Chemify targets 'hyperscaler' status with £20m state funding package

A University of Glasgow spinout which uses robots and AI to discover new medicines is targeting "hyperscaler" status after landing a state funding package worth tens of millions of pounds.

Sky News has learnt that Chemify, which was launched in 2022 and has already raised more than £100m in funding from blue-chip investors, has secured £22m in grants from Scottish Enterprise and the UK government.

Whitehall sources said the new funding was expected to be announced this week.

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Chemify is a deep tech company behind a process known as chemputation, which combines artificial intelligence with robotic synthesis for molecular and materials discovery.

The company is said to have attracted significant interest from government because it had been billed as the first physical AI able to hyperscale real solutions in areas such as drug discovery and climate change.

Founded by Lee Cronin, Regius chair of Chemistry at the University of Glasgow, Chemify is building a series of "chemifarms" which are designed to accelerate the drug and materials discovery process through its proprietary technology platform, known as Chemify Genesis.

The company's first chemifarm is located in Maryhill, Glasgow.

One insider said the capacity expansion supported by the new funding would facilitate the trebling of Chemify's Scottish workforce from about 150 employees to roughly 450 over the next three years.

The company's latest funding boost comes amid a race among AI start-ups to pioneer new methods of scientific discovery.

Billions of dollars are being poured into areas such as fusion technology, materials science and drug discovery by companies which believe the products they create could become globally significant blockbusters.

Chemify's previous funding rounds have been backed by major tech investors such as Insight Partners, 8VC and Rocketship Ventures.

A government insider said the funding package comprised just over £15m from Scottish Enterprise and a further £6m from the UK government.

Another source said the latest injection of capital was expected to be followed in due course by a Series C funding round which could seek to raise anywhere between $250m and $1bn.

One challenge for the government will be to convince Chemify that its long-term future should remain in the UK, given its diverse investor base and interest from US-based backers.

Professor Cronin is said to be planning to launch further chemifarm sites internationally, including in the US.

The life sciences sector is one of the key pillars in the government's industrial strategy, launched last year, although there have been doubts raised about the commitment of some of Britain's biggest pharmaceuticals companies to the UK.

Chemify has been contacted for comment, while the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade could not be reached for comment.

(c) Sky News 2026: Chemify targets 'hyperscaler' status with £20m state funding package