The events of 2020 have thrown into sharp relief the importance of the life science industry worldwide. From researching new therapies, to genomic sequencing, to medical technology, the life sciences will only continue to grow its relevance to the economy. Research, development, and innovation are often clustered around leading universities, science parks, and research institutes.

We have ranked the top 20 cities for life sciences, based on their human capital, investment into health and R&D, the flow of funding into the cities, their openness for business, lifestyle indicators, and the cost of property in each market.

Cities in the United States claim the top five spots in the Science Cities rankings, led by Boston. A leader in VC funding and government investment into R&D, the United States continues to dominate the industry in life science research and innovation. Shanghai is the highest-ranking Chinese city and the top-ranked non-US city in our analysis, a testament to the rise of China as a global leader in the sector.

European cities, from Oxford and Cambridge to Mainz to Dublin, perform well in the analysis especially given their comparatively smaller populations and lower levels of VC investment. Top universities, small but growing investment into the life sciences industry, and lower salary costs for scientists compared to other Science Cities provide ample opportunities for future investment and growth in these markets.

For now, the United States is the dominant player in the industry, particularly in terms of size and funding volumes, but our analysis shows that competition for the top spot is growing among global contenders that offer strong talent pools, value for investment, and expanding life science industries.

_{Read the articles within Report: Science Cities below.}