Renfrewshire’s new medicines manufacturing innovation centre yesterday topped out as the project edges ever closer to completion.
The last beam to create the structure of the £35million project was installed by builders Tilbury Douglas at the construction site off Inchinnan Road.
The facility will, once opened next year, develop solutions to major problems in the pharmaceutical supply chain and accelerate access to affordable medicines.
It will see academics, leading pharmaceutical companies, health care providers and business experts come together to address the environmental and financial implications of pharmaceutical manufacturing and its ability to respond to patients’ health problems quickly.
New technologies will be at the heart of the centre - near Glasgow Airport - and allow for continuous, digital, and autonomous manufacturing.
Paul Foley, senior project manager at Scottish Enterprise, said: “It’s fantastic to see the building structure completed and moving a step closer to its full opening next year.
“We at Scottish Enterprise are proud to have contributed £15m funding, alongside our industry expertise, to help create an excellent asset for Scotland and the UK’s pharmaceuticals industry, with the centre providing a platform for companies to collaborate, innovate and develop world-leading processes and technologies to benefit patients.”
Following the topping out, the internal fit out of the facility will be completed in early 2022.
In the first five years of its operation, the centre is expected to support over 100 jobs, both technical and non-technical, and generate £200m investment in advanced technologies.
From early 2022, companies of all sizes will be able to visit the facility, which is situated at the heart of the Advanced Manufacturing Innovation District Scotland (AMIDS).
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They will be able to engage in discussions around accessing the transformative technology and participating in ambitious collaborative projects to develop new pharma innovations.
Renfrewshire Council leader Iain Nicolson said: “It is great to see the excellent progress being made in the construction of the Medicines Manufacturing Innovation Centre here in Renfrewshire at AMIDS.
“I’m excited by its potential to transform medicine manufacturing while creating clean, green ways of working and supporting a healthier society.
“I’m sure the completed centre will enjoy its home at AMIDS, Scotland’s home for manufacturing innovation, offering a unique environment fostering collaboration and innovation that is attracting cutting-edge companies to locate here, bringing with them fantastic jobs and opportunities.”
The centre is being constructed by Tilbury Douglas, with support from Baker Hicks architects.
It has been pioneered through a public-private collaboration between technology innovation organisation, CPI, the University of Strathclyde, UK Research and Innovation, Scottish Enterprise and founding industry partners, AstraZeneca and GSK.
