Follow the green, high-tech road - UK growth, net zero and health resilience from innovation in medicines manufacturing

Sep 18, 2026

Uploaded by Marry

MMIP’s June 2023 report outlines how medicines manufacturing can strengthen UK economic prosperity, health security, and net-zero goals through innovation and sustainable capacity. It details the partnership’s role in representing manufacturers and summarizes evidence on sector size, employment, and investment needs. The executive summary calls for targeted policy actions to improve the UK’s global competitiveness, attract significant new investment, and create jobs, building on strengths in advanced therapies such as ATMP manufacturing.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages26

Reading Time1 h 6 min

AccessFree to download

About the Medicines Manufacturing Industry Partnership

Executive summary

Summary of recommendations

Introduction

A UK success story: Cell and gene therapy (ATMP) manufacturing

A 10-year vision for renewed UK leadership

Growth opportunities

Global leadership in environmentally sustainable manufacturing

Global leadership in manufacturing innovation

A pro-innovation life sciences investment environment

Measuring progress and success

Conclusion

Follow the green, high-tech road: A path to UK growth, net zero and health resilience from innovation in medicines manufacturing June 2023 NEXT PAGE Contents About the Medicines Manufacturing Industry Partnership 2 Executive summary 3 Summary of recommendations 5 Introduction 6 A UK success story: Cell and gene therapy (ATMP) manufacturing 10 A 10-year vision for renewed UK leadership 11 Growth opportunities 13 Global leadership in environmentally sustainable manufacturing 14 Global leadership in manufacturing innovation 16 A pro-innovation life sciences investment environment 20 Measuring progress and success 24 Conclusion 24 PREVIOUS PAGE About the Medicines Manufacturing Industry Partnership The Medicines Manufacturing Industry Partnership (MMIP) was established jointly by the Government and the biopharmaceutical industry in 2014 to ensure that the UK is recognised by the global medicines industry as an attractive, world-class, advanced centre for medicines manufacturing. MMIP represents the voice of medicines manufacturers in the UK, encompassing the full spectrum of companies from SMEs to large multinationals, and it is an expert sub-group of the government’s Life Sciences Council. MMIP’s remit includes both medicines and vaccines and throughout this report the term medicines manufacturing will be used to refer to the manufacture of both medicines and vaccines. 2 NEXT PAGE Follow the green, high-tech road Almost 45% of the £36.9bn value delivered by life sciences is from medicines manufacturing Life sciences manufacturing employs 115,200 people UK manufacturing space for advanced therapies now totals 17,000m2 Medicines manufacturing sites generated £35.1bn UK turnover in 2021 and exports of over $25bn in 2020 Size of the prize Opportunity for £15bn new medicines manufacturing investment over 10 years, supporting 116,600 jobs The global vaccines market is expected to grow at a rate of 10.2% up to 2026 The average medicines manufacturing job contributes £128,000 to the wider economy There are over 2,000 medicines manufacturing sites in the UK, 27% of total life sciences sites in 2021 The global needle-free injection market is expected to grow from $124m in 2021 to $272m by 2026 Medicines Manufacturing Industry Partnership Executive summary Avision for 2030 and beyond Medicines manufacturing delivers the largest share of economic activity within the UK life sciences sector. Notwithstanding the strength of UK medicines research and development, it is manufacturing that generates the majority of the life sciences jobs and revenues that power the UK economy. The diverse geographic footprint of medicines manufacturing facilities across the UK also means the sector contributes high quality, well-paid jobs in traditionally less prosperous areas. For the UK to achieve the status of a global life sciences superpower, it must maximise its participation in this vibrant global growth sector.1 Every effort should be made to ensure not just that we discover and develop the medicines of the future, but that we make a significant share of them in the UK too. The manufacture and supply of advanced medicines is rapidly changing, offering a huge opportunity for the UK. In this report, MMIP calls for focused action for medicines manufacturing in key areas that build on the work of recent years and accelerates progress in improving the UK’s competitive position versus other potential investment locations. MMIP believes the UK can be recognised as the best global location for innovative and environmentally sustainable medicines manufacturing, delivering health security and nationwide economic prosperity. This paper sets out a series of targeted policy recommendations which, if adopted, could reasonably be expected to attract a portfolio of new investments worth around £1.5bn each year over the next decade, creating 26,500 new jobs in the sector and su

FAQs

What is the Medicines Manufacturing Industry Partnership (MMIP)?

MMIP was established jointly by the UK Government and the biopharmaceutical industry in 2014 to position the UK as an attractive, world-class advanced centre for medicines manufacturing.

What opportunity does the report highlight for the UK medicines manufacturing sector?

It emphasizes the potential for major new investment over the next decade, alongside job creation, growth in global markets such as vaccines, and expanded capacity for advanced therapies.

Why does the report stress planning for 2030 and beyond?

Because manufacturing investments have long lead times and, once made, are “sticky,” the UK needs sustained government support aligned with future healthcare and economic needs.

Sep 18, 2026

Uploaded by Marry