Constructed by Tilbury Douglas, formerly Interserve, with support from BakerHicks architects, the centre has been supported by £88 million investment from public and private partners and will bring world-class science and technology expertise under one roof to help accelerate state-of-the-art solutions in medicines development and manufacturing.

The centre is a unique collaboration between technology innovation catalyst CPI and 23 partner organisations from across the pharma sector, business, academia, and government agencies. Its ‘grand challenge’ business model follows the UK Life Sciences Strategy roadmap, combining ideas from the pharma and technology sectors to help tackle issues such as the development of more sustainable manufacturing processes.

The Medicines Manufacturing Innovation Centre has six founding partners: pharmaceutical giants, AstraZeneca and GSK; technology innovation catalyst, CPI; strategic research partner, the University of Strathclyde; and two government agencies, UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and Scottish Enterprise.

Other partners that have invested in the centre include Pfizer, Novartis and Alnylam from the pharma industry, business partner PwC, and technology leaders Siemens and Applied Materials.

Atos, a global digital transformation provider addressing the life science value chain providing pharma manufacturing digitalisation and transformation capabilities and services, is the latest to join the unique consortium, with a significant investment in the centre announced today.

The centre is forecast to generate £200m in advanced technologies over the first 5 years and will deliver a tangible impact for businesses – creating over 100 high-value jobs, enabling private investment, and building next-generation manufacturing assets and expertise.

Dave Tudor, managing director of medicines manufacturing, biologics and quality at CPI, said: “The facility we have built here in Renfrewshire is the first example of a consistent and concerted effort from the pharma industry to collaborate. This will be crucial to unlocking the challenges we’ve faced so far to translate research into tangible benefits that will help address unmet health needs.

“Our ‘Grand Challenge’ business model aims to bring key players together to accelerate solutions to some of the core issues we’ve seen across the industry. For example, we want to see a reduction in waste and the industry’s carbon footprint through better, more efficient manufacturing processes.

“We want to drive strong research in areas like cell and gene therapy, RNA, and monoclonal antibodies, to bring digital solutions, advanced thinking, advanced technology and advanced supply chain mindsets to help with greater investment and growth in biological manufacture.

“The next phase is about inviting companies into the new centre so they can benefit from the existing technologies developed as a result of our Grand Challenges.”

The Medicines Manufacturing Innovation Centre is a fully Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) regulated plant, taking on many of the start-up risks involved in drug development, such as compliance with regulatory requirements for the development of new technologies. Partners can expect to see benefits to their manufacturing processes including greater productivity, reduced cost of drug development, greater compliance, and a reduction in carbon footprint.

Minister for industry and investment security, Nusrat Ghani, said: “A strong life sciences sector, like ours here in the UK, requires full collaboration from all along the supply and delivery chain – from researchers and manufacturers to government policymakers and business.

“This was made evident during the pandemic, when the UK’s outstanding medical manufacturing capability gave us a global head start in rolling out timely vaccines.

“CPI’s new Medicines Manufacturing Innovation Centre, opening in the dynamic city of Glasgow, will provide huge benefit for the UK’s pharma sector, helping translate research into new health treatments, and supporting quality jobs in the region. The Centre will support the ambitions of our Life Sciences Vision to accelerate innovation and drive sustainable manufacturing processes, reducing industry’s carbon footprint while continuing to strengthen our position as an Innovation Nation.”

Scottish Government business minister, Ivan McKee, said: “Through our national economic development agency, Scottish Enterprise, we have provided £16m for the Centre, which is arriving at a crucial time for Scotland, meeting a need for advanced pharmaceutical manufacturing, creating jobs in a vitally important sector, and presenting a compelling opportunity for international and domestic manufacturing businesses to locate in Scotland.

“As a key part of Scotland’s economic recovery, the centre will produce benefits not only for the economy but for the health of the nation and will put Scotland at the forefront of advanced medicines manufacturing.”

UK government minister for Scotland John Lamont said: “This centre of excellence is a truly remarkable development that will push science to its limits and beyond to find medical breakthroughs with the potential to save and transform countless lives.

“The UK Government, through Innovate UK, is investing a combined £28m in the Medicines Manufacturing Innovation Centre. This is in addition to a further £55.6m in the wider Advanced Manufacturing Innovation District through the City Deal and Levelling Up funds.

“This collaboration across multiple sectors is partnership work at its best, producing benefits both locally and for humanity worldwide.”

Indro Mukerjee, CEO of Innovate UK, said: “Innovate UK congratulates the Medicines Manufacturing Innovation Centre team on the opening of the state-of-the-art facility, a flagship investment by our Medicines Manufacturing Challenge.

“Investing in medicines manufacturing has a transformational impact on the UK, creating an excellent environment to start and grow innovative healthcare. This is and will be an important area for Innovate UK’s work.”

Professor Sir Jim McDonald, principal and vice-chancellor of the University of Strathclyde, said: “The Medicines Manufacturing Innovation Centre is an exemplar of strategic academic and industrial collaboration and highlights the important role such partnerships play in fostering innovation, the translation of research into practical applications, and the nurturing of the high-quality talent that businesses require.

“As part of the Advanced Manufacturing Innovation District Scotland, and sitting alongside the National Manufacturing Institute Scotland, this new facility will help to develop the technologies, systems, processes and products that will transform pharmaceutical manufacturing in this country and significantly boost the local economy.

“Scotland’s global reputation for advanced manufacturing is growing at pace, and the exciting Medicines Manufacturing Innovation Centre investment will further enhance this.”

Andy Ross, vice-president and head of internal biopharm and steriles manufacturing, GSK, said: “GSK has been very pleased to support the Medicines Manufacturing Innovation Centre as a founding partner.

“The centre offers the pharma industry and other partners the opportunity to cooperate, whilst enhancing the attractiveness of the UK for pharma manufacturing inward investment.

“We also look forward to the centre helping to benefit the industry through technology solutions that lead to supply chain efficiencies and resilience, along with new solutions to enhance sustainable manufacturing.”