Bringing biotech to industry

Recent large-scale investment has seen Industrial Biotechnology hit the headlines. It is a rapidly growing sector here in the UK, and predicted to be worth up to £12 billion by 2025. But we’ve only just begun says Roger Kilburn…

Industrial Biotechnology (IB) can be broadly defined as the use of biological resources (such as plants or micro-organisms) to manufacture, process or produce compounds on an industrial scale. It is a truly cross-collaborative discipline, with applications in everything from food and cosmetics, to inks and materials, and it’s already having an impact.

In February of this year, Business Secretary Vince Cable announced the winners of the first ever Industrial Biotechnology Catalyst – a £40 million fund to support collaboration between innovative UK researchers and the emergent industrial biotechnology sector. This very public statement of support from the government was welcomed by all of us working in IB, and demonstrated how far we’ve come in a few short years. Just six years ago, back in 2009, the Industrial Biotechnology Innovation and Growth Team (IB-IGT) published IB2025 – a horizon-scanning and road-mapping report on ‘Maximising UK Opportunities from Industrial Biotechnology in a Low Carbon Economy’. IB2025 is a ground-breaking report, which sets out five key themes and over 20 recommendations that, if followed, could help position the UK as world leaders in IB. Since then, I’m pleased to say that there has been huge progress, due to enabling organisations. Through their leadership, biotechnology has moved from the research agenda, to a position of key strategic importance for manufacturers across a range of sectors.

The potential for the growth of IB applications in the UK is huge, with some estimates suggesting that it will be worth up to £12 billion by 2025.

But we’re not there yet – there are still challenges to overcome before we will see IB play a key role across major industrial markets. There is no doubt that we already have a significant research base, as well as a wide range of innovative companies, big and small, at the cutting edge of development. But for some, IB is at risk of entering the ‘Valley of Death’ – the funding gap between basic research and commercialisation of a new product. Bridging this gap is the core mission of the Industrial Biotechnology Innovation Centre (IBioIC). IBioIC’s aim is to accelerate and de-risk the development of commercially-viable, sustainable solutions for high-value manufacturing in chemistry-using and life science sectors. Navigating the ‘Valley of Death’ was the subject of a House of Commons Science and Technology Committee inquiry; the Russell Group’s response to this was published in 2013. It suggested that the best route across it would be “…for UK businesses to be willing customers of innovation, taking on risks with the potential for significant downstream benefits.” This is very much the optimal approach for IB too, and even back in 2009, IB2025 highlighted the fact that a significant communication gap existed between upstream and downstream supply chains.

But since then, we’ve seen innovative, viable companies develop across the UK, and they are bringing biotechnology to a broader audience. The breadth of current IB companies was plain to see at the IBLF’s IB Showcase held in London in February. Organisations like the Biorenewables Development Centre (BDC) are working on everything from extracting high-value chemicals from orange peel waste, to producing a rapeseed oil infused with a natural anti-oxidant to extend its shelf-life. Biome Bioplastics are producing biodegradable coffee pods for the growing single-serve coffee market. And Oxford Biotrans have found a way to produce another high-value chemical from fruits. Nootkatone, the compound that provides the distinctive smell of grapefruit is in high demand in the perfume and food sectors. But 400,000 kg of grapefruits are needed to produce a single kilogram of the compound, making it incredibly costly and wasteful. Oxford Biotrans have just patented an enzyme-based method for transforming a much-cheaper extract from oranges into nootkatone, providing a natural, sustainable solution to a huge manufacturing problem. In terms of sustainable yet revolutionary technology, Scottish company Cellucomp has invented a proprietary process that is unique in allowing the properties of cellulose nano-fibres to be fully utilised. CelluComp is working with major players in the food processing industry to optimise use of vegetable waste such as carrot and sugar beet.

The showcase followed on from IBioIC’s own Annual Conference, held in January. Called ‘The Journey's Started’, the event demonstrated that those breaking new ground in IB are beginning to move from the lab into real-world demonstration and commercialisation. Ian Shott, Chair of IBioIC, discussed a collaboration between Genecor and Goodyear which successfully demonstrated how to eradicate the use of petroleum feedstocks from the tyre production process. Celtic Renewables and Horizon Proteins explained how they are using waste from distilleries to create biofuels and new proteins to supporting sustainable fish farming. Marine Bipolymers evangelised about the viability of seaweed as a platform for bio-based products, whilst St Andrews did the same about lignin, Zero Waste Scotland about household waste, and the Forestry Commission about timber – all hinting at the scale of sustainable feedstocks on the horizon to support IB.

Innovations like these are successful in bridging the ‘Valley of Death’ because they answer a specific market need. Supporting the development of companies on the same trajectory will ultimately help to de-risk them, and is something that IBioIC’s Exemplar Programme focuses on.

It aims to supports collaborative projects that address a defined market need or specific commercial opportunity through the innovative application of biotechnology.

Ingenza is a Scottish SME which specialises in the application of industrial biotechnology and synthetic biology, providing efficient scalable bioprocesses to manufacture chemicals, biologics, pharmaceuticals and biofuels, from sustainable sources. They are collaborating with the University of Strathclyde to develop engineered bacteria that can be used to biosynthesise products that are traditionally made from unsustainable and environmentally-damaging petrochemicals. According to Ian Fotheringham, MD of Ingenza, this Exemplar Programme collaboration will help to determine the optimal engineered microbes in order to “…increase both speed and predictability in industrial processes.”

Another company collaborating through the Exemplar Programme is GlycoMar, a biotech company that work in the healthcare and personal care markets. Their project involves three academic partners (Edinburgh, Strathclyde and the Scottish Association for

Marine Science/University of the Highlands & Islands and MicroA, a Norwegian microalgae technology company). As a result of the project, GlycoMar optimised production of a marine microalgae ingredient for use in skincare cosmetics.

IB is not just something that SMEs are looking into – world-leading pharmaceutical company GSK are collaborating with the University of Edinburgh to investigate the use of synthetic biology to develop a new route to an important starting material for antibiotic manufacture. If successful, this work could replace the existing petrochemical-derived starting materials with an environmentally benign microbial process. Global drinks giants Diageo recently signed up as an IBioIC member – their interest lies in how biotechnology can help to utilise co-products from alcohol production. In addition, they’re investigating more environmentally-friendly routes to removing copper contaminants from waste streams.

Also launched this year was the Biorefinery Roadmap for Scotland. Facilitated by Scottish Enterprise, this industry-led roadmap outlines the actions required in order to position Scotland as a leader in synthetic and industrial biotech. As Fergus Ewing MSP, Scottish Minister for Business, Energy and Tourism said, “Scotland already has a great deal of biorefining expertise including research into brewing and fermentation”, but its application to feedstocks, marine biomass and other sectors will undoubtedly deliver numerous benefits to the country. Caroline Strain, head of chemical sciences at Scottish Enterprise said that the roadmap supports investment in infrastructure, collaborations and technology transfer.

While there is no doubt that the future of IB paints a very positive picture, there are remaining challenges that go beyond the ‘Valley of Death’. The UK is globally renowned for its excellence in sciences and engineering technical capabilities, and its universities produce high-quality graduates every year. However, there is a skills gap in IB. It requires a particular combination of skills that goes beyond those traditionally taught in academia, - cutting across chemistry and engineering, including biochemistry, enzymology, fermentation, molecular biology, metabolic and bioinformatics. A survey carried out on behalf of the IBLF in 2009-10, showed that approximately 700 places were available on 35 IB related courses. In order to increase the availability of IB-related training, IBioIC recently launched both Masters and Doctoral training programmes that involve eleven Higher Education Institutes (HEIs). The aim of these programmes is to furnish students and graduates with relevant skills early in their career. The unique ‘Collaborative Masters in IB’ includes an industrial placement, and is hosted by the University of Strathclyde. IBioIC has also funded nine PhD students to develop research projects with a demonstrable industrial lean, in order to help them step into an IB role.

So the future of IB is bright. The immediate focus is to keep the momentum going, to continue to move ideas from the lab into real industry applications. IB will not only have a huge impact on the manufacturing sector, but that this change will be fully sustainable. Driven by market need, the industrialisation of biotechnology is already helping to create a truly distinctive market, which is now beginning to yield substantial economic impact and deliver increasing prosperity and employment to the UK plc. At IBioIC, we have set an ambitious target - by 2030 we hope to generate quantifiable growth in the Scottish economy, from today’s estimated value of £190 million, to between £2 and £3 billion. And it seems that we are well on our way…

The aim of IBioIC Exemplar Programme is threefold: • To support the development of new products and manufacturing processes to bring them closer to industrial reality; • To provide the necessary skills to meet the growing needs of industry; and • To be the centre of knowledge exchange for sharing best practice in industrial biotechnology.

Are you working on an innovative IB venture? Then consider applying for an IBioIC Exemplar Project! Projects will be assessed by way of competition.

Information, guidance and templates can be found at http://www.ibioic.com/exemplarprogramme.htm or by emailing exemplar@ibioic.com

Applications are open from May 2015 and will close on 31 August 2015.

 

The author:  

Roger Kilburn, CEO of IBioIC

References: 

 IB Catalyst: https://connect.innovateuk.org/web/industrial-biotechnology/article-view/-/blogs/vince-cable-announces-40m-to-continue-industrial-biotechnology-catalyst?p_p_auth=Y3GKVRSu

 IB2025 (and survey): http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20090609003228/http://www.berr.gov.uk/files/file51144.pdf

Valley of Death: http://rev.oxfordjournals.org/content/18/5/343.short

Russell Group report: http://www.russellgroup.ac.uk/uploads/Valley-of-Death-submission_1.pdf

IB Showcase: http://ibts.meeting-mojo.com/

The Journey’s started: https://www.flickr.com/photos/130915910@N02/sets/72157650940056125/

BDC: http://www.biorenewables.org/

Biome Bioplastics: http://www.biomebioplastics.com/

Cellucomp: http://cellucomp.com/

Oxford Biotrans: http://oxfordbiotrans.com/

Genecor and Goodyear: http://biosciences.dupont.com/about-us/collaborations/goodyear/

Celtic Renewables: http://www.celtic-renewables.com/

Horizon Proteins: http://horizonproteins.com/

Marine Bipolymers: http://www.marinebiopolymers.co.uk/

Zero Waste Scotland: http://www.zerowastescotland.org.uk/

Forestry Commission: http://scotland.forestry.gov.uk/

Ingenza: http://www.ingenza.com/

GlycoMar: http://www.glycomar.com/index.htm

MicroA: http://microa.no/

GSK: http://www.gsk.com/

Diageo: www.diageo.com/

Biorefinery Roadmap: http://www.scottish-enterprise.com/knowledge-hub/articles/comment/biorefinery-roadmap

Collaborative Masters: https://www.strath.ac.uk/sipbs/postgraduatestudy/masterscoursesinsipbs/industrialbiotechnology/

IBioIC PhD: http://www.ibioic.com/skills-phd-2015.htm