Ground broken for Biologics Manufacturing Centre

16 Apr 2014

The Centre for Process Innovation (CPI) officially breaks ground on its state of the art National Biologics Manufacturing Centre (NBMC) at its new Central Park, Darlington site. Steve Bagshaw, CEO Fujifilm Diosynth Biotechnologies, and Sandy Anderson, OBE, Chair of Tees Valley Unlimited, are in attendance on a day which also provides an opportunity for a unique insight into the current biologics industry and the potential of its latest facility.

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Due for completion in 2015, the centre is part of the Government’s Strategy for UK Life Sciences’ launched in 2011 to strengthen the UK’s life-science sector. CPI was selected to establish and manage the new £38 million centre which will encourage innovative solutions in the UK healthcare market. The purpose of the NBMC is to enable the biopharmaceutical industry to capitalise on its strong research and development pipeline and make more therapies available for unmet clinical needs. CPI supports the commercialisation of research by promoting collaboration with industry across the supply chain from research through to manufacture and clinic.

CPI’s team of scientists, engineers and sector specialists will help companies of all sizes to develop, demonstrate, prototype and scale-up innovations that could be beneficial to biologics manufacture and provision, from initial programme scoping and planning through to process demonstration and scale-up. Steve Bagshaw, CEO Fujifilm Diosynth Biotechnologies says: The NBMC is an excellent opportunity to bring industry, academia and the funding agencies together to create the best possible environment for UK Biotechnology to grow.”

Sandy Anderson, OBE, Chair of Tees Valley Unlimited says: This project is an excellent example of what can be achieved through genuine partnership. The healthcare industry and CPI have worked closely with Darlington Council and TVU, the Local Enterprise Partnership for the Tees Valley, to make this investment in innovate technology possible.”

CPI’s Director of Biologics, Dr Chris Dowle, says: We are delighted to herald this groundbreaking to progress the journey to the new centre as we work with industry and academia to deliver new innovation to enhance the competiveness of the UK biologics economy.”

Bill Dixon, Leader of Darlington Borough Council and Deputy Chairman of Tees Valley Unlimited says: This is a fantastic indication of how far Central Park has come – it sends out a clear message that people want to invest in Darlington.

We beat off tough competition to secure this national centre for excellence and it will provide the foundations for a biomedical and pharmaceutical industry to prosper in Darlington. The kinds of jobs it will create are highly skilled and knowledge-based which is great news for young people who want to stay in the area and secure a skilled job.”

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