Moderna has officially opened its Innovation and Technology Centre (MITC) at the Harwell Science and Innovation Campus in Oxfordshire, marking the first facility in the UK capable of manufacturing mRNA vaccines onshore. The facility is now fully operational and licensed to supply British-made COVID-19 vaccines to support NHS seasonal vaccination programs.
Manufacturing Capacity and Capabilities
The MITC can produce up to 100 million mRNA vaccine doses per year under normal circumstances, with capacity to scale up to 250 million doses during a pandemic response. This production capability represents a critical component of the UK's national resilience strategy for future health emergencies.
"The opening of the Moderna Innovation and Technology Centre marks the first facility in the UK to manufacture an onshore supply of mRNA vaccines," said Stéphane Bancel, Chief Executive Officer of Moderna. "Together, we successfully delivered this vision from concept to operational readiness in under two years."
The facility supports approximately 150 highly-skilled jobs and includes clinical R&D laboratories that will analyze samples from Moderna's global clinical trials. Beyond respiratory diseases, the MITC will conduct research into mRNA applications for cancer, rare diseases, and immune disorders.
Strategic Partnership and Investment
The facility represents a cornerstone of Moderna's 10-year strategic partnership with the UK government, which includes over £1 billion in R&D investment. Moderna has become the largest commercial sponsor of clinical trials in the UK in 2024, conducting more than 20 clinical trials across 110 sites nationwide.
"It has been incredible to see the MITC built at record speed to bring our mRNA manufacturing to the UK," said Darius Hughes, UK General Manager of Moderna. "With the facility now open and operational, we're proud to be the first company to have established a UK-based mRNA manufacturing capability to support NHS seasonal vaccination programmes."
Government Support and Broader Life Sciences Initiative
To support additional investments in life sciences R&D, the UK government has launched the Life Sciences Transformational R&D Investment Fund, a new £50 million pilot program. The fund aims to support large-scale, capital-intensive projects in the life sciences sector worth over £100 million, designed to attract substantial private investment in UK-based R&D.
"Life sciences are a great British success story and this new cutting-edge facility is the next pivotal moment in boosting our nation's health, innovation and economy," said Wes Streeting, Secretary of State for Health and Social Care. "The government is investing billions into this vital sector and partnering the might of Moderna with the brilliance of our NHS will enable us to benefit from innovative vaccine technology."
Global Manufacturing Network
The MITC is part of Moderna's global network of advanced manufacturing hubs, alongside facilities in Australia and Canada. This network collectively strengthens pandemic readiness by maximizing geographic coverage and minimizing response times during health emergencies.
Professor Susan Hopkins, CEO of the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), emphasized the facility's role in pandemic preparedness: "The opening of this impressive state of the art facility in Harwell will help ensure the NHS has rapid access to mRNA vaccines if needed in a future pandemic. It will also open doors to new vaccine products, helping support the government's 10 Year Health Plan and the focus on prevention."
Economic Impact and Sector Growth
The UK life sciences sector is valued at approximately £100 billion and supports over 300,000 jobs nationwide. The sector has been identified as one of eight key sectors in the Industrial Strategy that will drive growth over the coming decade. The Oxford-Cambridge region, where the MITC is located, already accounts for over 7% of total UK GDP, contributing over £40 billion to the UK economy.
Lawrence Tallon, Chief Executive of the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), highlighted the regulatory achievement: "The MHRA is proud to have played a pivotal role in bringing this world-class facility to operational readiness. The UK was the first country to authorise mRNA vaccines during the pandemic, and this facility builds on that legacy of scientific excellence and regulatory agility."
