What does Rishi Sunak's Northern Ireland deal mean for life sciences in the UK? - Insight

The political news this week in the UK is full of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s deal with the European, commented Ropes & Gray private equity counsel David Dowling.

The so-called 'Windsor Framework' sets out the terms on which goods can move freely between mainland UK and Northern Ireland, while ensuring continuity on the island of Ireland.

Although not the primary focus of the talks, an additional benefit may be that it reverses some of the damage that many in the scientific community feel was done to the sector by Brexit, according to Mr Dowling. As part of the UK’s separation from the EU, UK researchers lost access to ‘Horizon Europe’, a pot of funding and the ability to collaborate across Europe. These  collaborations are likely to be particularly important in 2023, as biotechs try to navigate downward pressure on fundraising rounds.