OBN

What OBN does

BioUK (formerly OBN) is a UK not-for-profit membership network founded in 1999 and headquartered at Harwell, Didcot, Oxfordshire. It supports the UK's emerging life sciences R&D companies by aggregating a community of SMEs, investors, analysts, pharmaceutical companies, science parks, technology transfer offices (TTOs), and technology and professional services organizations. The organization catalyses growth through three functional pillars: creating industry connections (events, members directory, community), securing investment (BioTrinity partnering conference, investor-focused programming), and saving members time and money (a purchasing consortium with Fisher Scientific UK, Merck/Sigma-Aldrich, and ThermoFisher Scientific, plus event and conference discounts).

The product surface is diversified. Flagship BioUK Events include BioTrinity (a major annual partnering and investment conference — BioTrinity 2026 scheduled April 14-15 at Convene) and BioSeed (a focused investment/networking event — BioSeed June 2026 at etc.venues 8 Fenchurch Place). These are supplemented by BioUK Coaching (including 1:1 coaching sessions), BioLearn educational resources, BioUK Go2Guides, a Members Directory, and a Purchasing Consortium. Consultancy services are delivered through Business Support and a specialized Partner4Pharma program. Distribution is primarily self-serve through the Glue Up platform (obn.glueup.com), with marketing driven by the event franchise, email newsletter, website content, and member testimonials.

The business model is a hybrid not-for-profit revenue stack: membership subscriptions and event registration fees form the base, layered with patron contributions from IPSEN and Barclays (the top tier), and sponsor contributions from a broad roster including BDO, Bruntwood SciTech, Fisher Scientific, Milton Park, Partners&, Penningtons Manches Cooper, Precision for Medicine, Syneos Health, ThermoFisher Scientific, EBD Group, Venner Shipley, and Zyme Communications. No revenue figures, funding rounds, or AI/technology capabilities are disclosed in the available data, and the organization operates at 11-50 employees with no identified parent or ownership structure. In 2025 it rebranded from OBN to BioUK® to reflect national UK reach and consolidate investment in the Bio- event series.

Name

OBN

Legal name

BioUK

Website

https://obn.org.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

BioUK (formerly OBN) is a UK not-for-profit membership network that supports emerging life sciences R&D companies through events (BioTrinity, BioSeed), coaching, supplier discount programs, and consultancy services across multiple member segments.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Oxford

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

OBN (rebranded to BioUK®) operates a not-for-profit membership network for the UK life sciences industry, delivering industry events (BioTrinity, BioSeed), 1:1 coaching and educational resources (BioLearn), a members directory, and a purchasing consortium offering discounted rates with suppliers such as Fisher Scientific and Merck (Sigma-Aldrich). It also provides business support consultancy and a targeted Partner4Pharma programme to connect SMEs with pharmaceutical partners.

Product overview

BioUK (formerly OBN) is a not-for-profit membership network offering a platform of interconnected services for the UK life sciences industry. The core offering centers on BioUK Events, including flagship conferences like BioTrinity and BioSeed, which serve as primary networking and investment catalysts. These are supplemented by BioUK Coaching (including 1:1 sessions), BioLearn educational resources, a Members Directory, and a Purchasing Consortium providing discounted supplier agreements. The Business Support and Partner4Pharma consultancy services complete the offering, enabling the network to catalyze growth through connections, investment opportunities, and cost savings.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• BioTrinity: Major life sciences partnering and investment conference organized by BioUK
• BioSeed

Products and services

• BioUK Events Life sciences industry events including the BioTrinity annual partnering and investment conference (next edition April 14-15, 2026) and BioSeed (June 8, 2026) that facilitate networking, learning, partnering and business development opportunities for member organisations.
• BioUK Coaching (including 1:1 Coaching) Coaching services including 1:1 coaching sessions to support professional development and business growth for life sciences entrepreneurs and SME member organisations.
• BioLearn Educational resources and learning materials for life sciences professionals and member organisations.
• Purchasing Consortium Group purchasing programme providing discounted rates and free-shipping agreements with major scientific suppliers including Fisher Scientific UK, Merck (Sigma-Aldrich) and Thermo Fisher Scientific, delivering operational cost savings to member SMEs.
• Business Support (Consultancy) Consultancy services providing business development support and advisory services for life sciences companies.
• Partner4Pharma Specialised pharmaceutical partnership programme offering targeted business support and networking to connect life sciences SMEs with pharmaceutical companies.

Named customers3 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered supporting.

• BDOsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerBDO is a sponsor of BioUK, providing professional services expertise to the life sciences membership network.
• Bruntwood SciTechsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerBruntwood SciTech is a sponsor of BioUK, providing science park ecosystem support and visibility.
• Fisher ScientificsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerFisher Scientific is a supplier partner providing discounted rates and free-shipping agreements for BioUK members on laboratory supplies.
• Milton ParksupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerMilton Park is a sponsor of BioUK, representing a major UK science and technology campus ecosystem.
• Partners&supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartners& is a sponsor of BioUK, providing professional services expertise.
• Penningtons Manches CoopersupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPenningtons Manches Cooper is a sponsor of BioUK, providing legal services expertise to the life sciences sector.
• Precision for MedicinesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrecision for Medicine is a sponsor of BioUK, providing specialized medicine and research services expertise.
• Syneos HealthsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerSyneos Health is a sponsor of BioUK, providing clinical and commercial services expertise.
• ThermoFisher ScientificsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerThermoFisher Scientific is a supplier partner providing discounted rates for BioUK members on scientific equipment and supplies.
• EBD GroupsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerEBD Group is a sponsor of BioUK, providing partnering and event services expertise in the life sciences sector.
• Venner ShipleysupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerVenner Shipley is a sponsor of BioUK, providing intellectual property and patent services expertise.
• Zyme CommunicationssupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerZyme Communications is a sponsor of BioUK, providing life sciences communications and marketing expertise.

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• EuropaBio: EuropaBio is the European Association for Bioindustries, representing biotech and life sciences companies at the EU level. It is comparable to BioUK as an industry membership body but with a continental rather than national scope.
• MassBio (Massachusetts Biotechnology Council): MassBio is the largest US state-level biotech trade association, serving the Massachusetts cluster with events, networking, and member services. It is comparable to BioUK in mission and structure but operates at much larger scale and across a more mature biotech ecosystem.

Direct peers

• BIOTECanada: BIOTECanada is Canada's national biotechnology industry association, providing member services, advocacy, and networking across the Canadian life sciences ecosystem. It mirrors BioUK's national-level membership model for biotech SMEs and partners.
• AusBiotech: AusBiotech is Australia's national life sciences industry association, offering membership, events, and advocacy similar to BioUK. It is comparable in operating model — a national membership body organizing flagship conferences and serving SME biotechs.
• One Nucleus: One Nucleus is a UK membership organization for life sciences and healthcare companies, primarily serving the Cambridge and London clusters. It operates the same horizontal membership model targeting SMEs, investors, and service providers in life sciences.
• BioIndustry Association (BIA): The BioIndustry Association is the UK's leading trade association for the life sciences sector, representing biotech, pharma, and medtech companies. It directly competes with BioUK for members, sponsor revenue, and policy influence across the same UK life sciences SME base.

Regional players

• Life Sciences Hub Wales: Life Sciences Hub Wales is a Welsh government-backed organization supporting life sciences innovation and companies in Wales. It is comparable to BioUK as a membership-driven ecosystem body but is geographically restricted to Wales.
• MedCity: MedCity is a London-focused life sciences cluster organization supporting companies across the greater London region. It overlaps with BioUK's SME and investor member targets but is regionally concentrated rather than nationally focused.
• BioNow: BioNow is the Northwest England life sciences membership network, connecting companies, academics, and clinicians across the regional cluster. It mirrors BioUK's networking and event-driven model but operates on a regional rather than national UK basis.
• Scottish Lifesciences Association: The Scottish Lifesciences Association is the trade body for life sciences companies in Scotland, providing networking, advocacy, and member services. It is comparable to BioUK as a regional membership organization serving life sciences SMEs.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/OBN_UK

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about OBN