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Quick answer
The Cell and Gene Therapy Catapult supports UK companies bringing advanced therapies to patients. It offers access to GMP manufacturing centres, regulatory and process development expertise, clinical operations support and structured programmes for innovators. The UK centre of excellence for cell and gene therapy commercialisation and manufacturing. Eligibility typically requires UK developers of cell, gene and advanced therapy products, and supply-chain innovators in the sector. Funding is typically Manufacturing centre access, programme support.
Funding amount
Manufacturing centre access, programme support
Region
United Kingdom
Stage
Any stage
Provider
Cell and Gene Therapy Catapult
Advisor view
This is best treated as a strategic partner rather than a grant source — the value comes from facilities, networks and de-risking work, not headline cash. Start with a small paid project.
Frequently asked questions
- Who is Cell and Gene Therapy Catapult Programmes really for?
- It works best for organisations that already meet the eligibility test on paper and have the operational maturity to deliver — not for businesses hoping the application will force them to formalise.
- What are the most common reasons applications are rejected?
- Weak evidence, eligibility misses, and applications that read as business as usual rather than the specific intent of the scheme. Most rejections are avoidable with earlier preparation.
- Can early-stage startups apply?
- Sometimes — but the strongest applicants usually have at least minimum trading history, a defined plan and the team to deliver. If you are pre-revenue with no plan, expect to be too early.
- How competitive is it?
- Demand routinely outstrips supply for the high-profile UK programmes. Treat any competitive call as a serious bid that needs four to six weeks of preparation, not a weekend.
- What should I prepare before I apply?
- A short written summary of what you are doing and why it qualifies, your latest accounts or forecasts, and any partner or evidence the scheme expects. Get adviser sign-off before submission.
- What happens after a successful application?
- Expect monitoring, reporting and milestone evidence. Plan the reporting cadence and internal owner before the funding lands, not afterwards.
Usually too early when
Advisor signal
You have no defined technical question, no commercial route to market, or no internal capacity to engage on a weekly cadence.
Eligibility
UK developers of cell, gene and advanced therapy products, and supply-chain innovators in the sector.
Common reasons applications fail
Vague engagement, no internal sponsor, treating the catapult as a grant rather than a partner, underestimating scoping time.
What improves your odds
A specific technical problem you can scope in a paragraph, a defined commercial route, and a willingness to start small.
Typical successful applicant
A UK SME, scale-up or industrial business with a defined capability gap, willingness to co-invest, and operational maturity to work with a research-and-development partner.
Common misconceptions
Catapults are not free consultants and not grant providers. Most engagement is paid or co-funded.
What comes next
Move from a scoping project to a strategic programme over 6–18 months, and use the relationship to unlock follow-on funding.
Funding context
Often the precursor to a successful Innovate UK collaborative bid. Pairs with KTP, Smart Grants and university partnerships.
Related routes
- Regional Funding vs National Funding
- Which funding pathway should I follow?
- Enterprise Management Incentives (EMI)
- Innovate UK Collaborative R&D
- Made Smarter Innovation
- Manufacturing Made Smarter Innovation
- Midlands Engine Investment Fund II
- Nations and Regions Investment Funds
- Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund II
- R&D Tax Relief for SMEs
- Video Games Expenditure Credit
- Innovation Funding Pathway
Industries
Regions