UK funds £74m to boost sustainable life sciences innovation

The UK government is awarding more than £54 million across eight R&D projects under the Sustainable Medicines Manufacturing Innovation Programme, forming part of a wider >£74 million package including industry contributions to boost sustainable life sciences innovation.

• Main announcement: The government (via Innovate UK and the VPAG Investment Programme) is allocating £54m+ to eight projects under the Sustainable Medicines Manufacturing Innovation Programme, with an additional £20m+ from industry, supporting initiatives such as AI/robotics in factories, anaesthetic gas recycling, and recycling spent nuclear fuel into radiotherapies; the MHRA is also receiving almost £1m from the Engineering Biology Sandbox Fund to address engineered bacteriophage regulation.
• Background and other details: The package sits within the wider VPAG initiative enabled by circa £400m from scheme members; the British Business Bank committed €30m to Sofinnova Capital XI (a €637m fund); Barts Life Sciences Cluster plans are expected to draw £800m into Whitechapel.

Event: London Life Sciences Week (Downing Street gathering)

• Date: Tuesday 18 November (as stated in the release)
• Location: Downing Street / London
• Agenda: leaders from across the life sciences sector, investor community, and UK health system convening to mark London Life Sciences Week