Multi-million pound backing for cutting edge projects by UK scientists and innovators

New government funding will help make the boldest ideas in UK life sciences a reality.

Breakthrough research on how AI and robots could make medicines factories work better and how used fuel from nuclear power could be recycled into cancer radiotherapies are all in line for a boost thanks to more than £74 million in government and industry backing for the UK’s life sciences innovators.

The UK’s life sciences sector is a force for good and for growth, generating turnover of £150 billion annually. As the funding being announced today underlines, Britain’s life sciences innovators are transforming what’s possible in healthcare: from unlocking new ways of tackling the scourge of antibiotic-resistant infections, which is directly responsible for over a million deaths a year, through to finding ways to recycle anaesthetic gas, which could save the NHS around £5 million pounds a year and reduce the impact on the environment.

Today (Tuesday 18 November) the government is awarding more than £54 million across 8 innovative R&D projects through the Sustainable Medicines Manufacturing Innovation Programme – a joint effort between government and industry that is funded through the VPAG Investment Programme – and further boosted by more than £20 million in additional backing from industry.