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The Medicines Manufacturing: Labs of the Future competition is designed to accelerate the transformation of pharmaceutical development and manufacturing through the adoption of advanced technologies. The programme focuses on integrating digital systems, automation, robotics and artificial intelligence into laboratory environments to create more efficient, intelligent and scalable processes.
These “Labs of the Future” represent a shift from traditional laboratory setups to highly connected, data-driven ecosystems that can operate continuously. By leveraging automation and AI, organisations can reduce manual processes, improve accuracy and significantly shorten the time required to bring medicines to market.
Scope of the Competition
This competition is aimed at projects that develop technologies capable of integrating into modern pharmaceutical workflows while delivering measurable improvements in productivity, cost, quality and speed.
Projects are expected to:
Alongside technical development, there is also a strong emphasis on workforce development, ensuring that teams are equipped to adopt and operate new technologies effectively.
Key Technology Areas
The competition supports a wide range of advanced technologies that can enhance pharmaceutical manufacturing processes. These include:
Projects can focus on one or multiple areas, provided they contribute to the overall vision of a fully integrated Lab of the Future.
Eligibility and Project Requirements
Projects must be led by a UK registered SME and can be delivered either independently or in collaboration with other organisations such as research institutions or industry partners.
Key requirements include:
Collaborative projects must demonstrate strong partnerships and ensure balanced contribution across consortium members.
Key Dates and Funding
Funding amount available: Up to £7.5 million
Project funding: £500,000 to £1.5 million per project
Opens: 13 April 2026
Closes: 28 May 2026 (11:00 am)
How Inventya can help
Applying for this competition requires a strong balance between technical innovation, commercial potential and regulatory awareness.
Inventya can support your organisation throughout the process by helping you to:
With the right strategy and support, Inventya can help you maximise your chances of securing funding and successfully delivering your innovation to market.
