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.

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.

A startup creating a biodegradable ‘wool’ material from by-products of the Scottish shellfish sector has relocated its headquarters to Glasgow in a move that will underpin future growth and shorten its supply chains.

Research and development initiatives designed to accelerate bio-based manufacturing in Scotland have received a £5 million funding boost through Innovate UK’s Launchpad programme.

Scotland’s renowned food and drink industry, led by exports like whisky and seafood, plays a crucial role in the economy, with Scotch whisky exports alone reaching £5.4 billion last year. However, to sustain this success amid climate challenges and a growing global population, embracing bioeconomy innovations—from resilient crops to precision fermentation and sustainable packaging—is essential for future-proofing the industry.

The Industrial Biotechnology Innovation Centre (IBioIC) has appointed Dr Peter Williams, Group Technology Director and Head Of Investor Relations at INEOS, to lead its governing board and support the centre’s continued impact on the growing bioeconomy.

The Industrial Biotechnology Innovation Centre (IBioIC) welcomed more than 100 new members to its network in 2024, reflecting the ongoing growth of Scotland’s bioeconomy. 

The Industrial Biotechnology Innovation Centre (IBioIC) has brought in an experienced bioprocessing specialist to its FlexBio facility, adding to the range of expertise on offer to support biotechnology companies and projects to scale up to industrial size.  

A refreshed industrial strategy, supporting economic growth and inward investment, is likely to be defined in the coming months, and given its role in the drive for sustainability, the bioeconomy should be a core focus. However, we cannot afford for new leaders to press pause on the progress made so far.

IBioIC’s second annual Careers Day has seen over 100 attendees from industry and the student cohort meet at the University of Strathclyde’s Insight Institute.

IBioIC team members Annelie du Plessis, Neil Renault, and Albert Serrano Gomez had a particularly fruitful experience at SeAgriculture in June, with new members, new work, and new inspiration for delivering support to the seaweed industry.

The IBioIC team attracted a full house with people standing in the aisles to hear about the opportunities presented by engineering biology at this year’s Chem UK conference in Birmingham.

Heriot Watt University and FlexBio have been awarded funds from Innovate UK as part of the RESILIENCE Centre of Excellence, an Innovate UK and Office for Life Sciences-funded programme which is intended to strengthen the UK’s Medicines Manufacturing skills pipeline, from outreach, awareness, and training in schools, to postgraduate and CPD study.

The Industrial Biotechnology Innovation Centre (IBioIC) has launched a refreshed Scottish Bioresource Mapping Tool to help more businesses make the case for investing in biotechnology facilities and processes, boosting the country’s bioeconomy.

The FlexBio project at Heriot-Watt University showcases the innovative use of bacteria to derive valuable products from seaweed, signaling a new era in sustainable biotechnology.

Nearly £850,000 of investment brings crucial infrastructure to Scotland for the first time

The funding, awarded to the Industrial Biotechnology Innovation Centre (IBioIC) through Scottish Enterprise, will support the purchase and installation of a 300-litre fermenter to be hosted at FlexBio – the innovation centre’s scale-up facility based at Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh.

The Industrial Biotechnology Innovation Centre (IBioIC) has supported the growth of Scotland’s industrial biotechnology sector by helping it to attract £35 million of additional funding for R&D, according to new figures revealed to mark its tenth anniversary.

A first of its kind sector benchmark report on diversity, equity, and inclusion from the UK BioIndustry Association (BiA) showed women occupy 51% of roles within the sector. However, while it is positive to see that the gender split has finally balanced out, the report highlighted a continued imbalance at C-suite and CEO level.

The Industrial Biotechnology Innovation Centre (IBioIC) has been awarded long-term investment from the Scottish Funding Council (SFC), securing its position at the forefront of Scotland’s emerging bioeconomy.

IBioIC’s CEO Mark Bustard takes a look at how the recently opened Launchpad programme could help Scotland achieve our Net Zero ambitions.