Interserve named preferred bidder for £15m Medicines Manufacturing Innovation Centre

INTERSERVE has been named preferred bidder for the new £15 million Medicines Manufacturing Innovation Centre (MMIC) in Inchinnan, Renfrewshire.

The development, near Glasgow Airport, will be led by CPI in partnership with The University of Strathclyde, Scottish Enterprise, and founding industry partners, AstraZeneca and GlaxoSmithKline.

The centre has been tipped to ensure the UK is a ‘technology and innovation leader’ in small molecule pharmaceutical and fine chemical manufacturing. The facility will allow industry, academia, healthcare providers and regulators to work collaboratively to address challenges along the medicines supply chain.

The manufacturing centre is funded by several sources including UK Research and Innovation through the UK Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund, Scottish Enterprise and GlaxoSmithKline and AstraZeneca.

Cameron Stewart, regional director at Interserve Construction said, “The new centre at Inchinnan is a really exciting, innovative project where our strengths in the medical sector will hugely benefit the project. Interserve Constriction will bring our considerable experience and capabilities in delivering similar projects like the National Biologics Manufacturing Centre for CPI in Darlington, which is currently supporting efforts to manufacture and formulate vaccines for Covid-19, and the Jack Copeland Centre in Edinburgh for the Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service.

“The Medicines Manufacturing Innovation Centre will be market leading for the pharmaceutical industry and we are delighted that will be part of that.”

Nigel Perry, CEO at CPI added, “The Medicines Manufacturing Innovation Centre will enhance the UK’s existing competitive advantage by deepening the skills base and strengthening the rationale for companies to invest in new, highly productive medicines manufacturing. CPI is delighted to be working alongside the University of Strathclyde, Innovate UK, Scottish Government and our industry partners to deliver this globally unique centre that will prepare the pharmaceutical supply chain for vital, next generation medicines and further extend CPI’s healthcare capabilities.”

Paul Wheelhouse, Scottish Government minister for business, innovation and energy commented, ““I am delighted that the Medicines Manufacturing Innovation Centre will be located in Scotland, given its potential to become a global centre of excellence and bringing significant benefits to Scotland’s economy. The location of the MMIC is also a very positive endorsement of Scotland’s Life and Chemical Science sectors and will build on our internationally recognised strengths in both Research and Development and manufacturing.”