The UK’s medicines manufacturing sector is set for a significant upgrade as Innovate UK commits £54 million to accelerate sustainable and digitally advanced production capabilities. Eight R&D Grand Challenge projects under the Sustainable Medicines Manufacturing Innovation Programme are receiving funding to help reshape how medicines are made and strengthen the country’s position in life sciences and advanced manufacturing.

The Centre for Process Innovation is partnering in five of the awarded projects, representing a combined value of £44.9 million from government and industry. These initiatives target sustainability, automation, digitalisation and circular economy solutions, with a firm focus on reducing waste, lowering emissions and improving resilience across the supply chain. CPI’s CEO emphasised that strengthening sustainable manufacturing is essential for maintaining the UK’s competitive edge while supporting export growth.

One of the headline initiatives is led by AstraZeneca UK, which seeks to overhaul medicine production through robotics, automation, AI and data driven methods. This aligns with the wider ambitions of the government’s latest Industrial Strategy, which prioritises competitiveness through sustainable and tech enabled manufacturing.

Innovate UK highlighted that this phase of the programme will reinforce collaboration across the medicines supply chain and will hinge on advancing regulation, measurement standards and data frameworks. Industry leaders, including the ABPI, note that the sector’s financial commitment reflects a clear intention to build a more resilient and future ready manufacturing base.

The sustainability push unfolds as tensions continue over the VPAG scheme, with pharmaceutical companies weighing whether to remain in or exit ahead of the extended December deadline. Those that leave will fall under the Statutory Scheme, adding further pressure to an industry already navigating cost and compliance challenges.

Explore the full article to understand how these investments will shape the next era of UK medicines manufacturing.