CPI’s novel food, feed and nutraceuticals innovation centre of excellence will enhance biomanufacturing in the Tees Valley.
CPI (Centre for Process Innovation) has announced plans to develop a novel food, feed and nutraceuticals innovation centre of excellence in Wilton, UK.
A founding member of the UK government’s High Value Manufacturing Catapult, CPI is an independent technology innovation centre that was founded in 2004.
This new project – which is being supported by £4 million in funding from the Tees Valley Mayor and Combined Authority Cabinet – aims to establish ‘the go-to place’ for process development and scale-up of novel foods, as well as feeds and nutraceuticals.
The funding from the Tees Valley Combined Authority builds on recent investments by CPI to create food-grade precision fermentation and pilot plant capabilities at the Wilton Centre in Redcar.
With the funding, CPI will extend its current capabilities at the organisation’s National Industrial Biotechnology Facility in Wilton.
CPI plans to upgrade the facility’s laboratories and technical development areas, as well as add new food-grade capabilities, to establish the centre of excellence. This will enable CPI to support businesses in developing new and ‘improved’ food products and is expected to create new biomanufacturing jobs in the region.
CPI says that the centre will integrate a variety of technologies spanning ingredient production, formulation and packaging solutions, with the aim of delivering a more sustainable food supply chain.
Frank Millar, CEO at CPI, said: “We are delighted to be building on CPI’s current capabilities in the food, feed and nutraceuticals market through the development of this new centre of excellence.
“With this investment from the Tees Valley Combined Authority, in conjunction with CPI’s investment programme and the commitment of industry partners, the novel food, feed and nutraceuticals innovation centre of excellence places the Tees Valley at the heart of a more sustainable food industry.”
Kris Wadrop, general manager for biotechnology at CPI, added: “This unique capability in Teesside will draw companies from all of the UK, EU and even the world to Wilton. Ultimately, this new centre will enable businesses to demonstrate technologies and develop products that could transform our food, feed and nutraceuticals.”
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