Scottish innovation network, IBioIC, surpasses 400 members with breakthrough vegan feather brand
The Industrial Biotechnology Innovation Centre (IBioIC) has marked a major milestone this year by welcoming its 400th member, Fevvers - a pioneering materials innovation company creating a vegan, cruelty-free alternative to feathers. This achievement not only highlights the rapid expansion of Scotland’s bioeconomy but also underscores IBioIC’s position as a leading hub for sustainable innovation. The network welcomed 100 new members this year just nine months after surpassing its 300-member milestone in February.
IBioIC connects industry, academia, and government to accelerate biotechnology processes and products into global markets. Its network also provides businesses with access to scale-up expertise and facilities, entrepreneurial training, and funding opportunities for proof-of-concept studies, helping transform bio-based ideas into commercially viable solutions.
IBioIC’s 400th member, Fevvers, has already made an impact in the fashion industry. Founded in 2025 by Nicola Woollon and James West, within months of launching its plant-based feather alternative it was showcased on the Stella McCartney catwalk at Paris Fashion Week and won ‘Best Luxury Moment’ at PETA’s 2025 Vegan Fashion Awards.
As awareness grows around the cruelty of traditional feather use, fashion houses are increasingly seeking sustainable, vegan alternatives that retain the glamour and texture of natural feathers. However, for many early-stage biotechnology companies, the challenge lies not in innovation but in scaling production to meet market demand. By joining IBioIC, Fevvers gained access to Scotland’s leading scientists and innovation infrastructure, enabling the founders to strengthen their product and confidently engage with high-fashion brands.
James West, Co-Founder of Fevvers, said: “The connections we received from IBioIC were priceless. Nicola and I don’t come from scientific backgrounds, so it can be hard to explain exactly what we need. We almost did things backwards – launching a brand-new product at Paris Fashion Week before figuring out how to bring it to the mainstream. IBioIC helped us understand our needs and broker relationships with leading scientists, providing us with a level of expertise that we would otherwise have been unable to reach.”
Fevvers is now focused on refining its product, scaling production, and raising investment to bring cruelty-free feathers to a wider market.
Since its launch in 2014, IBioIC has played a pivotal role in growing Scotland’s industrial biotechnology sector, helping to leverage £35 million in additional funding for research and development. Its diverse membership includes major organisations such as Diageo, Unilever, and Scottish Water, alongside innovative start-ups like Fevvers.
The centre will also host its 12th Annual Conference at Glasgow’s Technology and Innovation Centre on 10–11 March 2026, bringing together over 400 biobased industry professionals, researchers and policymakers.
Dr Liz Fletcher, Director of Impact and Deputy CEO at IBioIC, commented: “Reaching 400 members is a fantastic milestone for IBioIC and is a clear reflection of the growing strength of Scotland’s industrial biotechnology sector and our national reach. What makes this achievement even more significant is the pace of growth we’ve seen over the last nine months, with new companies joining the network from a wide range of different industries. Each addition expands the diversity of expertise and opportunities we can offer, whether this is partnering on collaborative projects, offering scale-up support, entrepreneurial training or investor engagement. Ultimately, the ongoing momentum of our membership proves that industrial biotechnology is a growth opportunity for Scotland’s innovation economy.”