Life Sciences – forget the use class; think ecosystem

AI is rapidly reshaping the life sciences sector but its impact extends well beyond scientific discovery. It is also changing what occupiers expect from the real estate that supports their businesses.

Reading Will Hawking's recent article in Green Street News, one observation particularly resonated with me:

What unites them is not a single use class, but a shared reliance on data science talent and the ability to scale quickly, enabling them to stay at the cutting edge of rapidly advancing research within a flexible, supportive ecosystem.

That captures an important shift in how we should think about life sciences real estate.

For years, discussions have centred on whether an asset is a lab, wet or dry, an office, a power-consuming data analysis floor, or something in between. Increasingly, that distinction feels less relevant. Businesses focused on technological advancement, whether developing AI-enabled therapeutics, digital health platforms or advanced diagnostics, need access to talent, computing power, specialist facilities and opportunities to collaborate. The physical building is only one part of that equation.

For investors, developers and landlords, the challenge is therefore broader than delivering high-quality lab space. The most successful “life science” schemes are proving to be those that create an environment in which innovative businesses can attract people, adapt quickly and grow alongside others within the same ecosystem.

As technology continues to blur the boundaries between traditional sectors, it is clear we should spend less time focused on use classes and more time considering how real estate can support innovation.

Subscribe to our latest insights by topic here.