Centre for Process Innovation

Centre for Process Innovation is a UK-based technology and innovation organisation focused on helping companies develop, scale and commercialise new products and processes in advanced manufacturing, biopharmaceuticals and materials. Founded in 2004 in the Tees Valley, it operates technology demonstrators and pilot-scale facilities that connect academic research from institutions such as University of Cambridge, Newcastle University, University of Sheffield, Imperial College London with industrial partners including Rolls-Royce, Unilever, AstraZeneca, Siemens and GSK. It works closely with funding bodies and initiatives such as Innovate UK, UK Research and Innovation, European Regional Development Fund, Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy and regional agencies including Tees Valley Combined Authority.

History

The organisation was established in 2004 as part of regional economic development efforts in the Tees Valley and North East England to commercialise process technologies emerging from research clusters at Durham University, Teesside University, University of York and University of Leeds. Early activity included pilot lines co-developed with Tata Steel and demonstration projects linked to STFC programmes and collaborations with British Standards Institution. In the 2010s it expanded through strategic investments at sites such as Wilton International, partnerships with national initiatives including Catapult Network, and projects funded by European Investment Bank. Milestones include creating technology centres aligned with sector strategies from Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and engaging in cross-border programmes with European Commission frameworks and the Horizon 2020 programme.

Facilities and Technology Centres

The organisation operates multiple specialised facilities on industrial campuses such as Wilton International and innovation parks adjacent to Middlesbrough and Sunderland. Core capabilities include pilot plants for continuous manufacturing developed with collaborators like Pfizer and Novartis, bioprocessing suites used by firms such as Baxter International and Lonza, and materials characterisation laboratories interoperable with networks including National Physical Laboratory and UK Atomic Energy Authority. Technology centres host equipment from vendors such as GE Healthcare and Thermo Fisher Scientific, demonstrating unit operations from membrane filtration pioneered alongside Johnson Matthey projects to additive manufacturing lines linked to Arcam AB technology. Facilities support scale-up activities for small and medium enterprises working with supply-chain partners such as Balfour Beatty and Sage Group.

Research and Innovation Programmes

Programmes span translational research in continuous processing, advanced materials, synthetic biology and bio-manufacturing with academic collaborators including Oxford University, King's College London, University of Glasgow and Queen's University Belfast. Projects have received grants from Research England, Wellcome Trust and participated in consortia with European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Fraunhofer Society and VTT Technical Research Centre. The organisation coordinates demonstrator projects addressing industrial challenges raised by BP, Shell plc, National Grid plc and regional manufacturers; outputs feed into standards and deployment pathways alongside bodies such as ISO and British Standards Institution. Training and workforce development programmes have been delivered in partnership with City & Guilds, Institute of Chemical Engineers and TWI Ltd to upskill technicians and engineers for deployment in firms like Costain Group and Siemens Energy.

Industry Partnerships and Commercialisation

The centre acts as an intermediary for technology transfer between universities and companies including ARM Holdings, GKN plc, Mott MacDonald and Smiths Group. It assists spin-outs and start-ups originating from incubators at Cambridge Enterprise, Newcastle Helix and science parks such as Liverpool Science Park to access pilot capacity and investor networks including British Business Bank and venture funds connected to YFM Equity Partners. Commercialisation routes have included licensing agreements, joint ventures with multinationals like Procter & Gamble and contract development manufacturing for firms such as Adcock Ingram. Collaborative procurement and demonstration programmes have connected procurement authorities including NHS England with suppliers to accelerate adoption of process innovations.

Governance and Funding

Governance arrangements include a board drawn from industry leaders, academic representatives and regional development figures from organisations like Tees Valley Combined Authority and Greater London Authority. Funding has been sourced from capital grants by European Regional Development Fund, programme grants from Innovate UK and revenue from commercial services delivered to clients including AstraZeneca and Unilever. Strategic partnerships with national networks such as Catapult Network and procurement from public agencies including Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy underpin long-term sustainability, while private investment and philanthropic grants from bodies like Wellcome Trust and corporate partners supplement income.

Category:Research institutes in England