Cell & gene therapies industrial manufacture

Key Features

Businesses can apply for a share of up to £11 million to industrialise and establish the large-scale manufacture of cell and gene therapies

Programme:     Innovate UK

Award:     Up to £1,750 000

Opens: 26th Sep 2016

Closes: 23rd Nov 2016

! This scheme is now closed

The aim of this competition is to stimulate UK manufacturing for businesses developing novel cell and gene therapies. Projects must focus on the industrialisation of the current manufacturing process for a cell or gene therapy. Innovate UK are particularly interested in funding projects that address one or more of the following:

  • the transfer of cell and gene therapies from the clinical stage to a commercially viable product made in a facility licensed by the Medicines & Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA)
  • process validation within a large-scale commercial facility
  • transfer of technology from small-scale manufacturing to a large-scale innovative Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) manufacturing facility
  • regulatory support and market approval applications of the product
  • the establishment of logistics and reliable end-to-end supply chains for businesses in the UK
  • the development of a UK cell and gene therapy manufacturing capability and the systems to enable efficient manufacturing for multiple businesses in a cluster or single location

You must also show how your project will improve business growth, productivity and/or export opportunities for at least one UK SME involved in the project.

Eligibility

  • UK based business
  • Carry out project in the UK
  • work in collaboration with others (for example, businesses, research organisations and third sector)

International partners are welcome to take part in a project but they are not eligible for Innovate UK funding.

Funding and project details

Projects are expected to focus mostly on industrial research, although there may be some elements of experimental development.

For industrial research, you could get:
• up to 70% of your eligible project costs if you are a small business

For projects that include experimental development work packages, you could get:
• up to 45% of your eligible project costs if you are a small business

Projects are expected to last 1 to 3 years and to range in size from total costs of £1 million to £2.5 million.