SIC code 72110 classifies businesses engaged in research and experimental development on biotechnology. There are 4,035 active companies registered under this code in the UK, forming a substantial sector within the national economy. It falls under Section M (Professional, scientific and technical activities) of the UK SIC 2007 classification system, which is used by Companies House to categorise all registered businesses.
See the full industry analysis on the Research and experimental development on biotechnology industry page.
With a 91% survival rate, this sector shows strong business longevity. Only 7 of 4,416 companies registered under this code have dissolved, well below the UK average. Companies in this sector average 7.1 years old, reflecting a balanced mix of established businesses and newer market participants. Growth has been exceptional recently: 56% of all active companies were formed since 2020, marking this as one of the fastest-expanding classifications. The 2010s contributed another 33%, meaning the vast majority of businesses are relatively new. The leading locations for this sector are LONDON (1,095), CAMBRIDGE (301), OXFORD (122), which together account for 38% of active companies.
SIC code 72110 stands for "Research and experimental development on biotechnology" under the UK Standard Industrial Classification (SIC 2007) system. It belongs to Section M — Professional, scientific and technical activities. Companies use this code when registering with Companies House to indicate their primary business activity. The code is required for annual confirmation statements and is used by HMRC, ONS, and other government bodies for statistical and regulatory purposes.
There are currently 4,035 active companies registered under SIC code 72110 in the UK, out of 4,416 total registrations. This gives a survival rate of 91%, meaning 9% of companies registered under this code have since dissolved. These figures are based on Companies House data and updated regularly.
The top locations for research and experimental development on biotechnology companies (SIC 72110) are: LONDON (1,095), CAMBRIDGE (301), OXFORD (122), EDINBURGH (79), MANCHESTER (63). Geographic concentration can reflect local economic conditions, industry clusters, or proximity to key markets and supply chains.
The sector is growing: 56% of currently active SIC 72110 companies were formed since 2020, and 33% during the 2010s. This sustained formation rate indicates ongoing demand for research and experimental development on biotechnology services in the UK.
Companies classified under SIC 72110 have an average age of 7.1 years. This suggests a balanced sector with both established players and newer entrants. Notable companies include GENOME RESEARCH LIMITED, ILLUMINA CAMBRIDGE LIMITED, OXFORD BIOMEDICA (UK) LIMITED.
Related SIC codes within the same division include: 72190 (Other research and experimental development on natural sciences and engineering), 72200 (Research and experimental development on social sciences and humanities), 7260 (Other computer related activities), 7222 (Other software consultancy and supply). Companies may use multiple SIC codes if they operate across several of these related activities. When registering with Companies House, businesses should select the code that best represents their primary activity.
You can search for companies with SIC code 72110 (Research and experimental development on biotechnology) using UVAGATRON's company explorer, which allows filtering by SIC code, location, and company status. Alternatively, Companies House offers a basic search on their website. Our platform adds risk intelligence, director networks, and signals from 50+ government databases to each company record.
Search, filter, and analyse 4,035 companies classified under this SIC code with AI-powered risk intelligence.
Data sourced from Companies House, HM Land Registry, FCA Register, and 50+ government databases. SIC classification follows the UK Standard Industrial Classification of Economic Activities 2007 (SIC 2007). Last updated: 2026-04-17.