05 December 2025
5 min read
An overview of the Life Sciences Transformational R&D Investment Fund Pilot, looking at its purpose, funding parameters, eligibility and role in advancing UK life sciences R&D.
The Life Sciences Transformational R&D Investment Fund (TRIF) Pilot is a substantial capital grant opportunity established by the UK Government to stimulate large-scale, transformative research and development (R&D) in the UK’s life sciences sector.
It forms part of the UK’s wider strategy to enhance its global leadership in life sciences, complementing the existing Life Sciences Innovative Manufacturing Fund (LSIMF).
The fund’s primary goal is to support major R&D investments that achieve three key outcomes:
✔ Drive Innovation: Accelerate the creation of new or the expansion of existing UK R&D capacity, supporting innovation in human medicines, medical diagnostics, and MedTech products.
✔ Enhance Health Resilience: Strengthen the UK’s ability to respond to emerging healthcare challenges and future health emergencies by enhancing the flexibility and scalability of R&D facilities, capabilities, and technologies
✔ Deliver Economic Benefits: Generate significant economic value by contributing to Gross Value Added (GVA), creating high-wage, high-skilled jobs, and stimulating R&D spillover benefits across the UK.
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| Total Fund Value | £50 million capital grant programme |
| Eligible Project Cost | Projects must have a total cost (including capital expenditure) of at least £100 million in order to apply |
| Grant Award | Typically ranges from 10% to 20% of the total project costs, set at the minimum level necessary for the project to proceed while adhering to UK subsidy regulations. Grant awards are capped at £25 million |
| Eligibility | Primarily aimed at UK-registered businesses. Applicants must demonstrate a track record in developing or manufacturing medicines or medical devices. |
| Scope | R&D projects in human medicines (pharmaceuticals, APIs, finished products), medical diagnostics, and MedTech products (medical devices). |
| Application Period | Open for applications until 31 March 2028. |
The TRIF Pilot focuses specifically on the Research and Development stage of the life sciences value chain, supporting investments such as:
➤ ➤ Drug Discovery and Development: Investments in new facilities for preclinical or clinical research.
➤ ➤ Advanced Technologies: Deploying new AI or digital research approaches, or innovative materials/technologies for R&D.
➤ ➤ Medical Devices: Design, testing, or improvement of medical devices and diagnostics.
➤ ➤ Process Efficiency: Enhancing research and production efficiency, and optimising clinical research pathways.
The pilot phase is explicitly focused on large-scale transformative investments, although the government has indicated a long-term ambition to potentially expand the programme to support smaller-scale R&D initiatives in future phases.
If you have any questions about Grant Funding or Innovation Tax Relief please contact the ABGi Team. A member of our team will get back to you to discuss your unique needs and explain how we can assist.