IBioIC can support your transition into industrial biotechnology by helping you to understand the benefits and opportunities, overcome any barriers and make sure you’re in touch with the right people to guide you through the technology and its consequent translation and implementation in your business.
Technical Expertise and Advice
Industrial biotechnology is a complex multi-disciplinary sector where no individual organisation has the expertise or capacity to develop and commercialise a bioprocess alone. Through IBioIC’s Technical Network, we connect our members with specialist individuals whose expertise covers the vast space of industrial biotechnology. Our network includes industrial biotechnology expertise from a range of industries from food and pharma to materials. The Technical Network is an exclusive service open only to IBioIC members.
Bioprocessing Scale-Up Centres
IBioIC’s bioprocessing scale-up centres offer a comprehensive approach to support your innovation journey.
Members can gain access to our expertise and technical support to help progress the development of projects from basic research to scaleup. In addition, we can help identify collaborators and support the bid writing process for external funding to realise your scale up ambitions.
Welcome to our labs
Funding opportunities from IBioIC
Growth is a priority for many of our member organisations and, at IBioIC, we understand that securing funding and investment to accelerate and de-risk your innovation and scale-up activities is high on your agenda.
Take advantage of our funding opportunities to progress your R&D activities, use our ever-expanding network to find collaborators for consortia building, and make use of the IBioIC team to help you build your business case. Get in touch with us today to find out how membership of IBioIC can help you access funding support.
IBioIC Open Funding Calls
Featured
In order to support the application reviewing process, we have a panel of expert reviewers who assess and score the technical or commercial merits of each application. We are currently looking to expand our pool of reviewers. If you are interested, please complete the Technical and Commercial Reviewer Form and we will be in touch.
Case Studies
From Scotland's IB conference - to project outcomes - to student experiences, find out all about the work of IBioIC, its members and academic partners, and take a look at our case studies demonstrating examples of work in practice across all our services.
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Featured
The Scottish Bioresource Mapping Tool
The Scottish Bioresource Mapping Tool is a pioneering approach to developing value chains in the bio- and circular economies. The Tool maps raw material and bioresource arisings across Scotland down to the local authority level, which allows us to provide companies, investors, and stakeholders uniquely detailed insights and visuals related to the >27 million tonnes of bioresources arising in Scotland every year.
The Bioresource Mapping Tool is the result of analysis undertaken in preparation of the Biorefining Potential for Scotland Report by Zero Waste Scotland; it compiles and models data from four key material groupings:
• Waste streams (municipal solid wastes, commercial and industrial wastes)
• Food & drink production by-products
• Agricultural residues
• Waste waters and sludges
In addition, modelling allows for understanding not only of material arisings, but bioresource arisings for resources critical to biorefining, including carbohydrates, proteins, fats, metals, etc.
Enquires related to streams not contained the above are also welcomed, as additional datasets and bioresources will be integrated into the Tool in the future.
Enquires should be made via email at info@ibioic.com in the first instance, and should specify the requestor’s name, organisation, email address, and a brief description (<100 words) detailing the nature of the enquiry.
The IBioIC team will follow up, provide consult, and ensure that information requests are handled in a timely manner.
Data sources:
[a] Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA)
[b] Zero Waste Scotland Whisky, Beer & Fish Sector Study, 5th Quarter Blood Report, other misc. reports
[c] Scottish Government Agricultural Census, Scotland’s Rural College consultants
[d] Scottish Water
Boosting Biobased Manufacturing in Scotland
Innovate UK's Launchpad programme aligns with the UK Government’s “Levelling Up” White Paper and aims to deliver regional economic growth across 11 regional clusters. In collaboration with Scottish Enterprise, Innovate UK has awarded £7.5M of funding to innovative SMEs to accelerate Biobased Manufacturing in Scotland. The key objective is to boost Scotland’s bioeconomy, creating regional economic growth and new jobs through sustainable and scalable innovation.
In early 2024, Round 1 of the funding programme awarded £1.8M across 12 companies and 13 projects while Round 2 is funding 19 projects valued at £5.25M.
IBioIC has been awarded funding as the Cluster Management Organisation, collaborating with Scottish Enterprise and Forth Valley College to provide support through a range of activities focussed around supporting technical development, delivering network events and challenge-based workshops, promoting the sectors success and opportunities, increasing investor readiness and fostering skills development. IBioIC has appointed Kirsty Neilson as Programme Manager to develop and promote the Industrial Biobased cluster in Scotland.
Bio-based Manufacturing in Scotland Round 1 Launchpad projects
Featured
Biotech Innovators Accelerator Programme
Biotech Innovators is an exciting new accelerator programme from IBioIC designed to support early-stage biotechnology companies.
All early-stage companies face substantial challenges but the complex, research and capital intensive challenges encountered by biotechnology based operations are both distinctive and significant. Each step on the journey, from initial research funding and scaling-up processes through to engaging the right personnel and securing regulatory approval, presents potential barriers to innovators in the bioeconomy.
IBioIC's Biotech Innovators accelerator programme recognises these hurdles and takes advantage of the Centre's unique position as a networking and support organisation specialising in this space. This exciting new offering will guide and assist a cohort of companies through a series of themed expert led events and activities - an opportunity to receive guidance on best practice, direct innovation support and peer to peer learning.
IB Champions
Be an Industrial Biotechnology Champion for Scotland!
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The Industrial Biotechnology Innovation Centre (IBioIC) was established in 2014 to drive the growth of the Industrial Biotechnology (IB) sector in Scotland. Recognised as a European centre of excellence, IBioIC connects world-leading industry with Scotland’s outstanding academic expertise and government support to bring new IB processes and products to the global market. The Centre is a key driver of Scotland’s National Plan for Industrial Biotechnology, which has an ambitious target of generating £1.2 billion in associated turnover and 4,000 direct employees by 2025 for the industry in Scotland.
IBioIC facilitates collaboration, provides funding, offers bioprocess scale-up support, promotes the success of the sector, and develops skills and training programmes. We manage a network of over 300 industry members, 80% of which are SME or micro companies, as well as representatives from all Scottish universities, research institutes, and Further Education colleges.
What is biotechnology?
Biotechnology allows us to create an ever-expanding range of environmentally friendly products and processes using sustainable bio-based resources. The technology offers a route to create biofuels, speciality chemicals, textiles, medicines and personal care products without using environmentally harmful fossil fuels.
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IBioIC provides support to every university and college in Scotland, which is a significant task for our small team. We are looking to recruit a ‘clan’ of helpers to champion industrial biotechnology across Scotland.
You don’t need to be an expert in IB, just someone who is passionate about research, innovation and training in this field, and eager to be advocate for its value for our people and our planet.
We are open to applications from postgraduates, post-doctoral researchers, or any staff (research, technical or professional support).
We need your help to:
· Be a voice for IBioIC and IB within your institution.
· Develop activities to help raise awareness of the opportunities that IB offers.
· Flag exciting research and innovation taking place in your institution.
· Promote our events, training and funding opportunities locally.
We ask for a minimum commitment in the role for a year, although you can agree to longer. This role will require no more than one day a month in total although you are welcome to contribute as much time and energy as you can.
The benefits of being an IB Champion
IB is a fast-moving sector that underpins Net Zero strategies and economic growth; it is also leading to the generation of exciting new companies and career opportunities. By working with IBioIC, you’ll connect with industry, learn about emerging technologies, explore new career paths, and expand your networks and skills.
In return, we will provide training and support, as well as free access to all our events including our Annual Conference – the UK’s largest IB conference. We’ll also host exclusive IB Champion events annually, to allow you to network and socialise with peers. Depending on funding constraints, we may also cover the cost of you attending IB relevant events in the UK or Europe.
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If you’d like to be considered as an IB Champion, please complete the short application form by Friday 16 May 2025.
We will review applications by end of May and aim to have an initial team get together in September.
We look forward to welcoming you to the team!
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What 'activites' would I be asked to do?
We are open to any ideas you might have to support the promotion of industrial biotechnology across your organisation and local area. For example: circulate information about relevant IBioIC events internally; organise an IB interest group in a topic relevant to your institute; develop an IB themed workshop or industry day; develop an outreach activity on bio-based products. We will not expect you to deliver any activity that you are not comfortable or capable of doing.
Who will be providing the training for the IB champions?
If you feel that training would be helpful, please talk to us about your needs. IBioIC will either provide support from within our team or we will contract out with external consultants.
What sort of UK/ European events will I be able to attend?
Funding permitted, IBioIC would support IB Champions attending an IB relevant industry event in UK or Europe.
