Working with us

At CPI, we make innovation easier. Whether you’re a start-up with a big idea, an established manufacturer, or an academic partner, we help you turn concepts into market-ready products and processes.

Working with us

At CPI, we make innovation easier. Whether you’re a start-up with a big idea, an established manufacturer, or an academic partner, we help you turn concepts into market-ready products and processes.

Working with us

At CPI, we make innovation easier. Whether you’re a start-up with a big idea, an established manufacturer, or an academic partner, we help you turn concepts into market-ready products and processes.

Our engagement models

You can work with CPI in several ways, depending on your goals, budget, and stage of development. Whether you need a short technical project, a long-term partnership, or support accessing innovation funding, we’ll tailor the right model to help you move forward with confidence.

Our engagement models

You can work with CPI in several ways, depending on your goals, budget, and stage of development. Whether you need a short technical project, a long-term partnership, or support accessing innovation funding, we’ll tailor the right model to help you move forward with confidence.

Our engagement models

You can work with CPI in several ways, depending on your goals, budget, and stage of development. Whether you need a short technical project, a long-term partnership, or support accessing innovation funding, we’ll tailor the right model to help you move forward with confidence.

Fee-for-service

Work directly with our scientists and engineers through a defined, fixed-scope project. Ideal for organisations that need access to CPI’s expertise and facilities for prototyping, testing, or scale-up.

Fast mobilisation and adaptable timelines.

Clearly defined deliverables and costs.

Access to world-class facilities
and technical specialists.

Bespoke to your needs.

You own any IP created.

Get in touch

Fee-for-service

Work directly with our scientists and engineers through a defined, fixed-scope project. Ideal for organisations that need access to CPI’s expertise and facilities for prototyping, testing, or scale-up.

Fast mobilisation and adaptable timelines.

Clearly defined deliverables and costs.

Access to world-class facilities
and technical specialists.

Bespoke to your needs.

You own any IP created.

Get in touch

Fee-for-service

Work directly with our scientists and engineers through a defined, fixed-scope project. Ideal for organisations that need access to CPI’s expertise and facilities for prototyping, testing, or scale-up.

Fast mobilisation and adaptable timelines.

Clearly defined deliverables and costs.

Access to world-class facilities
and technical specialists.

Bespoke to your needs.

You own any IP created.

Get in touch

Collaborative R&D

Join forces with CPI and other partners on a co-funded or grant-supported project. Perfect if you’re developing something new and need technical validation, funding guidance, or consortium expertise.

Joint proposal development and bid support.

Access to collaborative funding opportunities.

Shared technical delivery and risk management.

Get in touch

Collaborative R&D

Join forces with CPI and other partners on a co-funded or grant-supported project. Perfect if you’re developing something new and need technical validation, funding guidance, or consortium expertise.

Joint proposal development and bid support.

Access to collaborative funding opportunities.

Shared technical delivery and risk management.

Get in touch

Collaborative R&D

Join forces with CPI and other partners on a co-funded or grant-supported project. Perfect if you’re developing something new and need technical validation, funding guidance, or consortium expertise.

Joint proposal development and bid support.

Access to collaborative funding opportunities.

Shared technical delivery and risk management.

Get in touch

Strategic partnerships

For organisations looking to build a longer-term relationship with CPI that combines technical delivery, innovation strategy, and access to our networks.

Multi-year collaboration agreements.

Flexible access to CPI’s people, facilities, and programmes.

Co-development of new technologies 
and innovation roadmaps.

Access to IP/ know-how developed.

Get in touch

Strategic partnerships

For organisations looking to build a longer-term relationship with CPI that combines technical delivery, innovation strategy, and access to our networks.

Multi-year collaboration agreements.

Flexible access to CPI’s people, facilities, and programmes.

Co-development of new technologies 
and innovation roadmaps.

Access to IP/ know-how developed.

Get in touch

Strategic partnerships

For organisations looking to build a longer-term relationship with CPI that combines technical delivery, innovation strategy, and access to our networks.

Multi-year collaboration agreements.

Flexible access to CPI’s people, facilities, and programmes.

Co-development of new technologies 
and innovation roadmaps.

Access to IP/ know-how developed.

Get in touch

Our process

Working with CPI is designed to be simple, collaborative, and transparent. Every project follows a structured but flexible approach that ensures you know what to expect and how we’ll deliver value at every stage.

Discover

We start by understanding your idea, challenge, or opportunity. Together, we explore the science, technology, and market potential, refining your goals and what success looks like.

Discover

We start by understanding your idea, challenge, or opportunity. Together, we explore the science, technology, and market potential, refining your goals and what success looks like.

Define

We work with you to scope the project, identify the right facilities, skills, and partners, and agree the most effective route forward.

Define

We work with you to scope the project, identify the right facilities, skills, and partners, and agree the most effective route forward.

Develop

Our teams design, build, test, and refine solutions that are technically sound and commercially viable.

Develop

Our teams design, build, test, and refine solutions that are technically sound and commercially viable.

Demonstrate

We validate results in real-world conditions, providing the data and evidence you need to scale.

Demonstrate

We validate results in real-world conditions, providing the data and evidence you need to scale.

Delivery and beyond

We hand over outcomes and next steps, helping you connect with investors, manufacturers, and partners so you can take your innovation confidently forward.

Delivery and beyond

We hand over outcomes and next steps, helping you connect with investors, manufacturers, and partners so you can take your innovation confidently forward.

Begin your innovation journey today

Contact us

Begin your innovation journey today

Contact us

Begin your innovation journey today

Contact us

Who we work with

Start-ups and SMEs

We help growing companies prove their ideas, access expertise and facilities, and attract investment.

Large industry

We work with established businesses to unlock new opportunities, improve productivity, and deliver sustainable growth through innovation.

Academia and research organisations

We help researchers translate discoveries into scalable industrial applications, bridging the gap between lab and market.

Government and public bodies

We work with government partners to deliver innovation that strengthens UK industry, advances healthcare, and supports national science and technology priorities.

Who we work with

Start-ups and SMEs

We help growing companies prove their ideas, access expertise and facilities, and attract investment.

Large industry

We work with established businesses to unlock new opportunities, improve productivity, and deliver sustainable growth through innovation.

Academia and research organisations

We help researchers translate discoveries into scalable industrial applications, bridging the gap between lab and market.

Government and public bodies

We work with government partners to deliver innovation that strengthens UK industry, advances healthcare, and supports national science and technology priorities.

Who we work with

Start-ups and SMEs

We help growing companies prove their ideas, access expertise and facilities, and attract investment.

Large industry

We work with established businesses to unlock new opportunities, improve productivity, and deliver sustainable growth through innovation.

Academia and research organisations

We help researchers translate discoveries into scalable industrial applications, bridging the gap between lab and market.

Government and public bodies

We work with government partners to deliver innovation that strengthens UK industry, advances healthcare, and supports national science and technology priorities.

Funding support

Innovation takes investment, but we can help remove the barriers. CPI connects partners with the right mix of grant funding, collaborative programmes, and private investment to move ideas forward faster.

Our teams advise on eligibility, guide you through the application process, and help build the technical evidence investors look for. Through CPI Enterprises, our investment arm, we also support high-potential start-ups with direct private investment and connections to a global network of specialist deep tech investors.

Discover CPI Enterprises

Funding support

Innovation takes investment, but we can help remove the barriers. CPI connects partners with the right mix of grant funding, collaborative programmes, and private investment to move ideas forward faster.

Our teams advise on eligibility, guide you through the application process, and help build the technical evidence investors look for. Through CPI Enterprises, our investment arm, we also support high-potential start-ups with direct private investment and connections to a global network of specialist deep tech investors.

Discover CPI Enterprises

Funding support

Innovation takes investment, but we can help remove the barriers. CPI connects partners with the right mix of grant funding, collaborative programmes, and private investment to move ideas forward faster.

Our teams advise on eligibility, guide you through the application process, and help build the technical evidence investors look for. Through CPI Enterprises, our investment arm, we also support high-potential start-ups with direct private investment and connections to a global network of specialist deep tech investors.

Discover CPI Enterprises

Frequently asked questions

Frequently asked questions

Frequently asked questions

What is CPI and how is it different from a contract research or manufacturing organisation?

CPI is a technology innovation centre that helps companies bridge the gap between research and commercial manufacture. We bring together specialist expertise, advanced facilities and collaborative partnerships to help organisations develop, prove and scale new products and processes.

Unlike a contract research organisation (CRO) or contract manufacturing organisation (CMO), we're independent and technology-agnostic. We're not tied to a particular platform, process or manufacturing technology, so our advice and recommendations are based on what's best for your innovation. We help you reduce technical and commercial risk while identifying the most effective route to commercial success.

Who can work with CPI?

Anyone with an innovation challenge can work with CPI. We partner with start-ups, SMEs, multinationals, universities, and public-sector organisations. Our role is to provide the people, facilities, and experience you need to accelerate development, no matter your size or sector.


When is the right time to approach CPI with an idea or technology?

You can contact CPI at any stage of your innovation journey. Some organisations come to us after proving an idea in the lab and need support to validate or scale it. Others engage earlier to shape their development strategy, while established businesses work with us to optimise products, processes or manufacturing. If you're unsure where to start, we'll help you assess your technology, understand your options and identify the best next step.

Can CPI help me secure funding or investment for my project?

Yes. CPI helps partners access grant funding, collaborative R&D programmes, and private investment. We strengthen proposals, supply credible technical evidence for investors, and connect you to funding partners. Through CPI Enterprises, our investment arm, we can also invest directly in high-potential early-stage companies.

What kinds of technical challenges does CPI help solve?

CPI helps organisations overcome the toughest parts of turning ideas into real products and processes. We support innovation from early proof-of-concept through to pilot and industrial scale, helping partners prove performance, optimise processes, ensure quality and reproducibility, and demonstrate that new technologies can be manufactured reliably and at scale. Our role is to reduce technical risk and speed up commercial success across a wide range of industries.

What is CPI and how is it different from a contract research or manufacturing organisation?

CPI is a technology innovation centre that helps companies bridge the gap between research and commercial manufacture. We bring together specialist expertise, advanced facilities and collaborative partnerships to help organisations develop, prove and scale new products and processes.

Unlike a contract research organisation (CRO) or contract manufacturing organisation (CMO), we're independent and technology-agnostic. We're not tied to a particular platform, process or manufacturing technology, so our advice and recommendations are based on what's best for your innovation. We help you reduce technical and commercial risk while identifying the most effective route to commercial success.

Who can work with CPI?

Anyone with an innovation challenge can work with CPI. We partner with start-ups, SMEs, multinationals, universities, and public-sector organisations. Our role is to provide the people, facilities, and experience you need to accelerate development, no matter your size or sector.


When is the right time to approach CPI with an idea or technology?

You can contact CPI at any stage of your innovation journey. Some organisations come to us after proving an idea in the lab and need support to validate or scale it. Others engage earlier to shape their development strategy, while established businesses work with us to optimise products, processes or manufacturing. If you're unsure where to start, we'll help you assess your technology, understand your options and identify the best next step.

Can CPI help me secure funding or investment for my project?

Yes. CPI helps partners access grant funding, collaborative R&D programmes, and private investment. We strengthen proposals, supply credible technical evidence for investors, and connect you to funding partners. Through CPI Enterprises, our investment arm, we can also invest directly in high-potential early-stage companies.

What kinds of technical challenges does CPI help solve?

CPI helps organisations overcome the toughest parts of turning ideas into real products and processes. We support innovation from early proof-of-concept through to pilot and industrial scale, helping partners prove performance, optimise processes, ensure quality and reproducibility, and demonstrate that new technologies can be manufactured reliably and at scale. Our role is to reduce technical risk and speed up commercial success across a wide range of industries.

What is CPI and how is it different from a contract research or manufacturing organisation?

CPI is a technology innovation centre that helps companies bridge the gap between research and commercial manufacture. We bring together specialist expertise, advanced facilities and collaborative partnerships to help organisations develop, prove and scale new products and processes.

Unlike a contract research organisation (CRO) or contract manufacturing organisation (CMO), we're independent and technology-agnostic. We're not tied to a particular platform, process or manufacturing technology, so our advice and recommendations are based on what's best for your innovation. We help you reduce technical and commercial risk while identifying the most effective route to commercial success.

Who can work with CPI?

Anyone with an innovation challenge can work with CPI. We partner with start-ups, SMEs, multinationals, universities, and public-sector organisations. Our role is to provide the people, facilities, and experience you need to accelerate development, no matter your size or sector.


When is the right time to approach CPI with an idea or technology?

You can contact CPI at any stage of your innovation journey. Some organisations come to us after proving an idea in the lab and need support to validate or scale it. Others engage earlier to shape their development strategy, while established businesses work with us to optimise products, processes or manufacturing. If you're unsure where to start, we'll help you assess your technology, understand your options and identify the best next step.

Can CPI help me secure funding or investment for my project?

Yes. CPI helps partners access grant funding, collaborative R&D programmes, and private investment. We strengthen proposals, supply credible technical evidence for investors, and connect you to funding partners. Through CPI Enterprises, our investment arm, we can also invest directly in high-potential early-stage companies.

What kinds of technical challenges does CPI help solve?

CPI helps organisations overcome the toughest parts of turning ideas into real products and processes. We support innovation from early proof-of-concept through to pilot and industrial scale, helping partners prove performance, optimise processes, ensure quality and reproducibility, and demonstrate that new technologies can be manufactured reliably and at scale. Our role is to reduce technical risk and speed up commercial success across a wide range of industries.

Get in touch

Get in touch

Get in touch