Scottish biotech incubator gets boost from UKRI funding

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In Scotland, The Industrial Biotechnology Innovation Centre has received funding from UK Research and Innovation to help boost the region’s early-stage industrial biotechnology innovations.

The funds will be used to establish a hub to help companies exchange ideas and have access to resources. The hub will be led by IBioIC and include University of Strathclyde and a consortium of other partners.

“Industrial biotechnology has enormous promise in the development of new approaches to medicines development, agriculture, marine and industrial sectors such as food and textiles,” Professor Sir Jim McDonald, Strathclyde’s principal and vice-chancellor, tells The National. “We are particularly proud to host IBioIC—Scotland’s Industrial Biotechnology Innovation Centre—at Strathclyde, in the heart of the Glasgow City Innovation District.

The unspecified funds will help fast-track innovations from research to commercial deployment.

“This bid supports innovation in the transition of Scotland’s national asset Grangemouth from manufacturing based on petrochemical resources to sustainable bio-based high value manufacturing enabled by the bio-economy,” says Scottish Enterprise’s Julia Brown. “This will reduce the population’s reliance on finite fossil resources towards a future of sustainable manufacturing.”