical industry. Founded in 1997, Asymchem employs 10,000 people world-wide, with its head office in China.
In August 2024, Asymchem opened a European HQ at Discovery Park, in facilities previously occupied by Pfizer, marking its first site in Europe. Asymchem now operates the site as a development and manufacturing facility to meet global demand for pharma services, with plans to add additional capabilities for the manufacture of peptides and oligonucleotides.
The choice to adapt an existing lab and manufacturing facility sped up the onboarding process. Asymchem adapted the flexible space to meet their precise needs, upgrading the existing facilities into their ideal HQ and joining a thriving ecosystem of businesses at Discovery Park.
Asymchem is continuing a long legacy of manufacturing excellence at Discovery Park, benefiting from experienced people and connections. In a short time, Asymchem has already employed 70 specialist team members, many of whom are legacy Pfizer employees. Additional hires are planned through to the end of the year as the pilot plant ramps up operations. Asymchem is well established in China and the United States, making Europe the next target market. Asymchem selected Kent for fast connections to Europe, along with all important space to grow.
The team at Discovery Park have gone above and beyond to support Asymchem’s move, from facilitating visa applications to advising on local stakeholders to attend the opening ceremony. When you’re considering a relocation, especially across borders or continents, local expertise can be invaluable. By using Discovery Park as a trusted guide and selecting an existing and specialized lab space, Asymchem has successfully opened its new HQ and lab space in a matter of months.
Conclusion
Relocating a laboratory is not just about finding a new space - it's about strategically positioning your business for growth and long-term success. The right location provides access to a skilled workforce, a vibrant community, and the flexibility to adapt to future demands, as well as the support needed to navigate the complexities of the transition and advance your research.
As demonstrated by Asymchem’s successful transition to Discovery Park, it's crucial to select a site that aligns to your business goals. The UK is a supportive life science environment, with the well-connected South East region a gateway to Europe, London and beyond. Whether you choose to pay a higher premium for the ‘golden triangle’ or prefer a regional science park with room to scale, location will play a pivotal role in your lab’s operational efficiency and future success. The decision requires careful consideration of both immediate needs and long-term potential, ensuring your lab can thrive in a rapidly evolving industry.
