Tees Valley Mayor agrees £4m cash injection for "innovative" bio-manufacturing site

Multi-million pound funding has been agreed for the expansion of a bio-manufacturing facility in Teesside.

Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen has signed off £4m funding to support the development of a new centre for excellence in bio-manufacturing in Redcar.

The funding will allow the Centre for Process Innovation (CPI) at the Wilton Centre, which provides independent research and development to support the UK’s processing and manufacturing sectors, to refurbish and extend its capabilities to improve food production.

The project is expected to create and safeguard 41 jobs in the region, as well as supporting other local businesses.

Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen explained: “CPI is a massive asset in the ever-growing field of biotechnology and life sciences and works with a host of cutting-edge businesses to develop exciting and innovative products.

“Supporting and growing our amazing biosciences and healthcare sectors is an important part of my plan for jobs and this funding will help CPI to stay at the forefront of the industry, boost what they do and make even more new ideas a reality, helping to improve food production and, ultimately, the health and wellbeing of people across the UK.

“This investment will make sure they can continue their fantastic work with the backing of top-quality laboratories. CPI’s new development will become another major benefit for companies across Teesside, Darlington and Hartlepool and prove a great draw to others looking to invest here.”