UK organisations can apply for grants to support digitalised and automated technology innovation and implementation for pharmaceutical development and manufacturing.

This Innovate UK (IUK) competition aims to encourage the development and implementation of innovative digital and automated data collection technologies. These technologies should measurably increase the speed and resource efficiency of pharmaceutical process development and manufacturing productivity.

Up to £5 million has been allocated to fund innovation projects in this competition. Funding will be in the form of a grant. Each project’s total grant funding request must be between £100,000 and £1 million.

The competition will fund feasibility and industrial research projects that demonstrate an improvement in resource efficiency, eg reducing waste production, energy consumption, or carbon emissions. Alternatively, projects must show productivity utilising a recognised metric, for example process mass intensity, or overall equipment effectiveness as a result of the innovation.

The competition is open to collaborations only. To lead a project, or collaborate with the lead, an organisation must be a UK registered business of any size, research and technology organisation (RTO), charity, not for profit, or public sector organisation. Academic institutions cannot lead but can collaborate with the lead. Bids must involve at least one grant claiming micro, small or medium-sized enterprise (SME). If the lead organisation is an RTO it must collaborate with two businesses (one SME, and one business of any size).

The competition opens on 7 November 2022. The deadline for applications is 21 December 2022.

How To Apply

The competition opens on 7 November 2022. The deadline for applications is 21 December 2022.

Applications are made online.

More information can be accessed at the Innovate UK website.