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.

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.