Industrial biotech gains £20 million
20 Apr 2015 by Evoluted New Media
The winners of an innovative UK biotechnology competition will share £20 million for the development of 23 projects ranging from making biofuel from household waste to using bacteria to for new medicines.
In the multi-million-pound competition, the scientists used biological processes to manufacture chemicals, biofuels and biopharmaceuticals from sustainable sources. It was subsidised by the BBSRC-supported Industrial Biotechnology Catalyst – created to support the collaboration between UK researchers and the emergent industrial biotechnology sector.
Business secretary, Vince Cable said: “Whether it’s developing new antibiotics or producing plastics from plants, this funding will help our talented researchers across the UK continue to bring their innovative ideas to market.”
Project winners – Ingenza – have been awarded almost £680, 000 to carry out a research involving the development of new biopharmaceuticals that could be used to make a new class of antibiotics. Cable visited Ingenza and observed how scientists used biological processes to produce chemicals, biofuels and biopharmaceuticals.
Ingenza focusses on the application of industrial biotechnology and synthetic biology. They manufacture chemicals, biologics, pharmaceuticals and biofuels, from sustainable sources.
Biotechnology on an industrial scale is a rapidly developing sector in the UK and is expected to be worth up to £12 billion by 2025.
“The Government is committed to supporting this emerging sector as part of our science and innovation strategy and this additional £20 million through the Industrial Biotechnology Catalyst will help cement the UK’s position as a world leader in this sector,” said Dr Cable.
