CPI unveils plans for its Novel Food, Feed and Nutraceuticals Innovation Centre of Excellence

CPI, an independent technology innovation centre and founding member of the High Value Manufacturing Catapult, today announced its plans to establish a Novel Food, Feed and Nutraceuticals Innovation Centre of Excellence, catalysed by £4 million in funding from the Tees Valley Mayor and Combined Authority Cabinet.

By becoming the go-to place for process development and scale-up of novel foods, feeds and nutraceuticals, this will help to drive both CPI and the Tees Valley as leaders in biomanufacturing and food innovation. The investment from the Tees Valley Combined Authority builds on recent investments from CPI to create food grade precision fermentation and pilot plant capabilities at the Wilton Centre in Redcar.

Increasing global demands for food, along with growing health, environmental and animal welfare concerns are driving emerging trends in the food, feed and nutraceutical markets. However, in order to keep up with ever-changing consumer demands and drive innovation across the product supply chain, specialised facilities, technical expertise and advanced capabilities are needed. 

To continue responding to this market need, CPI will extend its current capabilities at the National Industrial Biotechnology Facility in Wilton, Redcar with this funding, upgrading its laboratories and technical development areas and establishing new food grade capabilities. This cutting-edge Centre of Excellence will enable CPI to support businesses in developing new and improved food products, ultimately creating new products and biomanufacturing jobs in the region. The facility update will enable CPI to provide exemplar services, samples and collaboration to recognised Food Safety and Quality Standards (FSSC 22000).

The new Centre of Excellence will leverage at least an additional £20 – 30million from industry over the next five years by attracting new businesses to the Tees Valley; initially to work with CPI in the new facilities, but hopefully in time to establish themselves in the region. Read more