TechBio in 2024: a year of transformation and innovation
TechBio's 2024 breakthroughs proved it’s not just innovating—it’s transforming healthcare, with the UK leading the charge into a future where biology, tech, and data redefine possibilities. In this blog, Albert Maguire-King, Media and Communications Executive at the BIA, celebrates 2024's achievements and looks to the future of TechBio.
The TechBio sector has rapidly ascended to become a foundation of modern innovation, seamlessly intertwining biology, technology and data to address healthcare’s most formidable challenges. 2024 has served as a clarifying moment for the sector, with Relation Therapeutics’ new collaboration with GSK being emblematic of a year in which TechBio emerged as a distinct and transformative force.
This era will be remembered as the time when the sector showed its ability to profoundly change lives on a scale never seen before. With a growing number of start-ups and more access to funding, increased competition has driven new ideas, and better infrastructure has opened the door to global investments.
As we venture into 2025, it is fitting to cast our gaze back upon 2024, a year that laid the cornerstones for a future bright with groundbreaking discoveries and advancements in TechBio.
TechBio Boost: empowering tomorrow’s innovators
The TechBio Boost programme exemplified the momentum so characteristic of TechBio, uniting 30 promising start-ups with a shared vision of innovation. Delivered in partnership with KQ Labs and supported by London & Partners, the initiative offered networking, mentorship, and practical tools to help these companies thrive. From CC Biotech Ltd to Vivan Therapeutics, the diversity of ideas and solutions underscored the transformative potential of this field.
The culmination of this potential was witnessed at the TechBio Boost Demo Day in December 2024. It was exciting to see future technologies building into palpable business propositions and solutions. As we heard from the variety of businesses that had been created with the desire to enact change in the world, for example by reducing the side effects of medication, the growing tangibility, as well as the future possibility of this field, was impossible to ignore. Their passion highlighted the incredible possibilities TechBio holds for the future, illustrating its role in driving progress and solving complex challenges.
TechBio UK: a platform for visionaries
Yet perhaps the most noteworthy event of the year was the TechBio UK conference. A celebration of the sector’s achievements, as well as an outlining of its future trajectory, Steve Bates OBE, CEO of BIA, highlighted the magnitude of the sector in his keynote speech. He noted Isomorphic Lab’s Nobel Prize, Eli Lilly’s major UK investment, and Aparito’s acquisition—each demonstrated not just the vibrancy of the industry, but also the UK’s critical role in it.
Throughout the day, discussions delved into the opportunities and challenges of TechBio. Ramesh Durvasula from Eli Lilly emphasized the shift from knowledge accumulation to actionable insights, driven by AI. Panellists debated the need for a new education paradigm that integrates biology, technology, and data science. These conversations reflected the sector’s focus on reimagining research, fostering collaboration, and driving concrete outcomes.
Looking ahead: the future of TechBio
As we reflect on the milestones of 2024, it’s clear that the potential of TechBio is just beginning to be realized. The fusion of biology, data and technology offers transformative solutions hitherto unimaginable. Yet, the path forward requires unwavering focus on fostering talent, promoting collaboration, and driving investment.
The sector’s future is filled with possibilities. The advancements exhibited at the TechBio Boost Demo Day and the visionary ideas shared at the TechBio UK conference underline a crucial truth: the UK is uniquely positioned to lead this revolution. By continuing to nurture start-ups, bridge the gap between tech and life sciences investors, and champion innovation, we can unlock a new era of discovery.
Importantly, the integration of AI and other cutting-edge technologies into drug discovery must accelerate. As Sergei Yakneen, CTO of Isomorphic Labs, noted at our conference, aligning technological progress with scientific discovery will be pivotal. By doing so, we can shorten the time from research to patient impact, creating a system where innovation directly translates to improved outcomes.
This is more than a movement; it’s a mission. The TechBio community is not only redefining what’s possible but also taking decisive action to make those possibilities a reality. The challenges ahead are complex, but the sector’s ingenuity, resilience, and collaboration offer every reason to be optimistic. Together, we are not just advancing science—we are shaping a future where health, technology, and humanity converge for the betterment of all.
Take a look at our upcoming TechBio events, including our TechBio X event in Bristol on March 12.
