Overview
The Life Sciences Innovative Manufacturing Fund (LSIMF) is a £520 million capital grants programme designed to strengthen UK manufacturing capacity for medicines, diagnostics, and MedTech. It aims to enhance resilience for future health emergencies, accelerate access to new and emerging life sciences products, and build on the UK’s global leadership in R&D.
Scope
The fund supports large-scale capital investments in UK-based life sciences manufacturing facilities. Projects must demonstrate that they would not proceed, or would be delayed, scaled down, or relocated overseas without the requested grant.
Key themes and topics
Human medicines: manufacturing of active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) and finished drug products
Medical diagnostics: facilities producing tools and systems for disease detection and monitoring
MedTech: development and manufacture of medical devices for human health
Ineligible areas include veterinary or herbal medicines, nutritional supplements, raw ingredients, standalone consumables, and secondary packaging.
Project duration
No fixed timeframe stated, but projects must be UK-based, capital-led, and support clinical and/or commercial manufacturing.
Award value
Total project costs must be at least £8 million
Typical grant support covers 10–20% of eligible project costs (e.g. £10–20m grant for a £100m project)
Funding rates
Capital grants awarded at the minimum level required to enable the project, typically between 10–20% of total eligible costs.
Eligibility criteria
Lead organisation must be:
- UK-registered and wholly private sector
- A product developer, CDMO, or generics manufacturer
- Must provide two years of audited accounts (or evidence that funding is secured)
- Track record in developing or manufacturing medicines or medical devices
Projects must:
- Be primarily capital investments with eligible costs of at least £8 million
- Be located in the UK
- Be single-company investments (not consortia)
- Focus on manufacture of medicines, diagnostics, or MedTech products
- Operate to GMP standards or meet UK regulatory requirements (MHRA/Medical Devices Regulations)
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