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.
About the programme
The Transforming Medicines Manufacturing (TMM) programme leads on from the ISCF Medicines Manufacturing Challenge Community, which was established in 2017 and ran until 2022, and has been designed to support and grow the UK’s capabilities in manufacturing medicines by developing first-of-a-kind technologies to accelerate patient access to new drugs and treatments.
TMM consists of a range of funding competitions as well as a Community of Practice which will include a range of face-to-face events, interactive workshops and webinars amongst other activities.
Programme objectives
- De-risk the use of technologies in innovative manufacturing.
- Drive disruptive technology innovation of long-term strategic importance.
- Build resilience and growth in the medicines manufacturing sector ensuring health security and patient benefit.
- Support economic recovery and levelling up through supporting job creation, skills development and encouraging inward investment.
- Supporting ambitious ED&I goals across the sector to establish a culture of change.
- Address the Net Zero agenda and sustainability goals through funding novel manufacturing technologies to improve yields reduce waste and cut emissions.
Related programmes
Medicines Manufacturing Skills Investment Programme: The Office for Life Sciences has allocated £6.5m to enhance the UK’s Medicines Manufacturing ecosystem. This funding is being implemented through RESILIENCE, the Medicines Manufacturing Skills Centre of Excellence project, the Industry Skills Accelerator (ISA) in addition to securing the legacy of ATAC (Advanced Therapy Apprenticeship Programme) and ATSTN (Advanced Therapies Skills Training Network). Together, these initiatives aim to support organisations with their skills development and training requirements.
Transforming Medicines Manufacturing introduction
The key to the UK’s future as a global medicines manufacturing hub is its people. The Medicines Manufacturing Challenge has laid the groundwork for building this highly skilled workforce, but we need to continue to nurture the pipeline for the next generation of scientists, engineers and technicians to maintain a thriving industry.
Focus Areas
FOCUS AREA
Nucleic Acid Medicines Manufacturing
Improving the resource efficiency, productivity, and scalability for the manufacture of nucleic acid medicines.
FOCUS AREA
Digitalisation and automation
Driving digitalisation and automation technologies in the development and manufacture of medicines.
FOCUS AREA
Intracellular drug delivery
Development and manufacturing of innovative formulations for DNA and RNA-based medicines.
FOCUS AREA
Flexible, Agile, Sustainable, Scalable Technologies
Investing in advanced manufacturing technologies for better, more responsive manufacturing approaches.
FOCUS AREA
Simplified Delivery of Complex Medicines
Accelerating innovation in complex medicines formulation, manufacturing, and delivery.
The Community of Practice
A collaborative forum, bringing together key stakeholders to drive forward cutting-edge innovation in medicines manufacturing in the UK.
Read more
Related Opportunities
Advanced manufacturing supply chain innovation: feasibility studies
Opens: 02/02/2026 Closes: 11/03/2026
Up to £100k per project for feasibility studies to make supply chains more resource efficient and resilient through addressing cross cutting challenges.
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
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
Related News
23/07/2025
Healthy Living and Agriculture Review 2025 – A focus on Future Medicines
Future proofing medicine through innovation and emerging modalities delivered by sustainable supply chains.
Read more
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
16/01/2025
Funding to build a sustainable future for medicines manufacturing
15 projects have been awarded a share of £1.3m seed funding to support proposals for large-scale Grand Challenges in sustainable medicines manufacturing.
Read more
Join the community
Join the medicines manufacturing community of practice to stay up to date with the latest news, grant funding, policy changes and regulatory announcements. Interact and collaborate with other organisations and help shape the future of medicines manufacturing in the UK.