Best Countries For Life Sciences Research

The biopharmaceutical industry is global, with the largest companies often operating in the best countries for life sciences research. As a result, for those people with an interest in international living and life science, the USA is not the only option for careers in the life sciences. We have come up with a list of the best countries for life sciences research. If you have been searching for the same, then read on! 

Also Read: Make A Successful Career in Microbiology

United States of America

The list of the best countries for life sciences research cannot start without mentioning the USA, securing the foremost position, simply because of its dominance of high-quality life sciences research in this global ranking. Life sciences account for nearly 50% of national natural science output, followed by chemistry, physical sciences and earth and environmental sciences, respectively. Life science sales reached $450 billion last year, with six of the top 10 pharmaceutical companies headquartered in the United States, including Pfizer, Amgen and Johnson & Johnson. These three businesses alone account for over 240,700 jobs worldwide.

Here is a list of the top 10 institutes in the US for life sciences research:

• Harvard University
• Stanford University
• Massachusetts Institute of Technology 
• The University of California, Berkeley 
• National Institutes of Health 
• University of Michigan 
• The University of California, San Diego
• The University of California, Los Angeles 
• Northwestern University 
• Yale University

China 

The next on our list of best countries for life sciences research is none other than China. China has made up for its lag in life science research and its influence in the global life sciences sector has grown considerably over the last decade. In just one year, the country’s share in life sciences has increased by an impressive 14%, the strongest growth of any country in this top 10 worldwide. Also, the changes in China’s life sciences sector have improved access to medical products and paved the way for several innovations in life sciences research.

Here is a list of the top 10 institutes in China for life sciences research:

• Chinese Academy of Sciences
• University of Science and Technology of China
• Peking University
• Tsinghua University
• Nanjing University
• University of Chinese Academy of Sciences 
• Zhejiang University 
• Shanghai Jiao Tong University
• Sun Yat-sen University 
• Fudan University

Also Read: MBBS in China- Complete Guide

Germany

Talking about the best countries for life sciences research and not mentioning Germany is not possible. With a growth of 1.5% between 2017 and 2018, Germany’s performance in life sciences remains strong. In 2016, Germany’s pharmaceutical revenues reached $40.7 billion. Bayer AG is the largest pharmaceutical company in the country and employs about 30,000 people at just 19 locations in Germany. Furthermore, in recent years, the country has become a top destination for researchers, with a relatively low cost of living, stable growth and higher spending on research and development in the area of life sciences.

Here is a list of the top 10 institutes in Germany for life sciences research:

• Max Planck Society
• Helmholtz Association of German Research Centres
• Leibniz Association
• Ludwig Maximilians University of Munich 
• Technical University of Munich 
• Heidelberg University 
• The University of Münster 
• University of Würzburg 
• Free University of Berlin 
• RWTH Aachen University 

Japan

The next country on our list of the best countries for life sciences research is Japan, a country that has the utmost respect for human resource development (HRD), new-age technology and multiple fields of science. Japan is constantly striving to maintain its place in the world of research. To improve the results of the country’s high-quality scientific research, they are implementing a funding strategy for selected institutions to strengthen their collaboration abroad. The country’s pharmaceutical market now stands at approximately $70 billion.

Here is a list of the top 10 institutes in Japan for life sciences research:

• The University of Tokyo
• Kyoto University
• Osaka University
• Tohoku University
• RIKEN
• Tokyo Institute of Technology
• Nagoya University
• Kyushu University
• Hokkaido University
• National Institute for Materials Science

Also Read: MBBS in Japan

United Kingdom 

Next on our list of best countries for life sciences research is the United Kingdom. It is not a surprise that two of the largest pharmaceutical companies worldwide are in the United Kingdom, GlaxoSmithKline and AstraZeneca. In 2015, the biopharmaceutical and medical device industries generated £30.4 billion for the United Kingdom economy. A one-of-a-kind health and life sciences ecosystem can be observed in the UK. The country has achieved diverse scientific breakthroughs and is leading the next generation of life-changing services, technologies and treatments. The country’s objective is to raise its R&D expenditure to 2.4% of GDP by 2027.

Here is a list of the top 10 institutes in the UK for life sciences research:

• University of Cambridge
• University of Oxford
• The University of York
• The University of Sheffield
• Imperial College London 
• University College London 
• University of Bristol
• The University of Bath
• The University of Manchester 
• University of Glasgow

Canada

Canada is next in our list of best countries for life sciences research. With the life sciences, which represent almost half of Canada’s share of the nature index, the country continues to be highly ranked in this field. Canada has an extensive network of research firms, laboratories, universities and hospitals that collaborate with the life sciences sector in the fields of bio-health, bioenergy, biotechnology and agro-biotechnology. The country is emerging as a global leader in the field of life science and biotechnology.  Its domestic market for pharmaceuticals and manufacturing employs more than 26,000 people and another 100,000 indirect jobs.  Canada-built businesses include companies such as Apotex and Cobalt, that are contributing to the field of life science research. 

Here is a list of the top 10 institutes in Canada for life sciences research:

• University of Toronto
• McGill University
• The University of British Columbia
• University of Alberta
• University of Waterloo
• University of Calgary
• University of Montreal
• University of Ottawa
• Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics
• Western University

France

France is another country which never fails to impress the world with its roaring potential in any field and hence has also made a place on our list of best countries for life sciences research. The country is known for spending around EUR 48 billion on research, or 2.24% of its GDP, each year. This has made it possible for the country to achieve its objective of being a country with high-quality scientific research.

Here is a list of the top 10 institutes in France for life sciences research:

• French National Centre for Scientific Research
• Sorbonne University
• The French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission 
• National Institute for Health and Medical Research 
• University of Paris
• University of Paris-Sud 
• University of Strasbourg
• University of Toulouse
• University of Lyon
• Aix-Marseille University 

Also Read: Wanna Study Abroad Inexpensively?- Go to France! [Complete Guide]

Switzerland 

Next up on our list of best countries for life sciences research is Switzerland. Switzerland may be recognised as a power of the physical sciences, but it does far more than its part in the life sciences. A one-of-a-kind world life sciences cluster is located in Switzerland. The country is home to a dense network of biotechnology, medical technology and nanotechnology companies, as well as chemical and pharmaceutical giants such as La Roche, Novartis and Syngenta. Switzerland’s life sciences industry has the highest labour productivity compared with other leading international sites. 

Here is a list of the top 10 institutes in Switzerland for life sciences research:

• Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich
• Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne
• University of Zurich
• University of Geneva
• University of Basel
• University of Bern
• University of Lausanne
• F. Hoffmann-La Roche AG
• Paul Scherrer Institute
• European Organization for Nuclear Research

South Korea

Next on our list of best countries for life sciences research, we have the Republic of Korea, also known as South Korea. Apart from its evergreen natural habitat consisting of the green, hilly countryside dotted with cherry trees and centuries-old Buddhist temples, the country is also marking its presence in the life science research sector. South Korea spends 4.3 per cent of its GDP on R&D and is one of the most innovative countries in the world. The country has approximately 32 per cent of its STEM degrees and claims to be the most scientifically educated country.

Here is a list of the top 10 institutes in South Korea for life sciences research:

• Seoul National University 
• Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology 
• Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology 
• Sungkyunkwan University 
• Institute for Basic Science 
• Yonsei University
• Pohang University of Science and Technology
• Korea University
• Hanyang University 
• Korea Institute of Science and Technology

Must Read: Study in South Korea for Indian Students

Australia

Last but not least, we have Australia on our list of best countries for life sciences research. The country’s production by subject is fairly evenly distributed, with life sciences contributing the bulk of its high-quality research output, as followed by the Nature Index.  Australia’s life sciences industry continues to grow with the rise of medical devices and biotechnology sectors fuelled by advances in technology. For professionals in the life sciences industry, Australia is enhancing its reputation as a very attractive workplace and becoming a world-class hub for life sciences. Also, the University of Queensland is a leading institution in the discipline, followed by the University of Melbourne and Monash University.

Here is a list of the top 10 institutes in Australia for life sciences research:

• University of New South Wales
• The University of Queensland
• Monash University
• The University of Melbourne
• Australian National University
• The University of Sydney
• The University of Western Australia
• The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation
• The University of Adelaide
• University of Wollongong

Bonus Information:

Preclinical, a life sciences recruiting company has evaluated the global life sciences industry, taking into account the country’s turnover, the innovation of the life sciences industry in different countries, and the number of life science jobs available in domestic and international life science enterprises. The company has created a list of the best countries for life science jobs in the world. Let’s have a look: 

Rank	Country
1	United States
2	Germany
3	France
4	Singapore
5	Switzerland
6	Japan
7	Italy
8	United Kingdom
9	Spain
10	Canada

Related Articles: 

Scope of Biology as a Career	Branches of Biology
B Tech Biomedical Engineering	BSc Genetics
How To Become a Neurologist	MSc Bioinformatics

FAQs

These were the best countries for life sciences research. We hope that this blog was able to provide you with updated knowledge and insights related to the leading countries across the globe that are dominating their presence in the field of life science. Want to pursue a course in life science from one of these countries? Many Indian students dream of pursuing education in foreign nations due to the exposure and career growth they offer. Consider joining a free counselling session with Leverage Edu if you plan to study abroad.