The UK government has announced more than £74 million in combined government and industry funding to accelerate breakthrough innovations across the life sciences sector, including AI-powered medicine manufacturing, robotics, and advanced nuclear recycling technologies for cancer treatment.

The investment underscores Britain’s ambition to strengthen its position as a global leader in life sciences, a sector that generates £150 billion in annual turnover and plays a critical role in both economic growth and public health. The funding aims to unlock transformative technologies that will improve how medicines are made, regulated, and delivered, while also addressing major global health challenges.

£54 Million for Sustainable Medicines Manufacturing

More than £54 million has been awarded to eight cutting-edge R&D projects under the Sustainable Medicines Manufacturing Innovation Programme, a joint government–industry initiative supported by the VPAG Investment Programme and delivered by Innovate UK. Industry partners have committed a further £20 million, bringing the total investment to over £74 million.

These projects will explore ways to make UK medicines production more sustainable, efficient, and cost-effective. Key areas of innovation include:

AI and Robotics in Medicine Manufacturing
Researchers will deploy artificial intelligence and robotics to reduce waste, optimise production lines, and improve precision in pharmaceutical factories.

Recycling Anaesthetic Gas
New technologies could enable the recovery and reuse of anaesthetic gases—reducing environmental impact and potentially saving the NHS around £5 million annually.

Turning Nuclear Waste into Cancer Therapies
Scientists will investigate how spent fuel from the UK’s nuclear power stations could be recycled to create next-generation radiotherapies for cancer treatment, helping meet rising global demand.

These initiatives are designed to make the UK’s medicines manufacturing capabilities cleaner, smarter, and more resilient.

Nearly £1 Million to Strengthen Regulation of Engineered Bacteriophages

Alongside manufacturing innovations, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has secured almost £1 million from the Engineering Biology Sandbox Fund. The funding will support regulatory work around engineered bacteriophage products—viruses that target and destroy bacteria.

With antibiotic-resistant infections responsible for more than one million deaths per year worldwide, engineered bacteriophages represent a promising alternative to traditional antibiotics. The MHRA, in collaboration with five regulatory agencies and the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), will work to ensure that regulation keeps pace with scientific innovation, enabling safe, rapid development of phage-based treatments.

Driving Innovation for a Healthier, Greener Future

The substantial investment reflects the UK’s commitment to supporting pioneering science that can address both current and emerging health challenges. From combating antimicrobial resistance to reducing pharmaceutical waste and developing novel cancer therapies, the funded projects have the potential to deliver far-reaching benefits.

By backing technologies that blend biology, AI, engineering, and nuclear science, the government aims to accelerate progress toward a more sustainable and innovative life sciences landscape—one that improves patient outcomes, strengthens industrial competitiveness, and supports long-term economic growth.