Catenaa, Saturday, November 15, 2025-The UK faces a critical exodus of science and technology companies, with experts warning that the nation risks losing the economic benefits of research and innovation unless urgent reforms are implemented.
A report from the House of Lords science and technology committee cites the sale of quantum computing firm Oxford Ionics to a U.S. buyer for $1 billion and transplantation tech company OrganOx to a Japanese firm for $1.5 billion as examples of promising UK companies relocating overseas.
The report states that without immediate action, the UK will struggle to scale and retain high-growth firms.
Key recommendations include reforms to visa policies to attract global talent, implementation of the Mansion House initiative to unlock pension capital for high-growth businesses, and the creation of a National Council for Science, Technology and Growth.
Public investment bodies such as Innovate UK, the British Business Bank, and the National Wealth Fund are urged to coordinate more closely or consolidate to compete with foreign sovereign wealth funds.
The committee also calls for reforms in public procurement to ensure government departments allocate a portion of budgets to innovative UK-based SMEs.
Career structures, pay, and incentives should allow easier movement between academia, business, and government, and the higher education funding crisis must be addressed to safeguard the UK’s research base.
Robert Mair, committee chair, said sluggish productivity growth and near-flat real wages highlight the nation’s inability to retain the gains from its R&D sector.
He emphasized that firms including Deliveroo, Wise, and even AstraZeneca are exploring relocation, underscoring the urgent need for leadership and coordinated action to stabilize the science and technology sector.
