SIC code 72190 classifies businesses engaged in other research and experimental development on natural sciences and engineering. There are 5,626 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 Other research and experimental development on natural sciences and engineering industry page.
With a 91% survival rate, this sector shows strong business longevity. Only 11 of 6,152 companies registered under this code have dissolved, well below the UK average. Companies in this sector average 10.7 years old, reflecting a balanced mix of established businesses and newer market participants. Growth has been exceptional recently: 43% of all active companies were formed since 2020, marking this as one of the fastest-expanding classifications. The 2010s contributed another 31%, meaning the vast majority of businesses are relatively new. The leading locations for this sector are LONDON (1,105), CAMBRIDGE (243), EDINBURGH (111), which together account for 26% of active companies.
SIC code 72190 stands for "Other research and experimental development on natural sciences and engineering" 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 5,626 active companies registered under SIC code 72190 in the UK, out of 6,152 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 other research and experimental development on natural sciences and engineering companies (SIC 72190) are: LONDON (1,105), CAMBRIDGE (243), EDINBURGH (111), BRISTOL (102), MANCHESTER (86). Geographic concentration can reflect local economic conditions, industry clusters, or proximity to key markets and supply chains.
The sector is growing: 43% of currently active SIC 72190 companies were formed since 2020, and 31% during the 2010s. This sustained formation rate indicates ongoing demand for other research and experimental development on natural sciences and engineering services in the UK.
Companies classified under SIC 72190 have an average age of 10.7 years. This suggests a balanced sector with both established players and newer entrants. Notable companies include THE JAMES HUTTON INSTITUTE, UNIVERSITY OF DERBY, NATIONAL OCEANOGRAPHY CENTRE.
Related SIC codes within the same division include: 72110 (Research and experimental development on biotechnology), 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 72190 (Other research and experimental development on natural sciences and engineering) 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 5,626 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.