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CPI

ServiceRedcar, United KingdomFounded 2004· One of 2063 Service companies tracked by AMPulse

A UK-based deep technology innovation center that helps companies transform groundbreaking ideas into market-ready products by providing access to world-class facilities, multidisciplinary expertise, and innovation networks for R&D, process development, and scale-up work.

CEO / Founder
Frank Millar
Team Size
501-1000
Stage
Active
Total Funding
$147.48M
Latest Round
Grant
Key Investors
Innovate UK, High Value Manufacturing Catapult, UK Community Renewal Fund, North East LEP, European Regional Development Fund

Technology & Products

Key Products

["National Formulation Centre","National Centre for Printable Electronics","RNA Centre of Excellence","Medicines Manufacturing Innovation Centre","Graphene Applications Innovation Centre","Industrial Biotechnology & Biorefining Centre","Biotherapeutics Development Services","CPI Enterprises Investment Portfolio"]

Technological Advantage

Combines world-class facilities (GMP environments, specialized equipment), 750+ multidisciplinary scientists/engineers, and proven scale-up capabilities across multiple technology platforms (biotherapeutics, printable electronics, formulation, industrial biotechnology) with a flexible engagement model including fee-for-service, collaborative R&D, and investment support.

Differentiation

Value Proposition

Enables organizations to defer capital and workforce investments until products/processes are proven at scale by providing access to specialist innovation facilities, technical expertise, funding support, and investor networks with reduced development risk.

How They Differentiate

Process manufacturing specialist within HVM Catapult network, with unique focus on pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, printable electronics, and sustainable materials. Provides access to £200M+ worth of state-of-the-art capital assets and 750+ multidisciplinary experts through open innovation model, enabling companies to defer capital investments until products are proven at scale.

Market & Competition

Target Customers

Start-ups, SMEs, large corporations, universities, and academic researchers seeking to develop, prove, prototype, and commercialize innovative products and processes across deep tech sectors.

Industry Verticals

["Pharmaceuticals & Biotechnology","Health Technology & Medical Devices","Food & Agriculture (AgriFoodTech)","Energy Storage & Sustainable Energy","Materials Science & Advanced Materials","Chemical Manufacturing","Printable & Flexible Electronics","Industrial Biotechnology"]

Competitors

Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC); National Composites Centre (NCC); Warwick Manufacturing Group (WMG)

Growth & Milestones

Growth Metrics

750+ staff members, £66.9M turnover (2024), £200M+ capital assets under management, 20+ years of operational experience. Portfolio includes 25+ active investments through CPI Enterprises with one successful exit achieving 14.3x return on investment.

Major Milestones

["Founded in 2004 as UK technology innovation center","2015: Joined High Value Manufacturing Catapult as founding partner","2018: Received £107M government funding commitment for 5-year period","2020: Launched CPI Enterprises venture capital and investor engagement arm","2020: Established £10.65M RNA Centre of Excellence with Vaccine Taskforce funding","2021: Opened £88M Medicines Manufacturing Innovation Centre in Scotland","2022: Achieved 14.3x return on investment with Nuformix exit","2024: Celebrated 20th anniversary with 750 staff and £66.9M turnover","2024: Portfolio company Q5D Technologies raised $13.5M Series A","2025: Portfolio company Evoralis secured £2.5M seed funding"]

Notable Customers

AstraZeneca; GSK; University of Cambridge; University of Strathclyde; Siemens; Thermo Fisher Scientific

https://www.uk-cpi.com

Why this company matters

CPI operates as a UK government-backed not-for-profit innovation center and founding member of the High Value Manufacturing Catapult network. It fills the gap between early-stage R&D and commercial production by offering open-access facilities, multidisciplinary expertise, and investor networks, allowing organizations to defer capital spending until products are proven at scale.

The center's core capabilities span bioprinting, ceramics and composites, and polymer additive manufacturing, supported by specialized centers including the National Formulation Centre, National Centre for Printable Electronics, RNA Centre of Excellence, and Medicines Manufacturing Innovation Centre. CPI's flexible engagement model includes fee-for-service, collaborative R&D, and investment support through its CPI Enterprises venture arm.

CPI serves startups, SMEs, large corporations, and universities across pharmaceuticals, health technology, agrifood, energy storage, advanced materials, and printable electronics. Named collaborators include AstraZeneca, GSK, Siemens, Thermo Fisher Scientific, and the University of Cambridge. The center has managed £200M+ in capital assets, generated £66.9M turnover (2024), and maintains a portfolio of 25+ active investments with a notable 14.3x exit return.

As a process manufacturing specialist within the HVM Catapult, CPI differentiates through its focus on biotherapeutics, printable electronics, and sustainable materials rather than general manufacturing. Its open innovation model reduces risk for partners, though reliance on government funding and the need to continuously attract commercial projects remain structural considerations.