New technologies for manufacturing drugs: apply for funding
Businesses can apply for a share of £3.7 million to develop processes that improve manufacturing of advanced drug therapies.
New drugs and therapies that meet the needs of individual patients have the potential to revolutionise healthcare in the UK. Manufacturing these new drugs and getting them to the patient at the right time is a significant challenge for UK businesses.
The UK Government’s Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund (ISCF)Leading-edge Healthcare Challenge is investing £181 million to speed up the development of these new medicines and get them to patients.
A large part of this investment is in facilities to improve the UK’s ability to manufacture new drugs and treatments. Innovate UK, as part of UK Research and Innovation, has up to £3.7 million from the fund to invest in projects developing new technologies that will support the commercial manufacture of new drugs.
Projects must focus on advanced therapies
Projects must focus on gene therapy, engineered tissue or cell therapy and work with standards bodies such as National Physical Laboratory, the LGC Group (formerly Laboratory of the Government Chemist), BSI (British Standards Institution).
They should use external technology to look at ways of improving process mechanisation that will support the commercial manufacture of the new drugs and therapies they have developed.
Projects must show how they will increase productivity, competitiveness, capability or growth for at least one of the UK businesses involved.
Competition information
- the competition opens on 27 August 2019, and the deadline for applications is at midday on 25 September 2019
- businesses of any size may apply
- we expect projects to range in size between £1 million and £2 million
- a briefing event will be held on 3 September 2019