About the Industrial Biotechnology Innovation Centre


IBioIC was established in 2014 to fulfil the aims of the National Plan for Industrial Biotechnology to grow the industrial biotechnology sector in Scotland to over £900 million in turnover, with over 200 companies operating in the sector by 2025.


Biotechnology uses plant-based and waste resources to produce or process materials, chemicals and energy, offering green and sustainable alternatives to fossil fuels in everything from energy, to medicines and food packaging. 

IBioIC is a networking and support organisation that connects industry, academia and government to bring biotechnology processes and products to the global market. We do this by offering scale-up facilities, talent development, funding provision, and promotion of Scotland’s unique assets.

  • IBioIC’s Governing Board sets the strategic direction of the Centre, ensuring all its activities contribute to its overall vision. The Governing Board is also responsible for compliance, financial oversight and risk management.

    Members of IBioIC’s Governing Board

    • Chair – Peter Williams (Chair), INEOS

    • Mark Bustard, IBioIC

    • Duncan Graham, University of Strathclyde

    • Susan Rosser, University of Edinburgh

    • Luuk Van Der Wielen, Bernal Institute, University of Limerick, IRL & Delft University of Technology, NL

    • Derek Stewart, James Hutton Institute

    • Sara Holland, Potter Clarkson

    • Martin Hayes, Johnson Matthey

    • Barbara Blaney, Johnson Matthey

    • Chris Courtney, NMIS

    • Deborah O’Neil, NovaBiotics

    • Jeremy Gillespie, Arcticzymes

    • Kirk Malone, Britest

    Observers

    • Julia Mitchell, Scottish Funding Council

    • Nic Peyret, Scottish Enterprise

    DOWNLOAD TERMS OF REFERENCE

    If you are a current member of IBioIC and would like to register your interest in becoming a member of our Governing Board, please email us at info@ibioic.com.

  • The Knowledge Exchange & Innovation Advisory Board (KEI) oversees initiatives and strategic guidance aimed at fostering collaboration between academia, industry, and government to advance the Centres biotechnology innovations.

    Members of IBioIC’s KEI AB

    • Adam Giangreco, SRUC

    • Alexandra McConnachie, Heriot-Watt University

    • Alicja Dzieciol, SilviBio

    • Amy Tayler, Edinburgh Innovations

    • Catherine Breslin, University of Strathclyde

    • Colin McMurray, Forth Valley College

    • Gail Shuttleworth, NNFCC

    • Giovanna Bermano, Robert Gordon University

    • Jonathan Dempsey, Pathway Bio

    • Josie Lefevre, Thomas Swan

    • Lissa Herron, Converge

    • Orla Kelly, University of the West of Scotland

    • Paty Rojas, SAOS

    • Polly Van Alstyne, UCL Innovation & Enterprise

    • Tamsyn Kennedy, Scottish Water

    • Mark Bustard, IBioIC

    • Liz Fletcher, IBioIC

    DOWNLOAD TERMS OF REFERENCE

    If you are a current member of IBioIC and would like to register your interest in becoming a member of our KEI Advisory Board please email us at info@ibioic.com.

  • The Skills Advisory Board (SAB) provides guidance on developing a highly skilled workforce to support the growth of the industrial biotechnology sector.

    • Chair – Murray Brown, Britest

    • Susan Bryan, University of the Highlands and Islands

    • Susan Rosser, University of Edinburgh

    • Jen Vanderhoven, Frey Consulting

    • Jo Partridge, MiAlgae

    • Luuk Van Der Wielen, Bernal Institute, University of Limerick, IRL & Delft University of Technology, NL

    • Tim Miller, Croda

    • Mary Jenkinson-Finch, BBSRC

    • Sara Holland, Potter Clarkson

    • Alex McVey, OGIBio

    • Mary Doherty, IBioIC

    • Kirsty Robb, IBioIC

    • Stephen Gordon, IBioIC

    DOWNLOAD TERMS OF REFERENCE

    If you are a current member of IBioIC and would like to register your interest in becoming a member of our SAB, please email us at info@ibioic.com.

 Meet the Team


Industry Members 


IBioIC has over 300 member organisations, working across Scotland, the rest of the UK and Europe to find innovative solutions to modern problems.

Our industry members range from medical biotechnology companies working on protein production through to those developing green solutions in biomanufacturing, that utilise agriculture, marine and forestry derived feedstocks in sustainable manufacturing processes.

Academic Partners 


IBioIC works in partnership with a number of higher education and research institutes across Scotland with core competencies in biotechnology processes.

These institutions are instrumental in contributing to the successful development of the IBioIC. If you are looking to collaborate and work with one of our academic partners, we can facilitate the introductions and make sure you are connected to the right people at the right higher education institute.

 What is in an Innovation Centre?


Black background with white text and lines, reading 'Innovation Centres', supported by The Scottish Funding Council, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, and Scottish Enterprise.

When it comes to innovation, coming up with the core idea is one thing – implementing it can be quite another. Often, it demands industry know-how, specialist research and new skillsets, not forgetting additional sources of funding. As an Innovation Centre, this is where we can help you.  

IBioIC has an extensive network that spans industry, academia and government. We can:

  • connect you to the companies that are already breaking new ground in your industry

  • link you in with the leading academics doing specialist research in your field

  • work with other public sector and third sector organisations who might be able to help you

  • both provide and advise on routes to funding your innovative ideas

  • upskill the next generation through our bespoke skills and training programmes

 What is Industrial Biotechnology?


An infographic showing sustainable living practices through industrial biotechnology at IBioIC, including the use of renewable resources like algae, sugar beet, and food waste to produce energy, cosmetics, medicines, fuel, biodegradable packaging, cleaning products, and other materials.

Biotechnology uses plant-based and waste resources to produce or process materials, chemicals and energy.

It offers green and sustainable alternatives to fossil fuels – and this can be everything from energy, to medicines and food packaging. Biotechnology holds one of the keys in unlocking the change we need to move from an economy largely reliant on fossil fuels, towards the Net-Zero targets set for 2045 in Scotland, and for the 2050 targets set at the UK level.

Net Zero


Industrial Biotechnology is a carbon capturing technology​.

Scotland needs a green recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic that secures vital local supply chains from innovation through to manufacturing. ​We know that carbon is our critical manufacturing feedstock. Industrial Biotechnology and renewable energy will allow Scotland to kick-start the just transition to manufacture everything it needs without relying on fossil-based carbon. Industrial biotechnology can crucially help industry with the challenges of dealing with the problem of embedded carbon.

Diagram explaining IB products made from various biological inputs, showing inputs such as whisky co-products, food processing by-products, agricultural, forestry, marine biomass, carbon dioxide, and sugar beet, leading to outputs like alternative meat options, biofuels, medicines, biodegradable plastics, biogas, bioremediation, and water treatment.

Industrial Biotechnology Products

The Net Zero Accelerator

This ambitious project looks to harness the power of biology to deliver ‘greener’ manufacturing processes and climate friendly products. It builds on Scotland’s unique suite assets around engineered biology, ‘omics technology, bioprocessing and scale up expertise and data science. It will fast-track the growth of a vibrant cluster of innovative businesses in Scotland’s Central Belt, creating new skilled jobs and substantial economic growth for the UK.

Flowchart illustrating the development process of a Net Zero Accelerator in Scotland, starting with engineering biology research in Edinburgh, scaling up facilities, piloting in Grangemouth, and ending with commercial production of chemicals.

The Net Zero Accelerator

Read our Net Zero case studies