Medicines
The medicines sector is characterised by a few large pharmaceutical companies and a large number of SME biotech companies.
Medicines
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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.
Related Opportunities
Horizon Europe 2026-27: Cancer Mission
2026 calls close 15 Sep 2026; 2027 calls close 21 Sep 2027
Improving the lives of more than 3 million people by 2030 through prevention, cure and for those affected by cancer including their families, to live longer and better.
More Information
Horizon Europe 2026-2027: Health, Cluster 1
Various closing dates from Apr 2026 to Sep 2027
Topics available under Horizon Europe's Health programme for 2026/27, with funding of up to €90m per call.
More Information
Advancing innovation in drug and alcohol addiction healthcare
Opens: 16/02/2026 Closes: 06/05/2026
Industry led consortia can apply with total eligible costs up to an expected £10m
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Contracts for Innovation in drug and alcohol addiction healthcare
Opens: 16/02/2026 Closes: 06/05/2026
Promising pharmaceutical, MedTech and digital interventions for addiction can receive up to £1.5m (inc. VAT) per project.
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Medicines Manufacturing: Labs of the Future
Opens: 13/04/2026 Closes: 27/05/2026
UK registered businesses can apply for a share of up to £7.5 million to support the development and use of digital, automated, and robotic technologies. This aims to improve the speed and efficiency of pharmaceutical process development and manufacturing.
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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
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Related Events and Recordings
Wed
10
Dec
2025
From molecules to manufacturing: The role of metrology in medicines development and manufacturing – a sustainability focus
13.00 - 14.15 | Online
Watch now
Fri
28
Nov
2025
EUP OHAMR 2026 call: New treatments to tackle Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) – UK webinar and drop in sessions briefing
11.00 - 12.00 | Online
Watch recording or register for drop-in sessions
Tue
4
Mar
2025
Related News
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
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
Related programmes
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
Accelerating the translation of innovative ideas and discoveries into healthcare solutions that improve lives. The Biomedical Catalyst transforms innovative ideas into commercially viable businesses. It delivers sector growth, de-risks innovation and gets companies investment ready.
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.