Case Study

Transforming Chemical Manufacturing: The Impact of Innovation in Glasgow

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Date posted: 22/05/2025

Through collaboration and cutting-edge technology, Chemify is revolutionising chemical manufacturing—enhancing efficiency, accelerating drug discovery, and driving sustainable innovation.

Chemify, a University of Glasgow spin-out, is at the forefront of a new era in chemical production, leveraging its groundbreaking chemputation technology. Recognising the need for more efficient and scalable chemical synthesis, Chemify has developed modular chemical robot farms capable of producing complex molecules on demand. With £7.5 million in funding from the Innovation Accelerator (IA) programme, the company has rapidly expanded, creating over 60 new jobs as a direct result of the funding.

The funding has supported the development of a Glasgow-based prototype pilot plant, aiming to employ over 100 people. This facility will serve as a precursor to a large-scale “chemical giga factory,” designed to produce trillions of unique chemicals for applications spanning pharmaceuticals, high-value materials, agriculture, and green energy.

Inspiration

Chemify’s mission is to transform chemical manufacturing by addressing key challenges:

  • Increasing speed, yield, and efficiency in molecule synthesis
  • Enhancing drug discovery through automated chemical design
  • Developing new materials with advanced electronic properties
  • Supporting sustainable and cost-effective chemical production

By digitising chemical processes, Chemify is pioneering an automated system where molecular structures are translated into digital code. This enables robots to design and synthesise molecules with unprecedented precision and scalability. The company is also advancing automation hardware to create a seamless integration of software-driven chemical synthesis.

Innovation and Impact

The first phase of Chemify’s innovation is expected to deliver significant economic and technological benefits:

  • 60 new jobs created, including three new apprenticeships
  • 15 commercial contracts secured, strengthening industry collaboration
  • Discovery Platform deployed at the pilot plant in Glasgow
  • Securing $34 million in Series A funding led by Triatomic Capital
  • Recognition as the University of Glasgow’s Spin-Out of the Year 2024

Customers and Partners

Chemify is working with leading biotechnology and pharmaceutical partners to accelerate drug discovery and chemical synthesis:

Dewpoint Therapeutics: Collaborating to develop novel molecules targeting condensate biology for oncology and neurodegenerative diseases.

Prepaire Labs: Partnering to create non-addictive opioids using AI-driven chemputation technology, addressing the opioid crisis through safer pain medication discovery.

Regional Collaboration

Chemify is driving innovation across the UK through strategic partnerships with research institutions, policymakers, and industry leaders:

  • Development of the Glasgow pilot plant as a model for scalable chemical manufacturing
  • Engagement with national and international partners to advance chemical digitisation
  • Contribution to policy discussions on the future of sustainable and AI-driven chemical production

Conclusion

Chemify is revolutionising the chemical manufacturing sector by integrating automation, artificial intelligence, and digital chemistry to create a scalable and sustainable solution for on-demand molecule synthesis. The initiative is not only driving economic growth and job creation in Glasgow but also positioning the UK as a global leader in AI-powered chemical innovation. Through its collaborative approach, Chemify is paving the way for the future of efficient, automated, and sustainable chemical manufacturing.

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