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.

MiAlgae, a biotech leader committed to reducing environmental impact through the sustainable production of Omega-3s, has appointed Simon Durrant as Chief Financial Officer (CFO) as it prepares for significant expansion.

Biotech pioneer MiAlgae has marked a major step forward in its mission to increase production volumes of its sustainable biotechnology solutions, as it submits plans for a new production facility in Grangemouth, Scotland.

Can “good bacteria” be used to maintain good health as we grow older? Scottish biotech company NCIMB has teamed-up with the pioneering Rowett Institute at the University of Aberdeen, to address this question in a new research project, funded by Innovate UK.

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.

Dr Edward Green, CEO of Aberdeen-based biotech company NCIMB Ltd has won the Business Leadership Award at Scotland’s Life Sciences Awards. The evening, which was held in Glasgow on the 13th of March, was a fantastic celebration of all that the Scottish life sciences sector is achieving.

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.

Atelerix, the pioneering biotech company revolutionising cell preservation, has unveiled BloodReady™, a first-of-its-kind solution that extends the shelf life of fresh whole blood for up to three days at refrigerated temperatures (2-8°C) - without cryopreservation or chemical fixation.

The James Hutton Institute is delighted to announce that sustainable dye developer SeaDyes has joined the Hutton as a spin-in company, securing £75,000 of funding from Scottish Enterprise’s High Growth Spinout Programme.

Revolutionary developments in renewable energy, mental health, education, sport, medicine and food and drink have made it to the finals of the 10th Scottish Knowledge Exchange Awards highlighting the diversity of sectors and disciplines thriving in Scotland. With 32 individuals, teams and projects shortlisted across 10 categories, the 10th anniversary celebration will be the largest to date.

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.

Firefinch Software is delighted to announce the hiring of Isabel Vincent as Market Development Manager within their team. As Market Development Manager, Isabel is keen to connect to a wide range of life science and biotech software users to better understand their needs and pain points – and see if the Firefinch team can assist.

As MiAlgae accelerates its mission to revolutionise Omega-3 production, it has strengthened its leadership team with the appointment of Jerome Quiohilag as Associate Director. The company repurposes whisky industry by-products to grow microalgae as a sustainable, cost-effective alternative to fish-derived Omega-3 sources

Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes toured Scotland’s first biorefinery as it reached a milestone in its drive to commercialise ground breaking technology. Celtic Renewables has recently released the first tanker load of green chemicals from its Grangemouth plant, marking the beginning of regular shipments.

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. 

Concinnity Genetics, an Edinburgh-based gene control company, is thrilled to announce the closure of its oversubscribed £3m seed funding round. The investment was led by Eos Advisory with support from Scottish Enterprise, Old College Capital (OCC) - the University of Edinburgh’s in-house venture investment fund, and Maven Capital Partners.

University of Edinburgh spinout Carbogenics, a leading innovator in sustainable biochar technology, is thrilled to announce the successful close of its latest funding round, securing just under half a million pounds. This significant milestone reflects the confidence of both existing and new investors in Carbogenics’ mission to revolutionise sustainable solutions and expand its global footprint.

Technology developed by Scottish biotech Biotangents, which has announced its latest investment round, is set to revolutionise the dairy farming industry with the world’s fastest on-farm, point-of-care diagnostic device aimed at addressing disease in dairy cows. 

A team of researchers in Scotland is supporting a clean tech startup to transform low-value co-products from the forestry sector into eco-friendly alternatives to chemicals found in everyday items.

The first tanker of sustainably produced bioacetone and biobutanol has been dispatched from Celtic Renewables’ flagship Biorefinery in Grangemouth, marking a major milestone for the world’s shift to green chemicals. This achievement is backed by over £60million in funding which enabled the construction of Scotland’s first Biorefinery and its commercial-scale operations.