Medicines
The medicines sector is characterised by a few large pharmaceutical companies and a large number of SME “biotech” companies.

Support for companies of all sizes is provided by the Health Team across the sector but particularly linked with the manufacturing of pharmaceuticals and advanced therapeutics. Members of the Health Team are closely aligned with the Medicines Manufacturing Industry Partnership and the Bioindustry Association.
KTN also organises the Medicines Manufacturing Challenge Community. Its core goal is to accelerate the outcomes from the medicines manufacturing ISCF Challenge which has seen £146m invested in different projects, including the Medicines Manufacturing Innovation Centre and Advanced Therapy Treatment Centres.
Related Opportunities
SBRI: Overdose detection, response and intervention
Opens: 31/01/2023 Closes: 21/04/2023
Organisations can apply for a share of £5 million inclusive of VAT. This is to deliver innovations addressing key drug related overdose priorities across two competitions.
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SBRI: Medicines and dementia phase 1
Opens: 27/02/2023 Closes: 24/05/2023
This is a Small Business Research Initiative (SBRI) competition funded by the Scottish Health Industry Partnership (SHIP). Organisations can apply for a share of up to £240,000 inclusive of VAT, to develop disruptive, innovative solutions supporting people at risk of dementia to manage their medica…
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Innovate UK Smart grants: January 2023
Opens: 19/01/2023 Closes: 14/06/2023
UK registered organisations can apply for a share of up to £25 million for game-changing and commercially viable R&D innovations that can significantly impact the UK economy. The dates for this round of Smart have been extended to maximise funding opportunities for applicants.
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UK Phage Innovation Showcase
Join us at this free inaugural event for the official launch of the University of Leicester’s Centre for Phage Research and showcase of the knowledge and experience in phage research and development in the UK across multiple sectors.
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Programmes related to Medicines

Medimap: End-to-end medicines supply chain map
Medimap is a new interactive reference tool for the UK medicines sector, mapping and categorising over 3,000 sites of organisations engaged in or supporting the end-to-end supply chain for medicines.

Medicines Manufacturing Challenge Community
A now-completed programme that supported manufacturers of medicines in order to grow the UK economy – replaced by the Medicines Manufacturing programme.

Health Funding Map
The map was developed by KTN and the BioIndustry Association (BIA) with the help of a wide range of funders. It helps in the navigation of the complicated world of health innovation funding.