RoslinCT Secures Up to £7.25 Million Scottish Enterprise Grant to Accelerate Digital Transformation of Cell Therapy Manufacturing
RoslinCT, a global Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization (CDMO) specializing in advanced cell therapies, has been awarded a Research & Development grant from Scottish Enterprise to accelerate the digital transformation of its manufacturing operations in Scotland.
The funding, which includes up to £7.25 million from Scottish Enterprise, will support RoslinCT’s ambitious multi-year digital expansion program. The initiative is designed to strengthen the company’s digital infrastructure, expand its use of artificial intelligence (AI), improve manufacturing connectivity and create a more data-driven operating environment across its Scottish facilities.
RoslinCT said the program represents a significant investment in the future of advanced therapy manufacturing and will support the company’s long-term objective of developing highly integrated manufacturing capabilities for clinical and commercial cell therapy production.
The initiative is also expected to contribute to Scotland’s position as a global center for cell and gene therapy manufacturing by combining advanced manufacturing expertise with digital technologies designed to improve efficiency, consistency and scalability.
Digital Transformation to Strengthen Cell Therapy Manufacturing
Cell and gene therapies are increasingly being developed for complex diseases, including cancer and genetic disorders. However, manufacturing these advanced therapies can involve highly specialized processes, stringent quality requirements and complex data management.
As demand for advanced therapies grows, manufacturers are under increasing pressure to develop processes that are not only compliant and reliable but also scalable and cost-effective.
RoslinCT’s digital expansion program is intended to address these requirements by creating a more connected manufacturing environment in which operational data can be integrated across different stages of the manufacturing process.
The company said the program will enhance its digital and AI capabilities while improving data connectivity and operational efficiency.
A digitally integrated manufacturing environment can help organizations capture, connect and analyze information generated throughout manufacturing operations. Greater access to data can support more informed decision-making, improve process visibility and identify opportunities to optimize manufacturing performance.
For cell therapy developers, these capabilities can be particularly valuable because manufacturing processes must often be carefully controlled and adapted to the specific characteristics of advanced therapies.
RoslinCT expects its digital investment to strengthen its ability to support clients throughout the product lifecycle, from early-stage process development through manufacturing and commercial readiness.
Supporting Faster and More Cost-Effective Cell Therapy Development
One of the key objectives of the program is to help cell therapy developers move innovative products toward patients more efficiently.
RoslinCT works with developers across the advanced therapy sector, supporting activities including process development, analytical development, GMP manufacturing and commercial readiness.
By integrating digital technologies across these functions, the company expects to improve coordination and create greater visibility across manufacturing workflows.
A more connected manufacturing environment could also help identify process issues earlier, support more consistent operations and facilitate the transition from development-scale activities to larger-scale clinical and commercial manufacturing.
For emerging cell therapy companies, manufacturing can represent a significant component of the development timeline and overall cost structure. Establishing scalable processes early can therefore be critical to successful commercialization.
RoslinCT said its digital expansion will strengthen the infrastructure required to support customers as their therapies progress through different stages of development.
The company believes that combining manufacturing expertise with advanced digital capabilities can help reduce inefficiencies and support faster delivery of cell therapies to patients.
Scottish Enterprise Supports Advanced Manufacturing Innovation
The up to £7.25 million R&D grant from Scottish Enterprise provides substantial support for RoslinCT’s multi-year digital expansion plan.
Scottish Enterprise is supporting the project as part of its broader efforts to encourage innovation, strengthen competitiveness and promote economic development within Scotland.
The grant will help RoslinCT accelerate investment in digital technologies and infrastructure while supporting the development of capabilities that could have wider implications for Scotland’s life sciences and advanced manufacturing sectors.
RoslinCT said the program is expected to create a highly connected and digitally enabled manufacturing ecosystem that can support both clinical and commercial cell therapy production.
The project is also expected to generate high-value employment opportunities and contribute to long-term economic growth in Scotland.
Peter Coleman, Chief Executive Officer of RoslinCT, said the support from Scottish Enterprise represents an important investment in the future of advanced therapy manufacturing in the country.
“This support from Scottish Enterprise represents an important investment in the future of advanced therapy manufacturing in Scotland,” Coleman said. “Digital technologies are transforming how cell therapies are developed and manufactured, enabling greater efficiency, consistency and scalability while maintaining the highest quality standards.”
Coleman added that RoslinCT is focused on developing world-class manufacturing capabilities that enable its clients to advance innovative therapies more quickly.
“At RoslinCT, we are committed to building world-class manufacturing capabilities that help our clients bring innovative therapies to patients faster,” he said. “This programme will strengthen our digital infrastructure, support continued innovation and reinforce Scotland’s position as a leading destination for cell and gene therapy manufacturing.”
Building a Connected Manufacturing Ecosystem
The digital transformation initiative forms part of RoslinCT’s longer-term strategy to modernize its manufacturing operations.
Rather than focusing on a single technology or isolated manufacturing process, the program is designed to create an integrated digital environment across the company’s operations.
This approach can provide greater connectivity between manufacturing activities, analytical processes, quality functions and operational decision-making.
For advanced therapy manufacturers, such connectivity can be particularly important because cell therapy production involves multiple interconnected stages. Information generated during one stage may influence decisions made later in the manufacturing process.
A centralized and connected digital infrastructure can make it easier to access relevant information, identify trends and support consistent manufacturing practices.
The incorporation of AI capabilities could further enhance the way manufacturing data is analyzed. AI and other advanced digital tools have the potential to identify patterns, support predictive approaches and improve operational decision-making when appropriately implemented within controlled manufacturing environments.
RoslinCT’s investment is therefore aimed not only at digitizing existing processes but also at establishing a foundation for future manufacturing innovation.
Strengthening Scotland’s Life Sciences Sector
The RoslinCT project is also expected to support Scotland’s broader life sciences ecosystem.
Scotland has developed an international reputation for research, biotechnology and advanced healthcare innovation. The growth of cell and gene therapy manufacturing represents an important opportunity for the country to build on that expertise.
By investing in advanced manufacturing and digital infrastructure, RoslinCT aims to strengthen Scotland’s position within the global cell and gene therapy supply chain.
The company’s expanded capabilities could help attract additional investment, support collaboration with biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies and create opportunities for highly skilled professionals.
Scottish Enterprise Chief Executive Adrian Gillespie said the project reflects the strength of Scotland’s life sciences sector and RoslinCT’s role within it.
“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,” Gillespie said.
He added that the project illustrates how Scottish Enterprise funding can help companies pursue innovation at scale and improve their competitiveness in international markets.
“This R&D project is a prime example of how Scottish Enterprise support can enable innovation at scale and strengthen competitiveness in global markets,” Gillespie said.
Government Support for Advanced Therapies
The project has also received support from the Scottish Government, reflecting the strategic importance of the life sciences and advanced therapy manufacturing sectors.
Scottish Minister for Business & Fair Work Tom Arthur described the grant as positive for Edinburgh, Scotland’s life sciences industry and the development of therapies intended to address serious medical conditions.
“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,” Arthur said.
Arthur also highlighted RoslinCT’s development over the past two decades and its contribution to the manufacture and delivery of therapies for patients with serious illnesses.
“Over the last twenty years, RoslinCT has established itself as a Scottish success story, delivering and manufacturing life-changing therapies for cancer, genetic disorders and other complex medical conditions,” he said.
He added that the Scottish Government and its enterprise agencies recognize the importance of maintaining international competitiveness within the life sciences sector.
“The Scottish Government and our enterprise agencies recognise the importance of helping our life sciences sector remain internationally competitive and will continue supporting and investing in our fantastic, world-renowned innovation,” Arthur said.
Expanding Cell Therapy Capabilities
The digital transformation program comes as RoslinCT continues to invest across its broader manufacturing and development capabilities.
The company provides support across process development, analytical development, GMP manufacturing and commercial readiness, helping cell therapy developers move programs from development into clinical and commercial production.
As cell therapies progress toward commercialization, manufacturers must address increasingly complex requirements around process consistency, quality, scalability and supply.
RoslinCT’s investment in digital systems is intended to complement its existing manufacturing expertise by creating an environment in which data can be used more effectively throughout the product lifecycle.
The company expects the program to strengthen its ability to support customers at different stages of development, from early process work through GMP production and preparation for commercial supply.
This integrated approach could become increasingly important as more cell therapy programs move into late-stage clinical development and commercial manufacturing.
Creating High-Value Employment and Long-Term Growth
Beyond manufacturing improvements, the digital expansion program is expected to contribute to employment and economic growth in Scotland.
The development of advanced digital manufacturing capabilities requires expertise spanning manufacturing science, data management, artificial intelligence, engineering, quality, analytics and cell therapy operations.
As RoslinCT expands its capabilities, the project is expected to create high-value employment opportunities while strengthening the skills base supporting Scotland’s life sciences industry.
The investment may also help reinforce the wider ecosystem surrounding advanced therapies by supporting demand for specialized suppliers, technology providers and professional services.
RoslinCT’s project therefore has implications beyond its own manufacturing operations. By expanding advanced therapy capabilities and integrating digital technologies, the company aims to contribute to the development of a broader, more competitive cell and gene therapy manufacturing ecosystem in Scotland.
Positioning for the Future of Cell and Gene Therapy Manufacturing
The Scottish Enterprise grant marks a significant step in RoslinCT’s ongoing investment in digital transformation and advanced manufacturing.
The company’s multi-year program is designed to create a more connected, data-driven and digitally enabled manufacturing environment capable of supporting the evolving needs of cell therapy developers.
As the advanced therapy industry continues to mature, manufacturing organizations will increasingly need to balance innovation with stringent quality requirements, scalability and operational efficiency.
RoslinCT’s strategy is to combine its established cell therapy manufacturing expertise with digital and AI capabilities to address these challenges.
The company said the investment will help strengthen its infrastructure, improve manufacturing performance and support clients in bringing innovative therapies to patients more quickly and cost-effectively.
With support of up to £7.25 million from Scottish Enterprise, RoslinCT is positioned to accelerate this transformation while contributing to Scotland’s broader ambitions in life sciences and advanced manufacturing.
The initiative ultimately underscores the growing importance of digital technologies in the next generation of cell therapy manufacturing. By developing a highly connected manufacturing environment, RoslinCT aims to improve efficiency, consistency and scalability while maintaining the quality standards required for advanced therapies.
As the company continues expanding its process development, analytical development, GMP manufacturing and commercial readiness capabilities, the digital transformation program is expected to serve as a foundation for future growth and innovation.
For Scotland, the investment further strengthens the country’s role in the global cell and gene therapy industry. For RoslinCT and its customers, it represents an opportunity to build manufacturing infrastructure capable of supporting the increasingly sophisticated requirements of advanced therapies and helping translate promising cell therapy innovations into treatments for patients worldwide.
About RoslinCT
RoslinCT is a leading global CDMO focused on advanced cell therapies. With 22 purpose-built cGMP cell therapy suites across sites in Edinburgh, Scotland, and Hopkinton, Massachusetts, RoslinCT provides process and analytical development, clinical and commercial manufacturing for autologous and allogeneic cell therapies, as well as iPSC cell line development, gene editing, and differentiation services.
Founded in 2005 and built on the scientific heritage of the Roslin Institute – home of the groundbreaking cloning of Dolly the Sheep – RoslinCT has played a pivotal role in advancing innovative cell-based medicines from early development through commercialization, with manufacture of commercial products at both sites.
RoslinCT is a GHO Capital portfolio company.
Learn more at: www.roslinct.com
About Scottish Enterprise
Scottish Enterprise (SE) is Scotland’s national economic development agency and a non-departmental public body of the Scottish Government. It supports businesses to innovate and scale to transform the Scottish economy by focusing on new market opportunities through targeted investment, innovation and internationalisation.