£400 million investment to boost UK biomanufacturing

Fujifilm Biotechnologies has officially opened an expanded biomanufacturing and process development facility in Teesside, strengthening the UK’s life sciences ecosystem and advancing the production of innovative medicines and vaccines.

The £400 million investment, funded by FujifilmCorporation, Japan, introduces the UK’s largest single-use biopharmaceutical CDMO facility and a new Bioprocess Innovation Centre (BIC UK). Together, the facilities span over 110,000 ft² and 102,200 ft², offering small- and mid-scale manufacturing with bioreactor capacities up to 19,000 L, alongside advanced process development labs for continuous and high-throughput workflows.

The expansion is part of Fujifilm’s global kojoX™ modular manufacturing network, enabling rapid technology transfer between sites, including the company’s flagship facility in Toyama, Japan. The UK site will support the development and production of complex therapies for conditions such as cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, and rare disorders.

The Teesside expansion will employ more than 960 staff locally and forms part of Fujifilm Biotechnologies’ global workforce of 5,000. The site’s electrified facilities maximise renewable energy use, reinforcing sustainability goals. Academic partnerships with the University of Edinburgh, University of Manchester, and University of York aim to nurture the next generation of STEM and biomanufacturing talent.

"This investment is a vote of confidence in the UK as a hub for cutting-edge medicines and vaccines," said Chancellor Rachel Reeves. "It will create high-skilled jobs and strengthen supply chains across the Northern Growth Corridor."

"Fujifilm’s UK expansion demonstrates our commitment to supporting partners from process development through clinical and commercial manufacturing," said Lars Petersen, CEO of Fujifilm Biotechnologies.

The Teesside site now features revolutionary single-use and downstream processing technologies, offering partners flexibility, speed to market, and reliable medicine supply across the UK and globally.

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