A new web portal has been launched that provides a simple and accessible platform outlining the UK's strengths and capabilities in medicines manufacturing. It was developed by the Knowledge Transfer Network (KTN) on behalf of the Medicines Manufacturing Industry Partnership (MMIP).

The MMIP had previously discovered there was confusion about UK activity in this sector in terms of the current industry base, academic research, and support for innovation in medicines manufacturing. KTN's Medicines Manufacturing Landscape portal highlights key UK activity, linking to existing initiatives to provide a seamless overview of the sector. In addition, the portal can be used to promote the UK's capabilities to the UK community and internationally. It is the first example of an interactive tool that pulls together the innovation landscape, company base and manufacturing sites for the entire medicines sector within the country.

The MMIP was jointly established by the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI) and the BioIndustry Association (BIA). Private sector organisations involved in the partnership include Actavis (Allergan plc), AstraZeneca, Eisai, FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies, GlaxoSmithKline, KTN, ReNeuron and Pfizer.

The partnership brings the medicines manufacturing industry together with government, with the common goal of creating an attractive and innovation-driven environment to ensure the UK remains competitive. The MMIP Steering Group is led by Ian McCubbin, GlaxoSmithKline Senior Vice President for the North America, Japan and Global Pharma Supply Chain. The industry members of MMIP work closely with UK Government in particular BIS, the Office for Life Sciences and bodies such as Innovate UK, UKTI and the MHRA.

George Freeman MP, Minister for Life Sciences, comments: "Innovation in medicines manufacturing is making this a hugely exciting and important strategic sector for UK Life Science. The UK has a world-class 'offer' for businesses built on access to leading science and the ability to tap into national resources to innovate manufacturing processes, for example through the National Biologics Manufacturing Centre, the Cell Therapy Catapult and Manufacturing Centre and the Precision Medicine Catapult. This new portal developed by KTN on behalf of MMIP explains in one place what resources there are to support businesses involved in medicines manufacturing, making it easier to get the information they need, find companies they might want to engage with across supply chains, and see live information on access to finance."

Mark Bustard, Head of Medical Biotechnology for KTN, comments: "We are pleased to deliver and host this portal for the medicines manufacturing sector. Having been asked by the MMIP to develop an intuitive platform that would simplify the landscape for those wishing to access it, we really wanted to cover the range of UK capabilities drawing on KTN's deep sector knowledge."

Ian McCubbin, Chair of the Medicines Manufacturing Industry Partnership, adds: "The UK has a strong and vibrant medicines manufacturing base and it is vital that we sustain and grow this by using the considerable support, infrastructure and initiatives that can accelerate innovation and growth in the UK. Our sector has called for assistance in understanding how to navigate the innovation landscape and I believe that this KTN portal provides great value to our sector in the UK and globally."

Speaking at the launch of the portal at the 12th Annual bioProcessUK Conference, BIA CEO Steve Bates said: "This new portal provides an accessible view of the diverse medicine manufacturing community in the UK. We can now showcase this capability to the globe, driving investment and jobs. This fantastic tool, delivered by KTN on behalf of the MMIP, will also help our own community discover its own strength and communality to better partnership opportunities, to thrive and innovate."

Alison Clough, Acting Chief Executive of the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry, said:"The web portal should increase understanding of the UK's medicines manufacturing capability and expertise, as well as helping to showcase the strength of UK manufacturing. It will be a helpful source of information for policy makers, pharmaceutical companies and international investors."

Access the Medicines Manufacturing Innovation Landscape portal here.