It is the only site in the United Kingdom with three BBSRC funded research institutes and the focus of the community is on creating and supporting new companies and jobs based on bioscience.

[16][17] John Innes compost was developed by the institution in the 1930s, who donated the recipe to the "Dig for Victory" war effort.

[1] The University of East Anglia (UEA) was set up in April 1960 for biological sciences and English studies students.

[24] Attempts to establish a university in Norwich were made in 1919 and 1947, but due to a lack of government funding on both occasions the plans had to be postponed.

[26] UEA was one of the "plate glass universities" that were constructed during the decade to meet the demand for the expansion of higher education.

[35] In 1987, an agreement was signed to establish The Sainsbury Laboratory (TSL) as a joint venture between the Gatsby Charitable Foundation.

[39][40][41][42] The institute combines research teams from the partners with a regional gastrointestinal endoscopy unit and a clinical trials facility.