Medicines

The medicines sector is characterised by a few large pharmaceutical companies and a large number of SME biotech companies.

Support for companies of all sizes is provided by the Health Team across the sector but particularly linked with the manufacturing of pharmaceuticals and advanced therapeutics. Members of the Health Team are closely aligned with the Medicines Manufacturing Industry Partnership and the Bioindustry Association.

Innovate UK Business Connect also organises the Medicines Manufacturing Challenge Community. Its core goal is to accelerate the outcomes from the medicines manufacturing ISCF Challenge which has seen £146m invested in different projects, including the Medicines Manufacturing Innovation Centre and Advanced Therapy Treatment Centres.

Karen Wilkinson

Our Expert

Karen Wilkinson

Read full profile

Related Opportunities

Investor Partnerships – health technologies, West Yorkshire: Rd 2

Opens: 24/02/2025   Closes: 09/04/2025

UK SMEs can apply for grant funding to grow innovation activities in the health technology cluster in West Yorkshire, alongside private investment from selected investor partners.

More Information

Life Sciences Innovative Manufacturing Fund (LSIMF): Expression of Interest

EOIs accepted on a rolling basis; quarterly assessments

Capital grants to support investments over £8m in the manufacture of human medicines, medical diagnostics and medtech products; assessed quarterly

More Information

Innovate UK innovation loans future economy: Round 20

Opens: 06/03/2025   Closes: 07/05/2025

UK registered businesses can apply for loans for innovative projects with strong commercial potential to significantly improve the UK economy.

More Information

Related Events and Recordings

Wed
2
Apr
2025

Transforming Medicines Manufacturing - seeing success through innovation and collaboration

09.00 - 16.30 | Manchester

Register for this event
Fri
24
Jan
2025

Shaping the future of medical products: Data-driven innovation and regulatory perspectives from the MHRA

11.00 - 12.00 | Online

Watch now
See all events

Related News

Innovate UK championing sustainable innovations in medicines manufacturing

07/03/2025

Innovate UK championing sustainable innovations in medicines manufacturing

Innovate UK’s Sustainable Medicines Manufacturing Innovation programme (SMMIP) focuses on industry-led innovation towards more sustainable medicines manufacturing in the UK.

Read more
£3.2m funding awarded to advance early-stage healthcare innovation

24/07/2024

£3.2m funding awarded to advance early-stage healthcare innovation

Thirty-three companies, which took part in Innovate UK Biomedical Catalyst pilot accelerators, have been awarded funding to further develop their innovative projects.

Read more
More News

Related programmes

Transforming Medicines Manufacturing

Transforming Medicines Manufacturing

Innovate UK’s Transforming Medicines Manufacturing programme aims to drive the de-risking and adoption of highly innovative flexible, agile and scalable manufacturing technologies through a culture of collaboration that will drive the growth of this critically important manufacturing sector.

Biomedical Catalyst

Biomedical Catalyst

Helps transform innovative ideas into commercially viable businesses.

Medimap: End-to-end medicines supply chain map

Medimap: End-to-end medicines supply chain map

Medimap is a new interactive reference tool for the UK medicines sector, mapping and categorising over 3,000 sites of organisations engaged in or supporting the end-to-end supply chain for medicines.

Close

Connect with Innovate UK Business Connect

Join Innovate UK Business Connect's mailing list to receive updates on funding opportunities, events and to access Innovate UK Business Connect's deep expertise. Please check your email to confirm your subscription and select your area(s) of interest.