Innovate UK’s Sustainable Medicines Manufacturing Innovation programme (SMMIP) focuses on industry-led innovation towards more sustainable medicines manufacturing in the UK.
In partnership with the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), Innovate UK has awarded 15 projects a share of £1.3m seed funding through the SMMIP Expression of Interest competition to support consortium building and the preparation of proposals for large-scale Grand Challenges in sustainable medicines manufacturing.
The successful Grand Challenges will drive industry adoption of significant advancements in sustainable medicines manufacturing innovation.
The SMMIP is funded as part of the wider VPAG Investment Programme agreed as part of the 2024 Voluntary Scheme for Branded Medicines Pricing, Access and Growth (VPAG). The VPAG Investment Programme is a new joint government-industry programme to strengthen the UK’s global competitiveness in health and life sciences and drive innovation-led growth. Enabled by circa £400m of funding from scheme members, it is targeting investment across the UK, with initiatives in three focus areas; clinical trials, health technology assessment, and manufacturing.
Traditional medicine manufacturing processes can be resource-intensive, generating significant waste and greenhouse gas emissions. The challenge lies in reducing waste, energy consumption, and emissions, while simultaneously enhancing efficiency, safety, and cost-effectiveness throughout the manufacturing lifecycle.
By addressing these challenges through innovation and collaboration across the supply chain, the sector can reduce its environmental footprint while driving advancements in manufacturing processes. Embracing innovative approaches will enhance resilience and efficiency, ensuring the industry is well-positioned to meet the growing demands of future healthcare systems whilst aligning with NHS climate change policies and targets.
The funded projects are spread across the UK and align with the three SMMIP pillars:
- Circularity
- Green Chemistry
- Productivity and Resource Efficiency
Dr Sarah Goulding, Director of Future Medicines at Innovate UK, said:
“Through the SMMIP, we want to support innovation to make medicines in a way that minimises environmental impact, conserves natural resources, and ensures economic and social sustainability. The scale and ambition of these collaborative projects are a testament to the UK’s innovative potential to drive impactful change in this way.”
Article provided on behalf of Innovate UK.
