RoslinCT has secured an R&D grant of up to £7.25m from Scottish Enterprise to expand digital technology and artificial intelligence across its cell therapy manufacturing operations.
The Edinburgh-based contract development and manufacturing organisation will use the funding for a multi-year programme covering data connectivity, manufacturing systems and the use of AI within its Scottish facilities.
Cell therapy production places unusually high demands on manufacturing systems. Biological processes must remain tightly controlled, while manufacturers need detailed records covering materials, equipment, environmental conditions, quality checks and each stage of production.
Those requirements create large volumes of data but do not automatically make that information easy to use. Data may sit across laboratory, manufacturing, quality and operational systems, leaving companies with considerable integration work before they can analyse processes consistently or automate more of the workflow.
RoslinCT intends to develop a more connected manufacturing environment in which information can move more effectively between systems and teams. The programme is expected to support operational efficiency and manufacturing performance as the company works with developers taking cell therapies through clinical development and towards commercial supply.
The Scottish Enterprise award supports research and development rather than simply adding floor space or production equipment. That distinction is important in advanced therapies, where increasing manufacturing capacity depends as much on process knowledge, quality systems and data integrity as it does on physical infrastructure.
AI may allow manufacturers to identify process variation earlier, analyse patterns across larger datasets and reduce repetitive work. Its use in regulated manufacturing remains constrained by validation, governance and the need to demonstrate how systems reach conclusions that can affect product quality.
RoslinCT is therefore investing in digital capability within an environment where automation cannot be introduced independently of regulatory controls. Technologies that improve speed or productivity still need to preserve traceability and support the evidence required by customers and regulators.
The programme also sits within Scotland’s wider life sciences economy. Cell and gene therapy developers can create significant scientific value, but their progress depends on specialist manufacturing partners capable of producing complex therapies consistently enough for clinical trials and, ultimately, commercial use.
Manufacturing can become a bottleneck as programmes move from small clinical batches towards larger and more repeatable volumes. Better connected production data can help companies understand where capacity is being lost, where processes vary and where additional investment will have the greatest effect.
RoslinCT’s programme will run over several years, giving the company scope to integrate the new capabilities across its existing operations rather than treating AI or digital manufacturing as isolated technology deployments.
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