Reflections from BioProcessUK 2025

In late November, the UK bioprocessing community came together at the annual BioProcessUK conference in Newcastle. From reconnecting with familiar faces to forging new partnerships, the event was a powerful example of what happens when industry, academia, and government unite behind a shared mission: to strengthen the UK’s medicines manufacturing sector, tackle emerging challenges and lead the way in sustainable manufacturing innovation.

A thriving community with a shared purpose

Hosted by the BioIndustry Association (BIA) at The Hilton, Gateshead, the conference opened with a celebration of 25 years of technical progress, from the breakthroughs that enabled mRNA vaccines to innovations that continue to shape global health today and tomorrow. Throughout, a shared commitment clearly stood out: our community wants to work together to build a more connected and resilient ecosystem for developing and producing medicines in the UK, one that can deliver for patients and the planet. 

This spirit of collaboration was evident throughout the event, and Innovate UK is proud to be working alongside partners such as the BIA, the Medicines Manufacturing Innovation Partnership (MMIP) and the Office for Life Sciences (OLS), to achieve our mission to help our sector start up, scale and grow in the UK.

Key themes shaping the future

The conference programme tackled some of the most pressing issues and exciting opportunities in medicine manufacturing today:

• Growing and scaling innovation in fast-growing areas of development, such as cell and gene therapies and antibody-drug conjugates, ensuring the UK remains at the forefront of high-potential modalities.
• Building sustainable and resilient domestic manufacturing, a theme that was seen strongly across sessions, especially against the current geopolitical backdrop.
• Leveraging automation and digital ecosystems for biomanufacturing, where several projects were showcased from our Transforming Medicines Manufacturing (TMM) portfolio.

Attendees highlighted that sustainability cannot be just a talking point, it must serve as a call to action. As healthcare providers seek to establish net zero supply chains, the UK has a unique opportunity to lead globally by embedding sustainable practices into medicines manufacturing. This represents a competitive advantage and strategic growth opportunity for the UK.

Celebrating innovation and leadership

One of the highlights of the conference was the Dragons’ Den showcase, where Innovate UK invited five innovators funded through the Sustainable Medicines Manufacturing Innovation Programme (SMMIP) to present their projects. EnsiliTech won the showcase with a pitch on Ensilication®, their proprietary platform technology aimed at eliminating cold chain dependency for antibodies, vaccines, and other biological products. Alongside this showcase, three of our Grand Challenges joined us at the Innovation Zone to present their ambitious projects which aim to transform how we manufacture CAR T-cells and peptides, and to re-design medicine packaging. These projects exemplify how cutting-edge science, collaboration and sustainability can go hand in hand by developing solutions that reduce the sector’s environmental impact while driving commercial growth. You can find out more about our eight Grand Challenges in our brochure.

The event also celebrated leadership and vision. The Peter Dunnill Award was presented to Cath Green, Professor of Clinical Biomanufacturing and Head of the Clinical Biomanufacturing Facility at the Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford. Her inspiring keynote underscored the vital role of early-stage innovation in vaccine development, a lesson brought into sharp focus by the rapid response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Building a sustainable future together

As we reflect on BioProcessUK 2025, one thing is clear: the UK medicines manufacturing sector is not only growing but evolving with purpose. By embedding sustainability, embracing digital transformation, and fostering collaboration, we are building an ecosystem that is both competitive and pioneering.

Innovate UK is proud to support this journey. Through programmes like the Sustainable Medicine Manufacturing Innovation Programme, we will continue to help innovators turn ideas into commercial solutions that strengthen the sector and bring us closer to achieving net zero.

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