Centre for Process Innovation

The Centre for Process Innovation, commonly known as CPI, is a British technology and innovation organisation operating as a social enterprise. It works with businesses, entrepreneurs, universities, investors and public-sector partners to turn scientific and engineering concepts into manufacturable products and commercially viable processes. Its work spans agricultural and food technology, energy storage, health technology, advanced materials, pharmaceuticals and related manufacturing disciplines, with sustainability, improved healthcare and industrial competitiveness running through much of its activity. CPI was established in 2004 by ONE NorthEast, the regional development agency for North East England. Its creation formed part of a long-term regional strategy intended to strengthen research and development capability and reposition the North East as a significant location for technology-led economic activity. The organisation subsequently became one of the founding partners of the High Value Manufacturing Catapult, the UK network of applied-innovation centres created to help close the gap between laboratory research and industrial production. CPI joined the Catapult network in 2011. The organisation’s role is primarily translational rather than that of a conventional manufacturer. It provides access to specialist facilities, scientists, engineers, technical advisers, pilot-scale equipment, process-development expertise and commercial networks. This enables small and medium-sized enterprises, start-ups and larger companies to develop, prove, prototype and scale new products and processes before committing to full commercial production. Its support can cover formulation, materials selection, process design, analytical testing, regulatory preparation, manufacturing demonstrators and scale-up. CPI operates ten specialist innovation facilities across three locations in North East England and one in Scotland. Its Wilton site near Redcar includes the National Industrial Biotechnology Facility and the Novel Food Innovation Centre. Facilities at NETPark in Sedgefield include the National Printable Electronics Centre, National Formulation Centre, National Healthcare Photonics Centre, Graphene Application Centre and Intracellular Drug Delivery Centre. Darlington hosts the National Biologics Manufacturing Centre and the RNA Centre of Excellence. In Glasgow, CPI is involved in the Medicines Manufacturing Innovation Centre and has announced plans for an Oligonucleotide Manufacturing Innovation Centre of Excellence. In food and agriculture, CPI supports alternative proteins, novel foods and biotechnology-based production, including work associated with the Novel Food Innovation Centre. In energy storage, it participates in projects supported by the UK Research and Innovation Faraday Battery Challenge, addressing battery performance, sustainability, cost and electric-vehicle manufacturing. In materials, its activities include sustainable composites, seaweed-derived packaging and biodegradable polymers intended to replace petroleum-based or single-use materials. Health and pharmaceutical manufacturing are major areas of activity. CPI has supported digital pharmaceutical manufacturing, bioprocess modelling, lipid nanoparticle formulation and drug-delivery technologies. During the COVID-19 response, it participated in the UK Vaccine Taskforce and received public funding to build capability for rapid production of mRNA vaccine candidates. This work contributed to the later RNA Centre of Excellence, which supports RNA therapeutics, vaccines, cancer treatments, personalised medicines and gene-therapy applications, as well as workforce development through an RNA Training Academy. CPI also works on the commercialisation ecosystem around emerging technologies. In 2020 it launched CPI Enterprises, an investment and investor-engagement arm intended to support companies emerging from its innovation environment. By July 2023, CPI Enterprises reported twelve investments and one exit, following the flotation of Nuformix. CPI remains an active applied-research and scale-up organisation rather than a consumer-facing product brand. Its principal value proposition is the combination of public-interest innovation, industrial facilities and specialist expertise that allows promising technologies to move toward production and market adoption.

The Centre for Process Innovation was created in 2004 by ONE NorthEast, the regional development agency for North East England. Its establishment formed part of a regional economic strategy designed to build research and development capacity, attract technology-led investment and improve the North East’s position in the UK and international innovation landscape. Rather than operating as a conventional product manufacturer, CPI was designed to help companies bridge the difficult middle ground between scientific discovery, laboratory proof and repeatable commercial production. CPI developed around the provision of specialist facilities and expertise for process development and scale-up. Its customers and partners have included small and medium-sized businesses, start-ups, entrepreneurs, universities, major industrial companies and public funding bodies. The organisation’s work can involve early feasibility studies, formulation, materials development, process engineering, pilot production, testing, manufacturing demonstration and preparation for commercialisation. This model allows companies to access capabilities that would often be too expensive or technically specialised to build independently. In 2011, CPI joined the High Value Manufacturing Catapult, a national network of applied-technology and innovation centres established to strengthen the United Kingdom’s ability to convert research into economic value. Its role within the Catapult has connected CPI with broader manufacturing capabilities and national programmes. The organisation has also received support through the European Regional Development Fund, the European Union’s Horizon 2020 programme and later Catapult-related funding. Over time, CPI expanded its activities across biotechnology, food, electronics, materials, energy storage, healthcare and pharmaceutical manufacturing. Its facilities include the National Industrial Biotechnology Facility and Novel Food Innovation Centre at Wilton; several specialist centres at NETPark in Sedgefield; the National Biologics Manufacturing Centre and RNA Centre of Excellence in Darlington; and the Medicines Manufacturing Innovation Centre in Glasgow. These facilities provide practical environments in which new technologies can be tested at scales larger than a university laboratory but smaller and more flexible than a full commercial plant. CPI’s food and biotechnology activity includes support for alternative proteins, novel foods and bio-based production. Its materials work has included sustainable composites, seaweed-derived compostable packaging and biodegradable polymers designed to replace conventional plastics in applications such as forestry and planting. In energy storage, CPI has participated in Faraday Battery Challenge projects aimed at improving battery performance, lowering environmental impact and developing more competitive electric-vehicle manufacturing processes. Healthcare and pharmaceutical manufacturing became increasingly important areas. CPI developed capabilities in digital pharmaceutical manufacturing, bioprocess modelling, formulation and drug-delivery technologies. Through the Intracellular Drug Delivery Centre, it has supported lipid nanoparticle formulation and nanomedicine approaches. Its participation in the UK Government’s Vaccine Taskforce during the COVID-19 pandemic led to funding for rapid mRNA vaccine-production capability. Additional funding supported the creation of the RNA Centre of Excellence and an RNA Training Academy, broadening the organisation’s focus from pandemic preparedness to cancer treatments, vaccines, personalised medicines and gene therapies. CPI has also sought to support the financing and commercial growth of emerging companies. In 2020 it launched CPI Enterprises as a venture and investor-engagement function. By July 2023, the arm had made twelve investments and recorded one exit when portfolio company Nuformix completed an initial public offering. Other cited portfolio companies included QV Bioelectronics, which is developing electric-field therapy technology for brain tumours, and BiologIC Technologies, which is developing a biocomputing platform for processing biological materials. In 2023, CPI was involved in battery projects backed by the Faraday Battery Challenge and announced plans for an oligonucleotide manufacturing centre of excellence in the Glasgow area. The planned facility was intended to extend UK capability in the manufacture of therapeutic oligonucleotides. CPI’s continuing development reflects its broader mission: to provide the infrastructure, technical knowledge and networks needed to move high-value technologies from concept toward sustainable industrial deployment.

• 2023

  RNA Centre of Excellence launches

  [1]Centre for Process Innovationen.wikipedia.org

  CPI launched the RNA Centre of Excellence and associated training activity with Vaccine Taskforce funding administered by Innovate UK.

• 2023

  Battery projects receive Faraday Challenge support

  [1]Centre for Process Innovationen.wikipedia.org

  CPI joined three projects supported by the UK Research and Innovation Faraday Battery Challenge.

• 2023

  Oligonucleotide centre plans are announced

  [1]Centre for Process Innovationen.wikipedia.org

  CPI announced plans for an Oligonucleotide Manufacturing Innovation Centre of Excellence near Glasgow after public funding was announced.

• 2022

  Medicines Manufacturing Innovation Centre opens

  [1]Centre for Process Innovationen.wikipedia.org

  CPI and other founding partners opened the Medicines Manufacturing Innovation Centre in Glasgow.

• 2021

  mRNA manufacturing capability receives funding

  [1]Centre for Process Innovationen.wikipedia.org

  CPI received £5 million to develop rapid production capability for mRNA vaccine candidates responding to COVID-19 variants.

• 2020

  CPI Enterprises is launched

  [1]Centre for Process Innovationen.wikipedia.org

  CPI created an investment and investor-engagement arm to support technology companies and commercialisation.

• 2011

  Joins the High Value Manufacturing Catapult

  [1]Centre for Process Innovationen.wikipedia.org

  CPI became a founding partner in the High Value Manufacturing Catapult network of UK applied-innovation centres.

• 2004

  CPI is established

  [1]Centre for Process Innovationen.wikipedia.org

  ONE NorthEast established the Centre for Process Innovation as part of a regional strategy to strengthen research and development in North East England.

CPI positions itself as an applied-innovation and industrialisation partner between research discovery and commercial manufacture. Its distinctive offer combines specialist facilities, technical expertise, pilot-scale equipment, cross-sector networks and access to public and private funding. The organisation focuses on helping companies reduce technical and manufacturing risk while advancing sustainable products, healthcare technologies and high-value production in the United Kingdom.

• Industrial biotechnology facility

  National Industrial Biotechnology Facility

  A Wilton-based facility supporting the development and scale-up of industrial biotechnology processes. It provides companies with access to equipment and expertise for converting biological resources into chemicals, materials, ingredients and other commercially useful outputs.

• Food technology

  Novel Food Innovation Centre

  A centre at Wilton focused on novel foods and alternative proteins. It helps developers investigate food concepts, production processes, safety and scale-up requirements for products intended for human consumption.

• Printable electronics

  National Printable Electronics Centre

  A specialist innovation centre supporting printed and flexible electronic technologies. Its capabilities are intended to help businesses move from materials and device concepts toward prototypes and manufacturable applications.

• Formulation science

  National Formulation Centre

  A facility supporting the design, testing and scale-up of formulated products. Its work can serve pharmaceutical, consumer, chemical and other industries in which product performance depends on the controlled combination of ingredients and processing conditions.

• Healthcare technology

  National Healthcare Photonics Centre

  A centre applying photonics and related technologies to healthcare challenges. It supports development and translation of optical, imaging and light-based technologies toward practical healthcare applications.

• Advanced materials

  Graphene Application Centre

  A facility focused on converting graphene research into usable products and processes. It supports the evaluation, formulation and integration of graphene and graphene-enabled materials in industrial applications.

• Drug delivery

  Intracellular Drug Delivery Centre

  A centre supporting nanomedicine and intracellular delivery research, including lipid nanoparticle formulation. Its work is relevant to pharmaceutical development and delivery of complex therapeutic payloads.

• Biologics manufacturing

  National Biologics Manufacturing Centre

  A Darlington facility helping companies develop and demonstrate manufacturing processes for biologic medicines. It provides process-development and scale-up capabilities intended to support the path from biological product development to commercial manufacture.

• RNA manufacturing and therapeutics · 2023

  RNA Centre of Excellence

  A CPI centre supporting the development and manufacture of RNA-based vaccines and therapeutics. Its remit includes cancer treatments, flu vaccines, personalised medicines and gene-therapy applications, alongside skills development through an RNA Training Academy.

• Pharmaceutical manufacturing · 2022

  Medicines Manufacturing Innovation Centre

  A Glasgow innovation centre established by CPI and other founding partners to advance pharmaceutical manufacturing. Its activities are organised around major manufacturing challenges and include digital and process technologies intended to improve medicines production.

• 2023

  Launch the RNA Centre of ExcellenceProduct launch

  Background

  Public investment in RNA technologies created an opportunity to build UK capability for vaccines, therapeutics and personalised medicine.

  Action taken

  CPI launched the RNA Centre of Excellence and an RNA Training Academy with additional Vaccine Taskforce funding administered by Innovate UK.

  Aftermath

  The centre broadened CPI’s role in RNA manufacturing and workforce development beyond the immediate COVID-19 response.

  Additional funding. £10.65 million (2023)

  Source

• 2023

  Plan an oligonucleotide manufacturing centreProduct launch

  Background

  Growing interest in advanced nucleic-acid medicines created demand for specialised manufacturing capability.

  Action taken

  CPI announced plans for an Oligonucleotide Manufacturing Innovation Centre of Excellence in the Glasgow area.

  Aftermath

  The proposed facility was expected to begin operations during 2024 and reach completion in late 2025, subject to delivery of the plan.

  Source

• 2021

  Develop rapid mRNA vaccine production capabilityProduct launch

  Background

  The COVID-19 pandemic created a need for flexible UK capacity to produce vaccine candidates and respond to new variants.

  Action taken

  CPI accepted £5 million in funding to develop a facility for rapidly producing mRNA vaccine candidates.

  Aftermath

  The programme contributed to CPI’s broader RNA manufacturing capability and preceded the launch of the RNA Centre of Excellence.

  Development funding. £5 million (2021)

  Source

• 2020

  Create an investment and investor-engagement armStrategy

  Background

  CPI sought to extend its support for technology companies beyond technical development and into commercialisation and access to investment.

  Action taken

  It launched CPI Enterprises to make investments and connect emerging companies with investors.

  Aftermath

  By July 2023, CPI Enterprises had made twelve investments and recorded one exit through Nuformix’s initial public offering.

  Source

1. 1Centre for Process Innovationen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Centre for Process Innovation official websiteuk-cpi.com