Six universities have received funding to collaborate with businesses based outwith Scotland in the latest round of the Scottish Inward Investment Catalyst Fund (IICF). The fund, managed by Interface and the Scottish Government, awards up to £10,000 for research and development projects.

Behind every sip of water and every turn of the tap lies an unseen system, quietly working to keep it flowing every day. But like many essential services, it faces growing challenges, from high energy demands and reliance on chemicals, to ageing infrastructure and climate change. In this interview, Annelie du Plessis (IBioIC) speaks with Tamsyn Kennedy (Scottish Water) about how biology and chemistry are driving change in the way we treat, reuse, and value water.

Potter Clarkson recently released the most comprehensive analysis of the synthetic biology (SynBio) patent landscape, offering unprecedented insights into one of the fastest-growing innovation sectors. The Synthetic Biology Patent Landscape Report examines 20 years of European Patent Office data (2004–2023) using cutting-edge AI-driven topic modelling combined with expert human analysis. 

What does the sea smell like when captured in a glass? And how might the way we process seaweed shape that experience? These were the unexpected questions that emerged during a recent sensory evaluation session exploring seaweed infusions in alcoholic beverages, a research project led by master’s student Naomi Morgan of the International Centre for Brewing and Distilling (ICBD), Heriot-Watt University.

MYGroup has entered into a joint venture with insect genetics company Beta Bugs to supply eggs for its Black Soldier Fly (BSF) bioconversion Insectology™ process for food waste management.

IBioIC member E.V.A Biosystems has been awarded a prestigious Innovate UK grant to accelerate the development of its innovative selectively-degradable plastic additives – a major step forward in creating more sustainable and circular materials.

The University of Strathclyde has been chosen to lead a new Scotland-wide initiative to boost the creation of university spinout companies, backed by £800,000 in Scottish Government funding. The Spinout Pipeline Project will share commercialisation expertise across Scotland’s higher education sector and culminate in a national innovation summit in February 2026.

Heriot-Watt University has announced a transformative £35 million initiative to create the Centre for Sustainable Brewing and Distilling (CSBD), a state-of-the-art facility designed to ensure the long-term sustainability and global competitiveness of the brewing and distilling industries.

The UK’s first dedicated centre for sustainable electronics, the Responsible Electronics and Circular Technology Centre (REACT), has celebrated its official launch with a series of high-profile events and the inaugural meeting of its steering board.

RipCell, an IBioIC member company that was awarded £626,734 through the fund. RipCell uses byproducts from Scotland’s whisky industry to process waste from the lithium-ion battery sector, turning two waste streams into a resource and advancing a truly circular economy

A groundbreaking study has revealed that a common plastic used in everyday items like water bottles and food packaging can be transformed into paracetamol using engineered microbes—offering a potentially game-changing alternative to fossil fuel-based pharmaceutical production.

A cutting-edge research and innovation hub is set to revolutionise UK manufacturing by turning industrial waste into high-value, sustainable products using engineered microbes.

Another round of funding of £100,000 has been announced by the Scottish Government and innovation support organisation Interface to encourage businesses outwith Scotland to collaborate/partner with academics, bringing in knowledge, skills and potential jobs.

Scotland’s biotechnology sector is celebrating a major milestone with the launch of the nation’s first open-access 300-litre fermenter – a state-of-the-art piece of equipment that will support early-stage companies to develop bio-based products at scale.

Asynt is delighted to announce a unique and inspiring live demo at this year’s highly anticipated CHEMUK exhibition, taking place on 21st–22nd May 2025 at the NEC, Birmingham. Visitors to Stand H102 on day two will be treated to a special “edible chemistry” demo, presented by Dr Josh Smalley, chemist, science communicator, and finalist on The Great British Bake Off.

The Team at ScotBio and researchers from the Scottish Centre for Food Development and Innovation (SCFDI) at Queen Margaret University have collaborated to assess the functional profile of a sustainable protein-based ingredient. This includes assessing its emulsifying and binding properties and its application in various food products. The project was supported by feasibility funding from the Industrial Biotechnology Innovation Centre (IBioIC).

Isomerase has announced the launch of EvoSelect®, a machine learning-guided enzyme engineering platform designed to accelerate development timelines, enhance performance under industrial conditions, and reduce the cost and complexity of enzyme optimisation. EvoSelect® forms part of Isomerase’s broader IsoZym™ platform, an end-to-end offering that spans protein design, expression, and scale-up.

Aberdeen-based microbiology services provider and internationally recognised bacterial culture collection NCIMB Ltd has secured a £1.7m investment from the Investment Fund for Scotland, managed by Maven Capital Partners (“Maven”) and the Scottish National Investment Bank. The Maven team were first introduced to NCIMB at an IFS Roadshow in Aberdeen, hosted by the British Business Bank.

The findings of the Project Willow study highlight several options that can drive the development of a new hub for sustainable industries. Split into three areas – waste and recycling projects, bio-feedstock initiatives and renewable energy – this collection of projects are anticipated to create up to 800 skilled jobs, offering potential new avenues for the current workforce, as well as creating additional economic opportunities.

Alex Speakman, founder of E.V.A Biosystems, provides insight into his company’s groundbreaking invention that allows plastics to break down in the sea without creating harmful microplastics.