RoslinCT Awarded £7.25M Grant for Digital Cell Therapy in Edinburgh 2026

Key Points

• Global cell therapy contract development and manufacturing organisation RoslinCT secured a research and development grant of up to £7.25 million from Scottish Enterprise.
• The grant will fund RoslinCT’s multi-year plan to integrate digital platforms and artificial intelligence across its Scottish manufacturing facilities.
• RoslinCT plans to use the funding to connect its manufacturing systems, aim to improve operational efficiency, and track data and product delivery.
• Scottish Enterprise CEO Adrian Gillespie and Scottish Business Minister Tom Arthur issued statements alongside the announcement commenting on Scotland’s life sciences sector.

EDINBURGH (Edinburgh Daily) October 6, 2026 – Global cell therapy Contract Development and Manufacturing Organisation (CDMO) RoslinCT has officially been awarded a Research & Development (R&D) grant valued at up to £7.25 million from national economic development agency Scottish Enterprise to accelerate the comprehensive digital transformation of its Scottish manufacturing operations.

As reported in an official announcement released by RoslinCT, the funding forms a core component of the CDMO’s broader multi-year digital expansion strategy.

This multi-phase initiative is designed to embed advanced digital automation and Artificial Intelligence (AI) infrastructure into cell and gene therapy processing, boosting production scalability, data connectivity, and regulatory compliance across its facilities in Edinburgh.

What are the main objectives of RoslinCT’s £7.25 million digital transformation programme?

The core focus of the multi-million-pound investment is the creation of an end-to-end, data-driven cell therapy manufacturing environment. Advanced cell therapy manufacturing—encompassing both autologous (patient-specific) and allogeneic (donor-derived) treatments—demands precise control, stringent quality standards, and real-time operational monitoring.

As detailed in statements released by the company, the Scottish Enterprise grant will fund the implementation of integrated digital architectures designed to automate workflows, optimize resource allocation, and enhance supply chain traceability.

By embedding modern AI tools and automated software solutions directly into its cGMP (Current Good Manufacturing Practice) manufacturing lines, RoslinCT aims to minimize manual processing overheads, increase batch consistency, and accelerate the transition of complex cell therapies from clinical research to full-scale commercial delivery.

How have industry leaders and government ministers reacted to the grant announcement?

The awarding of the £7.25 million grant has drawn strong endorsement from leadership teams within RoslinCT, Scottish Enterprise, and the Scottish Government.

As reported in official release statements by Katerina Tsita on behalf of RoslinCT, Peter Coleman, Chief Executive Officer of RoslinCT, emphasized the strategic importance of the funding for advanced therapy manufacturing:

“This support from Scottish Enterprise represents an important investment in the future of advanced therapy manufacturing in Scotland. Digital technologies are transforming how cell therapies are developed and manufactured, enabling greater efficiency, consistency and scalability while maintaining the highest quality standards.”

Highlighting the economic and technological impact on the region, Adrian Gillespie, Chief Executive of Scottish Enterprise, noted:

“Scotland’s life sciences sector has built a strong international reputation for innovation and expertise, and RoslinCT’s ambitious digital programme demonstrates their continued leadership in this field.”

Underlining the economic and health sector benefits, Tom Arthur, Scottish Minister for Business & Fair Work, stated:

“This Scottish Enterprise grant is good news for Edinburgh, good news for Scotland’s life sciences sector and good news for the advancement of vitally important work that is improving and saving lives across the world.”

What is the background behind RoslinCT and Scotland’s cell therapy sector?

RoslinCT carries a historical legacy within the global biological sciences sector. Formed in 2005, the organization built upon the scientific breakthroughs achieved at the Roslin Institute in Edinburgh, world-renowned for the cloning of Dolly the Sheep in 1996. Over the past two decades, RoslinCT has established itself as an international CDMO specializing in process development, analytical testing, and cGMP manufacturing of cell-based medicines.

Operating state-of-the-art facilities across 22 purpose-built cGMP suites located in Edinburgh, Scotland, and Hopkinton, Massachusetts, the company supports global biotech and pharmaceutical developers across the complete life cycle of advanced therapies.

Notably, in partnership with Vertex Pharmaceuticals, RoslinCT played a critical role in process development and clinical manufacturing for the world’s first approved CRISPR-edited cell therapy product (exa-cel) for sickle cell disease and transfusion-dependent beta-thalassemia.

Scottish Enterprise, the national economic development agency for Scotland, regularly awards targeted R&D grants to foster high-value innovation, maintain skilled domestic employment, and boost export capabilities within key technology sectors.

The life sciences cluster in Scotland currently generates billions in annual turnover, with cell and gene therapy remaining a core focal point for national industrial growth plans.

What does this development mean for biopharmaceutical developers and the life sciences market?

The £7.25 million R&D grant directly impacts biopharmaceutical developers, commercial sponsors, and the broader healthcare ecosystem.

For biopharmaceutical clients utilizing RoslinCT’s contract manufacturing capacity, the transition to an AI-driven, fully digital manufacturing standard reduces technical risk and batch failure rates.

Cell therapies present significant manufacturing challenges due to raw material variability and complex chain-of-custody requirements. Integrated digital systems provide continuous process verification and real-time data analytics, directly shortening product release timelines and lowering production costs.

For the Scottish life sciences cluster, this investment reinforces Edinburgh’s standing as a leading European hub for advanced therapy development. By bridging the gap between biological engineering and modern digital systems, RoslinCT sets a operational standard for commercial-scale advanced therapy manufacturing. Ultimately, improved scalable production infrastructure aims to lower the high cost of cell-based therapies, making curative treatments more accessible to health systems and patients worldwide.