New government funding will help bring the boldest ideas in UK life sciences to life – from deploying robots in factories to manufacture medicines to transforming spent nuclear fuel into the next generation of cancer therapies.
These innovative technologies are all in line for a boost thanks to more than £74m in government and industry backing for the UK’s life sciences innovators.
Today, the government is awarding more than £54m across eight innovative R&D projects through the Sustainable Medicines Manufacturing Innovation Programme – a joint effort between government and industry, funded through the VPAG Investment Programme and further boosted by more than £20m in additional industry backing.
Benefits of UK life sciences
The UK life sciences sector is a force for good and growth, generating a turnover of £150bn annually.
As today’s funding underlines, Britain’s life sciences innovators are transforming what’s possible in healthcare.
This includes unlocking new ways to tackle the scourge of antibiotic-resistant infections, which are directly responsible for over a million deaths annually, as well as finding ways to recycle anaesthetic gas, which could save the NHS around £5m a year and reduce its environmental impact.
Science and Technology Secretary Liz Kendall stated: “The life sciences sector is a core part of our Industrial Strategy for good reason: it turns over £150 billion a year, supports hundreds of thousands of jobs, and is a magnet for investment.
“Its success will be critical to the economic growth we need to deliver this government’s mission of national renewal.”
Cutting-edge technologies driving economic growth
Through the cutting-edge life sciences funding, Innovate UK will support work to make the production of medicines more environmentally friendly and efficient.
Work will include examining how anaesthetic gas can be recycled and reused, as well as exploring the potential to convert spent fuel from Britain’s nuclear power stations into the next generation of cancer therapies. Additionally, efforts will be made to reduce wastefulness in medicine production by leveraging AI and robotics in British factories.
Meanwhile, MHRA is being awarded almost £1m from the Engineering Biology Sandbox Fund for work to address regulatory challenges around ‘engineered bacteriophage products’. Specially designed bacteriophages could provide a solution to the growing problem of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
The work of the MHRA and its partners across five regulatory agencies, together with the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), will ensure that regulation in this important field is fit for purpose and not a barrier to safe innovation.
London Life Sciences Week: Pioneering biopharma and med tech
This landmark funding comes as ministers host leaders from across the life sciences sector, the investor community, and the UK health system at Downing Street, to mark London Life Sciences Week – when investors, researchers, policymakers and businesspeople from across the sector converge on the capital.
The UK life sciences sector supports over 300,000 jobs nationwide and is foundational to the UK’s health and wellbeing.
It has been earmarked in the Industrial Strategy as one of the eight key sectors that will drive growth over the coming decade.
“We’re determined to make the UK a life sciences superpower. That’s why it’s one of our eight priority sectors in our modern Industrial Strategy – so we can build on our strengths and stay at the forefront of innovation,” explained Business and Trade Secretary Peter Kyle.
He added: “Britain’s life sciences sector is one of our greatest national assets, driving breakthroughs that save lives, create high-skilled jobs, and attract world-class investment.
“Today’s funding shows our commitment to backing the boldest ideas, helping deliver the economic growth and national renewal this government is focused on.”
