Bioprocessing Scale-Up Centre
Scale your bioprocess from lab to pilot
FlexBIO is IBioIC's dedicated bioprocessing scale-up facility, offering pilot-scale upstream and downstream bioprocessing services from 2L to 300L for UK and international biotech innovators and organisations.
IBioIC’s Bioprocessing Scale-Up Centres help startups, SMEs, and global innovators de-risk scale-up, improve yields, and accelerate commercialisation across industrial biotechnology.
We bridge the gap between early-stage R&D and industrial production using open-access pilot-scale facilities, expert technical teams, and hands-on process development support.
300L Largest bioreactor - pilot scale | 4 Microbial bioreactor sizes: 2L · 7L · 30L · 300L | 2 Mammalian bioreactor sizes: 2L · 15L | Integrated downstream processing | Level 2 certified facility | TRL 3 - 6 Proof-of-concept to Pilot BioProcess Scale-up validation
Member of:
Recognised bioprocess training centre of excellence
IBioIC · Scottish Funding Council
European open-access bioprocessing network
FlexBIO - At a glance
What? Pilot-scale bioprocessing platform - upstream & downstream expertise, 2L to 300L
Where? Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh EH14 4AS
Who? Startups, SMEs, large enterprise, academic innovators and spin-outs
Organisms? Yeast, bacteria, filamentous fungi, algae, plant cells, mammalian cell lines
Flagship: 300L TechFors bioreactor
Scope: Bioreactor cultivation from benchtop to 300L; DSP capabilities up to 1kL
Access: Direct-use · Short-duration · Research services
Contact: scaleup@ibioic.com
Expert Infrastructure.
Without the CapEx.
Building your own pilot-scale facility requires millions in capital and takes years to realise a return. FlexBIO derisks your path to commercialisation by providing access to world-class bioprocessing infrastructure - and the experienced team to run it - on a flexible, project-by-project basis.
Upstream Bioprocessing
Bioreactors at 2L, 7L, 30L, and 300L. Batch, fed-batch, and continuous operation. Organism-agnostic process development. Supporting cross-sector applications.
Containment Level 2
Safe scale-up of wildtype and genetically modified organisms. Separate microbial and mammalian CL2- suites with full biosafety protocols in place.
Downstream Processing
Harvest, cell disruption, filtration, purification, and final product form. DSP workflows for in-house runs up to 300L and external streams up to 1kL IBC, with integrated analytics.
SME & Academic Discounts Available
Dedicated pricing tiers for startups, small businesses, and academics. Pilot-scale bioprocessing should be accessible at every stage of growth.
Analytical Support
Routine online and offline process analytics. Biomass, metabolite, product titre, and inhibitor monitoring tailored to your reporting needs.
European Networks
Part of the Pilots4U open-access network - connecting European bioeconomy companies to pilot infrastructure and expertise, and part of the Horizon Europe-funded initiative European Circular Innovation Valley (ECIV).
Scotland's largest
open-access fermenter
300L stirred tank bioreactor
200L Working volume
Containment Level 2
The scale that changes your investor conversation
Operations at 300L reveal the mixing effects, heat transfer limitations, and substrate gradients impacting growth and productivity that are not fully apparent at bench scale. This is the data that delivers confidence in scale-up decisions and strengthens commercial credibility without the expense of building your own pilot-scale facility.
Expert technical support and data insights for Investor & CMC-ready data packages.
We work with
your organism
FlexBIO supports a broad range of microbial platforms. If yours isn't listed, contact us - our team's experience extends across a wide range of production hosts.
Bacteria
E. coli, B. subtilis, and others
Yeast
S. cerevisiae, P. pastoris, and others
Filamentous Fungi
Fusarium sp., Aspergillus sp., and others
Algae
Microalgae, photobioreactor and Macroalgae SSF options
Plant
Plant Cell expression systems
Mammalian
CHO, HEK293, Stem Cells and other lines
Built for every stage
of commercialisation
From academic research, to pre-seed startups and established enterprises, FlexBIO supports organisations wherever they are in the scale-up journey.
Biotech Startups and SMEs
Demonstrate pilot-scale feasibility for your investors
If you have a bench-scale process and need to demonstrate performance at 30L or 300L, FlexBIO provides access to the infrastructure, expertise and data packages to evidence scalability and support your fundraising and strategic partnerships.
✓ SME discounted rates available
Industrial R&D and Bioproduct Prototyping
Outsource pilot runs without building your own facility
Whether you need surge capacity, independent validation, or demonstration batches for partners, FlexBIO delivers fully-managed pilot-sccale campaigns with structured milestones and reporting.
✓ Full confidentiality & IP protection
Academic Spin-Outs and Research Groups
Progress your TRL milestones with credible scale-up data
Accessing UKRI, Innovate UK, or Horizon Europe funding increasingly requires demonstrated TRL progression. A FlexBIO scale-up run provides robust bench to pilot scale data to evidence technical advancement and strengthen funding applications.
✓ IBioIC academic network access
Three ways to
access FlexBIO
Direct-Use Access
Your team works in our facility using our equipment, with our technical staff on-site for support. Best for organisations with existing bioprocessing expertise who need supervised access to small-scale equipment.
You bring the expertise · We provide the equipment
Short-Duration Service
Our bioprocess engineers operate the equipment on your behalf for a defined, bounded scope of work over one to several days. Ideal for organisations without dedicated process development resource or those needing rapid turnaround.
We operate the equipment · You approve the outputs
Research Services Contract
A structured multi-stage engagement with defined work packages, milestone sign-off, and comprehensive technical reporting. Suitable for longer scale-up projects, CMC work, and regulatory-adjacent projects.
Full project management · Deliverable-based reporting
Ready to start your scale-up?
Every engagement starts with a free, confidential technical consultation. Tell us about your organism, your product, your process, and your goals - we'll advise on the right approach and provide a proposal within 5 working days.
📧 scaleup@ibioic.com · We respond within 2 working days · All enquiries are confidential