November 2017

ISSUE 06

Welcome to the November 2017 IBioIC newsletter. IT HAS BEEN A BUSY PERIOD AT IBIOIC AS WE WELCOME NEW MEMBERS TO THE CENTRE WHICH IS NOW EXPANDING TO OVER 100 COMPANIES. THERE HAVE BEEN MANY EXCITING DEVELOPMENTS IN THE INDUSTRY AND AMONGST OUR MEMBERS, SUCH AS NEW INNOVATIONS, EXPANSION, INVESTMENT AND FUNDING AWARDS. WE’VE ALSO BEEN WORKING IN THE BACKGROUND CONSULTING WITH THE IB USING INDUSTRY, SEEKING INPUT AND SUPPORT TO SECURE THE FUTURE OF IBIOIC AS WE ENTER A KEY PHASE IN DEVELOPING A NEW BUSINESS PLAN TO TAKE US FORWARD POST 2018.

This newsletter highlights some of the important events that our team have attended in the last quarter and includes news on some of the most significant developments for our members. The stories that we share with you here are indicative of the range of sectors in which IB operates and highlight just how diverse an area it is.

We also focus on the development of our Skills programme which has just launched both a Collaborative Training Partnership for PhD students and an HND programme for those just starting out on their educational journey into the world of industrial biotechnology. These programmes now enable us to work with a wider range of institutions and, most importantly, to train IB specialists with the technical skills and knowledge they need to join the workforce.

We were delighted in August to welcome a visit by MSP Shirley-Anne Somerville to our FlexBio equipment centre, and with

the expansion of the equipment centres team, we also focus in this edition on what these unique facilities can and are offering to our ever-growing number of clients.

I hope you enjoy reading about our activities and achievements over the last few months. As we look forward to the new year, our Annual Conference in January, and the next phase of our journey, we also reflect on the growth and success of the IB industry as a whole; in Scotland, in the UK, and globally.

IAN SHOTT, CHAIRMAN, IBIOIC

www.IBioIC.com @IBioIC

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

Chairman’s Foreword 01

IBioIC Highly Commended at 02 IChemE Awards

IBioIC’s Phase II Industrial Survey 02

100th Member Spotlight 03

Ministerial Visit 04

Member News 05

Events Attended 09

Annual Conference IBioIC17 11

IBioIC’s Skills Programme 12

Closing the Gap 14 – the Equipment Centres

Led by Industry for Industry www.IBioIC.com @IBioIC

02

IBIOIC HIGHLY COMMENDED AT ICHEME GLOBAL AWARDS 2017

NEWS

IBIOIC’S PHASE II INDUSTRIAL SURVEY

IBioIC is pleased to announce that we were Highly Commended for the IChemE Training and Development Award, which recognises the team or organisation that best demonstrates excellence in training, development of staff or education of a wider community. The submission focused on the successful implementation of our Skills Programme which was designed to be industry relevant, multidisciplinary and collaborative in order to suit the emerging and growing industrial biotechnology sector. Over 100 students have, or are currently participating in the programme which is recognised as a key requisite of Scotland’s National Plan for Industrial Biotechnology.

We were not alone, either. A number of members were finalists in various categories:

UFraction8 were Highly Commended for the Biotechnology Award.

Anatune was jointly Highly Commended for the Water Award.

GSK Consumer Healthcare, UK was Highly Commended for the Sustainability Award and took home the Food and Drink Award, for its re-invention of the manufacturing process for much-loved British bedtime drink Horlicks. The new process is much more sustainable, using 80% less energy than the old method.

Congratulations to all.

As IBioIC nears the end of its four year funding period, work is being carried out on the development of a Phase II Business Plan to take us forward post 2018.

To help shape this, we surveyed our members and key stakeholders to determine the perception of the Centre and make recommendations for the activities to focus on over the next five years. We received 181 responses, of which 30% of respondents were non-members and 50% were from outwith Scotland. The graph right summarises some of our key findings.

Led by Industry for Industry www.IBioIC.com @IBioIC

03

100TH MEMBER SPOTLIGHT OXFORD BIOTRANS: MAKING NATURAL SCENTS AND FLAVOURINGS FROM IB

Industrial Biotechnologyand the Home of the Future

Industrial BiotechnologyInnovation Centre

WHERE IS THE POTENTIAL FOR INDUSTRIALBIOTECHNOLOGY IN THE UK?

IMPORTANT STATISTICS

products/processesmade through IB

sources to makeIB goods

IB spans many different sectors… 29 2012 10

8 8 8 5

We are specialists in the industrial biotechnology (IB) sector, designed to stimulate the growth and successof the IB industry in Scotland by connecting the dots between industry, academia and government.

We facilitate collaborations and guide organisations from a concept or idea, through to industry adoption.

IN LIFE SCIENCES

IN CHEMICAL SCIENCES

IN ENGINEERING

IN MATERIALS SCIENCE

IN FOOD & DRINK

IN WASTE

IN ENERGY

IN INSTRUMENTATION& MEASUREMENT

GLASSESmore sustainable

acrylic glass can be manufactured using

IB processesFOOTBALL

BOOTSusing biotech to

treat artificial turffor preventing

infections

SOAPgrapefruit scent in

cosmetics made fromabundant and

low-cost orangesCOSMETICSmade from more

natural, sustainableingredients,

such as algae

FUELmade from waste

products such as whisky bi-products, fats, household waste

or grains

HOUSEHOLDWASTE

has the potentialto be processed

into fuel

TOMATOESused to create

biopigments forcolouring

cosmetics andpharmaceuticals

FISH FOODcan be made using

waste proteins, such aswhisky bi-products,

algae andplant extracts

SEAWEEDcan be used as food, dietary supplements,health supplementslike spirulina andlow-cost fertiliser

BREADsugar from bread can be used in the

production of medicine

WHISKYbi-products from whiskyproduction can be usedto create fuel, animal

feed and evennanoparticles for

electronics

SMARTMETER

surplus energy beingused to grow algae

crops in ruralScotalnd

FOOD PACKAGING

made fromwaste prawn shells

PAINTmade from a

nano-cellulose fibreextracted from carrots

and sugar beet

VANILLAESSENCE

timber residues used tomake natural food flavourings such

a vanilla

CarbonDioxide Seaweed

MunicipalWaste

AgriculturalWastes

TimberWaste

74members intotal in UK– 45 of these arein Scotland

including 9 start-ups, 42 SMEs,17 multi-national giants, 5 universityspin-outs, 3 new companiescreated with the support of IBioIC

100 members

6rest ofthe world

7members inUnited States

13members inEurope

FATBERGSwaste fat in drains

can be purified andused to make

biodiesel

IBioIC recently welcomed Oxford Biotrans as our 100th member in what marks a significant step towards the growth of the UK biotechnology market.

It is estimated that by 2025, the UK industrial biotechnology market will be worth up to £12 billion and with the current rate of innovation and growth; it is easy to see how. Industrial biotechnology is changing the world, transitioning products and processes from being petro chemical-based to bio-based.

Our membership now includes 14 startups and spinouts, 42 SMEs and 17 multi-national corporations, as well as government departments and other business consultancies. In keeping with the multi-disciplinary nature of IB, our members include IB expertise from a wide range of industries, from food to pharma to materials.

Oxford Biotrans is a University of Oxford spin-out company supported by over 20 years of research by Dr Luet Lok Wong from the Department of Chemistry. Founded in 2013, the company is working to develop and commercialise enzymatic process technology to yield high-value chemicals from natural sources. Their procedures are environmentally friendly - producing less chemical waste and using less energy than traditional methods.

Their first product, natural-grade nootkatone, is a sesquiterpene, which is the flavour and scent of grapefruit and is used in food, beverage and cosmetic applications (including enhancing in non-citrus flavours). Natural-grade nootkatone is traditionally an expensive ingredient and large quantities of grapefruit are needed to extract commercial amounts of nootkatone – 400,000kg of grapefruit is needed to produce just 1kg of nootkatone. A synthetic nootkatone can be produced through chemical processes, but this requires high temperatures, heavy metals and peroxides, and cannot be classed as natural in the EU.

Oxford Biotrans has developed a process to convert natural valencene; a citrus extract readily obtained from oranges, into natural-grade nootkatone, and is now offering an attractive, secure and environmentally-friendly supply of this in-demand compound. The company has just raised £2.1 million from investment activities, which will enable them to accelerate market entry of further products in the pipeline, building on the performance and capabilities of their innovative platform technology.

Oxford Biotrans has used the support of IBioIC to develop collaborative networks, secure project partners and grant funding and access academic support, hosting an IBioIC PhD student in the organisation. They will also use IBioIC’s scale-up facilities in future to test new ideas and processes for commercialisation.

Led by Industry for Industry www.IBioIC.com @IBioIC

04

On Monday 21st August, IBioIC welcomed the Minister for Further Education, Higher Education and Science, Shirley-Anne Somerville, to our Flexible Downstream Bioprocessing Centre at Heriot Watt University.

Ms Somerville was met by IBioIC’s CEO, Roger Kilburn, and Project Engagement Manager, Johann Partridge, for a tour of the Centre and to find out about its activities and flourishing Skills Programme.

Ms Somerville visited each of the four lab spaces which comprise the FlexBio facility to see first-hand how students are developing their skills through their interactions with IBioIC and the use of the facility. Ms Somerville met with employees, PhD students and Post-Doctoral Research Associates to hear more about the work being undertaken in the facility and the opportunities available to allow students to be trained on specific pilot-scale equipment, teaching process engineering skills as well as those of the biological scientist.

Ms Somerville said:“Industrial biotechnology is an area with the potential for real growth around the world and we want Scotland to be at the forefront of that work by ensuring we support our world-class research through innovation centres such as IBioIC.

IBioIC is helping to stimulate the growth of the industrial biotechnology sector in Scotland to £900 million by 2025 and it is great to see the strong links the centre is establishing with universities through its skills programme.

I was also pleased to learn about IBioIC’s STEM Ambassadors Programme and their work with schools and colleges to promote awareness of the careers and higher education options available to students in the industrial biotechnology industry.

Through our ambitious strategy for STEM education and training, we want to improve STEM skills, enthusiasm and knowledge at all levels of school, college and university and to encourage uptake of careers in this sector that are vital to Scotland’s economic prosperity.”

Roger Kilburn, CEO, IBioIC said:“IBioIC was delighted to host the Minister today who showed a passion for skills development at all levels with a particular interest in encouraging a greater uptake of STEM subjects at all educational levels. I was pleased to explain our commitment to raising awareness of industrial biotechnology and the range of STEM career paths available across Scotland. All the IBioIC supported PhD students are trained and required to give at least two days per year as STEM Ambassadors. They regularly engage in initiatives such as school events, mentoring, career workshops and participation in science festivals.”

MINISTERIAL VISIT - AUGUST 2017

Led by Industry for Industry www.IBioIC.com @IBioIC

05

It’s been a busy few months for IBioIC member company CuanTec, who have a circular economy approach for the fisheries industry. In June, the innovative Scottish start-up won the Scottish EDGE competition, complete with £150,000 top prize. This special award, Higgs EDGE, is aimed at entrepreneurs who have a company which has applied leading edge technology to an innovative product, or product under development in the Science, Technology or Engineering sector which has the potential to be world-leading and could be commercialised on a global scale. CuanTec took the prize for their development of a novel food

packaging material derived from langoustine shells, from which they obtain chitosan which is then mixed with other biopolymers to produce antimicrobial, compostable food packaging material.

Food waste due to bacterial spoilage is a major issue, accounting for 10% of production between farm and retailer, a loss of £60m for Scottish seafood alone. CuanTec’s food contact material, a flexible film, will reduce the amount of food that is sent to landfill through product decay as well as repurposing the shells and provides a bioplastic option to the food industry to remove reliance on petroleum based plastics.

CuanTec is currently engaged in a SMART Scotland feasibility study and has recently provided early-stage prototypes to fish processors for testing and expect these products to move to production in 2018 and to market by the end of 2018 with regulatory approval.

As part of their development, in October CuanTec expanded their team and have opened their new lab at the European Marine Sciences Park at Dunstaffnage outside Oban. The lab will focus on the production of chitin to chitosan at GMP standards, and will also assist with deeper understanding and optimisation of the first stage fermentation of shell to extract chitin.

INNOVATIVE REPURPOSING OF FOOD WASTE

NEWS FROM MEMBERS

Credit: Image thanks to CuanTec

Led by Industry for Industry www.IBioIC.com @IBioIC

06

SYNPROMICS USES GENE-CONTROL TECHNOLOGY TO COMBAT MUSCULAR DYSTROPHY

It’s been quite a year for synthetic biology company Synpromics. Listed as one of the top 7 prominent players in the industry, the company has gone through a period of rapid growth which has seen them move from micro company to SME. With its team growing by over 100% in 2017, in September it was the first company to move into the new world-class facilities at the Roslin Innovation Centre on the south side of the City of Edinburgh.

Synpromics is expanding to meet increasing global demand for its cutting-edge control gene-control technology, such as the recently announced new research partnership with Solid Biosciences, LLC to develop new treatment options for Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). DMD is a genetic muscle-wasting disease which

affects one in every 3,500 to 5,000 live male births. Currently it has no cure and few satisfactory treatments.

This partnership will see Synpromics leverage its PromPT® technology platform to generate promoter candidates that closely match the requirements and criteria for Solid Biosciences’ muscle gene medicine programme with a view to advancing that company’s AAV muscle-directed gene therapy research programme.

Synpromics’ promoters are highly specific and designed to drive gene expression at the desired level and specificity in any cell type, tissue or environmental condition.

Credit: Image thanks to Synpromics

Credit: Image thanks to Synpromics

Led by Industry for Industry www.IBioIC.com @IBioIC

07

CONSORTIUM SECURES INNOVATE UK FUNDING FOR NEW ANTIBIOTICS

Currently, it is estimated that around 700,000 deaths worldwide result from antimicrobial resistance each year. Unless action is taken, this is projected to rise to 10 million deaths each year by 2050, with the added impact of a cumulative $100 trillion of economic output at risk due to the rise of drug-resistant infections. Antibiotics underpin modern medicine as we know it: if they lose their effectiveness, key medical procedures (such as caesarean sections, joint replacements, and treatments that depress the immune system, such as chemotherapy for cancer) could become too dangerous to perform.

IBioIC’s leading member Ingenza is working with the National Physical Laboratory and the University of Plymouth to develop a design and manufacturing platform for the production of a new

family of antibiotics. The consortium has secured £933k in funding from Innovate UK for work on a novel class of drugs based on bacteriocins – potent toxins produced by bacteria to kill closely-related strains.

This unique partnership will combine expertise in biotechnology and synthetic biology with an in-depth understanding of bacteriocins, using an artificial intelligence computing approach to aid the design of the new antimicrobials. Starting from a ‘model’ bacteriocin discovered by the University of Plymouth, the team aims to create multiple derivatives which show drug-like properties without compromising the original molecule’s ability to kill bacteria. By generating a number of viable antibiotics from a single source – similar to the original development of penicillin

derivatives – the group hopes to enhance the range of action, stability and potency of the candidates, providing a supply of future drugs to combat the growing problem of antimicrobial resistance. Ingenza will implement an efficient and adaptable synthetic biology-based bacteriocin manufacturing protocol, developed using the model target, to prepare each derivative with competitive process economics for clinical evaluation and commercialisation.

Ian Fotheringham, Managing Director of Ingenza, commented: “We are delighted to have secured funding from Innovate UK for this exciting collaborative project and look forward to working closely with National Physical Laboratory and the University of Plymouth over the next three years in a bid to combat the enormous problem of antibiotic resistance.”

Credit: Image thanks to Ingenza

Led by Industry for Industry www.IBioIC.com @IBioIC

08

BIOFUEL DERIVED FROM WHISKY RESIDUE

FATBERGS TO FUELArgent Energy made the news in August for their work with Thames Water on combatting the so-called ‘fatbergs’ which clog up sewer systems. Argent Energy have harvested and processed these accumulations of fat and sewage into a fuel which is already powering vehicles on Britain’s roads.

Considered to be much more environmentally friendly than either regular diesel or biodiesel developed from sources such as palm oil, the biodiesel which Argent Energy produces at its north of England site is an industry-standard biodiesel which is ready for a variety of uses in place of standard biodiesel. Argent is currently extracting 30 tonnes of fats, oils and greases (FOGs) from just one wastewater facility in Birmingham every week and

MEMBER NEWS

Edinburgh based, Celtic Renewables’ strategy is to apply microbiology expertise and modern process technology to the Weizmann fermentation process to provide first class solutions for the production of next generation biofuel. This revived fermentation technology is already proven on a global scale dating back to the 1950’s.

In July, Celtic Renewables became the first company to ever run a car on a biofuel derived from whisky residue,primarily

the biodiesel produced is blended with fossil diesel and is already powering buses in London, Manchester and Glasgow.

Their plant is not yet running at full capacity, however, and Argent are ready to work with all water treatment companies to divert waste fats and oils from landfill. Thames Water are working to make 50% of their wastewater treatment facilities self-powered within two years, benefitting both the environment and their overheads and in the longer term, the aim of many water treatment companies around the world is to educate consumers about disposal of FOGs and divert them to processing plants such as Argent Energy’s before they become fatbergs.

made up of sugar-rich kernels of barley, known as draff, which are used in the fermentation process of whisky-making, and pot-ale, the yeasty, copper-infused liquid leftover from distillation. The fuel produced is known as biobutanol and is a direct replacement for petrol and diesel which requires no engine modifications.

Celtic Renewables worked with the Tullibardine Distillery in Perthshire to develop the ground-breaking process which uses bacterial fermentation to produce the biobutanol, a process which was originally developed in the UK in the 1900s to produce acetone for explosives in the First World War, but was phased out in the 1960s as a result of competition from the petrochemical industry. By bringing it back, Celtic Renewables have potentially found a use for the 750,000 tonnes of draff and 2 billion litres of pot-ale that the Scottish Malt Whisky industry produces annually.

Led by Industry for Industry www.IBioIC.com @IBioIC

09

BIO WORLD CONGRESS ONINDUSTRIAL BIOTECHNOLOGYPalais des congrès de Montréal

RECENT EVENTS

The BIO World Congress on Industrial Biotechnology provides a unique forum for business executives, government officials, academic researchers and industry leaders to share the latest advances in renewable chemicals, synthetic biology, enzymes, food ingredients, biofuels and more.

The 2017 event welcomed 1000 attendees from 32 countries with 535 IB companies and 42 Sessions in 7 Education Tracks running over four days in July. Ever-growing, this year the event hosted 2,130 BIO One-on-One Partnering meetings - a 9% increase over the previous year - and 277 Presenting Speakers.

Featuring a line-up of leading industry executives from key industrial biotech sectors such as the biofuels, household and personal care, and airline industries, the 2017 programme discussed technology breakthroughs, business partnerships and sustainability initiatives at a global scale.

Parallel tracks comprised of topics such as Flavours, Fragrances and Food Ingredients; Feedstocks, Crop Technologies and Biomass Supply; Renewable Chemicals and Biobased Materials; Advanced Biofuels and Biorefining; Synthetic Biology and Genomics; and Growing Global Biobased Markets – at which IBioIC presented.

This year saw a large delegation from Australia attend to promote the Queensland Government’s ambition to encourage companies to locate their commercial biotechnology plants there. This is potentially a strategy that Scotland could replicate.

Mike Saltzberg of DuPont gave an interesting talk on the use of green premiums. Contradicting the received wisdom that consumers are not prepared to pay higher prices for sustainably produced and environmentally friendly products, this talk suggested that brand owners are beginning to understand that consumers will consider the environmental impact of producing their favourite goods, and may be willing to pay more for products which are demonstrably more sustainable than others. This could mean that we are starting to see a shift in consumer spending with a concomitant increase in the use of IB processes in the manufacturing of these products. This will be an interesting trend to keep an eye on.

IBioIC was successful in its submission to convene a panel session which brought together - Biobased Industries Consortium; BioBase Europe Pilot Plant; Centre for Process Innovation; Bioprocess Pilot Facility and IBioIC to outline the opportunities and challenges for scale-up across Europe.

The session titled ‘Piloting a Course for Europe – the support and development mechanisms allowing the bioeconomy to take off’, was well received by the audience.

2017 saw IBioIC host our now-traditional whisky tasting, during which we welcomed over fifty people to our stand to enjoy some delicious whiskies from around Scotland and, took the opportunity to launch our Annual Conference 2018 with a call for abstracts for oral and poster presentations.

Following the close of WCIB17, IBioIC led a trade delegation to the National Research Canada facilities on the outskirts of Montreal. Our visit included a presentation on the NRC and their activities, and a tour of the excellent facilities they have in Montreal – 4 skid mounted fermentation units (1500 L capacity), AD and Biogas lab and the associated analytical labs. These impressive facilities prompted discussion over how Scotland could develop such facilities and if there was the potential for any collaboration between Scotland and Canada.

With government strategies, research facilities and consumer spending shifts to keep us thinking and the industry developing, the IBioIC team rates this year’s Bio World Congress an overwhelming success.

Led by Industry for Industry www.IBioIC.com @IBioIC

10

OPPORTUNITIES IN FOOD BY-PRODUCT VALORISATIONThe recent Food Waste event organised by IBioIC in collaboration with Scottish Enterprise, Anaerobic Digestion (AD) Network and FoodWasteNet, specifically looked at the opportunities for food waste, pinpointing what else could be done to generate and maximise the value from this waste as an alternative to landfill.

Bringing together representatives from industry and academia to facilitate discussions around the potential for these alternative methods whilst introducing industrial biotechnology to food producers, processors and those with an interest in manufacturing or valorising waste streams, the event featured a series of presentations showcasing successful collaborations between industry and academia. Delegates heard from local SME CelluComp about their work with the University of Glasgow analysing samples by liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry from the production of Curran®; and Clearfleau, whose work with the University of York resulted in the partnering companies utilising on-site energy supplies from its waste, reducing disposal costs and boosting their site efficiency.

The event also provided a platform for companies such as Zero Waste Scotland (ZWS) to present how their work is contributing to the transition to a more circular economy, and the Scottish Environment and Protection Agency’s (SEPA) key message focused on the influences affecting the environmental

performance of a business, touching on the idea that consumers are demanding higher environmental credentials from products, which in turn sees competition between businesses and organisations being higher as they look for a competitive advantage through better environmental performance.

An exciting new data model created to map the wastes, by-products and agricultural residues that are, or could be used as feedstocks for biorefining was presented by IBioIC. This project, commissioned in 2016 by ZWS, IBioIC and Scottish Enterprise, was set up to quantify and map bioresource arisings to understand the scale and shape of a potential market presenting huge potential for biorefining in Scotland.

Of course, these opportunities are only made more viable by the availability of funding. A presentation from

FoodWasteNet highlighted the provision of funding available via Proof of Concept (PoC) funds, and Business Interaction Vouchers (BIV) offered by BBSRC’s NIBBs (Network in Industrial Biotechnology and Bioenergy) to further support research and development within this area.

With almost 80 participants attending the day, an appetite for engaging and looking for potential collaborations was evident. Overall the feedback from the participants was very positive. The key take home messages which came from the event were around the fact that, as the circular economy focuses on promoting the repurposing of resources, the industrial biotechnology sector should continue to raise awareness of their capabilities in this area and build close links with companies who have issues with the disposal of waste/side streams in order to provide innovative technology ready solutions.

Led by Industry for Industry www.IBioIC.com @IBioIC

11

as international stakeholders have been plentiful.” Agnes Borg, Industrial Manager, EuropaBio

“Many congratulations on an excellent event. Every year it just keeps getting better.” Stephen Roe, Advanced Microwave Technologies

Building on Success

IBioIC’s 4th Annual Conference

@ibioic #IBioIC18

Delegate fees start from £50Conference dinner £50

*ex VAT*

25 - 26 January 2018

This year’s conference offers a premierforum to hear about the latestdevelopments in the IB sector at regional,national and international level. Buildingon Success provides an excellentopportunity for networking, exchangingideas and learning.

Be part of this exciting event in Glasgowthat promises great scientific debate andenjoyable social interaction.

Registration opens

Monday 9 October 2017

Venue

The Technology and Innovation CentreUniversity of Strathclyde99 George StreetGlasgow G1 1RDUnited Kingdom

Further information

http://bit.ly/2uCjJhe

Speaker snapshot includes:

• Tim Davies - Green BiologicsSteve Bagshaw - Fujifilm DiosynthJeff Passmore - Passmore Group Inc.Grant Pearson - Ensus Ltd.Martin Kingsley - Argent Energy

• • •

•

What can it offer you?

• Keynotes on the latest developments, policy and end user needs• Commercial and technical session tracks •

Up to 30 exhibitors showcasing the latest trends,

products and services

•

Sponsorship, exhibition and delegate packages

to suit all budgets

•

Poster presentations•

Build networks with new and existing contacts•

Civic reception and conference dinner• Conference partnering

IBioIC’s Annual Conference has quickly built a reputation as one of the most important UK based industrial biotechnology meetings in the calendar and attracts key players and influencers in the UK and global bioeconomy from academia, industry and supporting organisations to hear about and explore the potential opportunities for IB in Scotland as well as the global landscape of the industry.

Delivering Impact – IBioIC’s third annual conference, took place earlier this year in Glasgow. The conference was exceptionally well attended, with over 70 speakers from around the world taking part in plenaries and over 400 delegates from across the UK, Europe and beyond joining us for tracked sessions covering technical and business topics within the industrial biotechnology sector, an exhibition featuring posters and demonstrations and our ever-popular conference dinner.

Throughout the two days, delegates participated in thought provoking plenaries and nine targeted sessions around the themes of: Impact – highlighting areas such as the achievements to date for IB in Scotland; Innovation – showcasing the services and expertise of open access facilities and how IB is forming part of the circular economy; and technical topics around the latest developments in IB including synthetic biology. The exhibition and poster area gained much traction over the two days with extensive networking taking place during the breaks and this year we introduced a 1-2-1 partnering facility resulting in over 230 meetings take place and generating a wealth of new connections.

Glasgow was the location of choice given the availability and close proximity of the Technology & Innovation Centre, located within the University of Strathclyde campus. The 450 seater conference suite with separate meeting rooms and large foyer and exhibition area makes this an excellent choice for the event and provides state of the art facilities, excellent catering and a dedicated team to support the event organisers. IBioIC’s Annual Conference generates a value of over £400k to the local economy each year.

With an ambitious target to transform the competitiveness and sustainability of industries through the innovative use of industrial biotechnology, Scotland, as a nation, is well on its way to becoming a key influencer in the industry on a global scale and IBioIC’s annual conference is certainly testament to the fact that there is fast growing appetite for this burgeoning industry.

“IBioIC’s annual conference has truly showcased the impact of the IB industry in Scotland and beyond. Scotland is a leading region for the bio-economy and IB, and opportunities to hear from and speak to key local actors, as well

IBIOIC’S ANNUALCONFERENCE 2017- DELIVERING IMPACT

IBioIC’s 4th Annual Conference - Building on Success is set to take place on Thursday 25 & Friday 26 January 2018. Registration is open and more information about the programme, exhibitors, speakers and sponsorship options are all available on our website at www.ibioic.com/news_and_events/annual_conference/d1066/

Led by Industry for Industry www.IBioIC.com @IBioIC

12

IBIOIC’S SKILLS PROGRAMME

Our Skills team has undergone significant changes this year with the appointment of Rachel Moir, formerly our Projects Manager, as the new Skills Manager and Gill Campbell joining the team as our new Training and Placement Co-ordinator. Our programme has developed as well, with a new HND and a new Collaborative Training Partnership programme for PhD students.

HNDSeptember saw the launch of IBioIC’s first HND course with 15 students enrolled at the Langside Campus of Glasgow Clyde College. Rachel and Gill, along with FlexBio Lab Manager Neil Renault, were the joint-first guest lecturers and gave the students an introduction to industrial biotechnology, potential career paths and the work of the FlexBio equipment centre. The HND course was developed after close engagement with industry identified a need for more staff trained at technical level and with developed practical skills, and as a result, IBioIC has worked closely with the college sector to develop the course, and will continue to support Glasgow Clyde College to ensure that students get maximum exposure to industry through site visits and guest lectures.

MSc As we say farewell to our newly graduated MSc cohort of 2016-17, we are delighted to report that once again, the standard of work presented by the students was high. We wish the cohort well in their future endeavours within the IB industry.

September saw the induction of our new 2017-18 cohort. All students are fully prepped for their year ahead and are will have the opportunity to take part in an industrial placement during the year. We look forward to reporting on their development as the year progresses.

PhDIn 2017, as a result of additional three-year funding secured from BBSRC at the start of the year, IBioIC launched an enhanced training programme for PhD students as part of our new Collaborative Training Partnership (CTP).

The CTP will provide students with all the skills required to significantly contribute to the growth of the biotechnology industry in line with the UK Industrial Strategy. The IBioIC CTP will be underpinned by an exemplary array of training and educational resources to support, develop and enhance the student experience. The training

programme will include cohort induction events, bespoke IBioIC industry-focused practical and theoretical training, industrial facilities visits and participation in the IBioICs Annual Symposium and Annual Conference. Students taking part in our CTP will benefit from a four year structured training programme and will have the opportunity to learn from their peers and to forge life-long network contacts across the IB community in the UK. By year four, students will be industry ready, consolidating professional and technical skills and prepared to join the workforce.

In addition to enhancing our training provision, this new funding also enables us to work with a wider range of academic institutions. In addition to our current Scottish HEI partners, we are now able to work with members of the N8 partnership south of the border. By October 2018, we will have 44 PhDs in our programme.

Led by Industry for Industry www.IBioIC.com @IBioIC

13

IBioIC CTP Structured Training Programme

Year 1: Understanding your position in Industrial Biotechnology . Providing a strong bioscience foundation and introduction to working with industry.

Year 2: Developing your expertise. Building a diverse skills set and providing the tools for working in a commercial environment

Year 3: Preparing for industry. Delivering practical experience in an industrial setting and fostering entrepreneurial spirit.

Year 4: Industry ready. Consolidating professional and technical skills and preparing for the workforce.

Led by Industry for Industry www.IBioIC.com @IBioIC

14

CLOSING THE GAP – THE IBioIC EQUIPMENT CENTRES

Working as a team to close the UK-wide gap in scale-up facilities at the technical demonstration scale of 1 – 100 litres, our Rapid Bioprocess Prototyping Centre (RBPC) and Flexible Downstream Bioprocessing Centre (FlexBio) have been busier than ever over the last quarter with over a dozen projects either completed or ongoing, and more in preparation.

These publicly-funded equipment centres are helping to drive innovation and growth within industrial biotechnology both in Scotland and the UK by supporting our start-ups, spin outs and SMEs to have access to, and technical support for, the latest technology to demonstrate their research can be scaled into profitable ventures. Being able to stay within the UK to access these facilities means that the investment that goes with them can be injected into the Scottish economy and the industrial biotechnology market in Scotland benefits from the development of the network of academic and industrial links vital for growth.

Recent Projects

Projects over the last few months have included working with microalgae for the valorisation of food and drink by-products, including cultivation of new microalgae strains and development of a method for the rapid screening of biomass and lipid content, a benchmarking study to test probes for the monitoring of fermentation processes against similar but different technologies, diverting crustacean by-products from low and negative value fates such as landfill to higher value products, cancer drug research,

fermentation process testing, working with plant stem cells, working on funding applications and training for both industry members’ staff and PhD students.

Who can use them?

The facilities are open to all and have a competitive pricing structure suitable for small-to-medium enterprises (SMEs) and larger industry organisations. Both equipment centres are flexible and are aimed at being reactive to support organisations on tight timelines as well as organisations that need support for longer term projects. Being based at

universities means the centres are very well supported in terms of facilities and collaboration and also supportive of academic research itself. With the growing need for funding bodies to see the commercialisation potential of research we often work with university/industry partners who need to yield data to support further centre use as part of their next grant application.

The Equipment Centres are more than just lab spaces. They also come with a team of scientists who can provide technical input to help shape a project from planning through to fruition.

Led by Industry for Industry www.IBioIC.com @IBioIC

15

Neil Renault FlexBio Facility Manager

Our Equipment Centres team is now complete with the welcome arrival of Neil Renault as FlexBio Facility Manager. Neil manages the day-to-day running of the facility, including equipment maintenance, purchasing, scheduling, health and safety and troubleshooting. He also works with clients to understand their short and long term needs to develop the services and equipment available.

Neil joins us with 8 years’ experience of working in industry, conducting R&D projects within a GMP-regulated environment. His previous role was for Scottish-based diagnostic biomanufacturing firm Quotient as a senior scientist and lab manager, bringing a diagnostic chip for blood transfusion (‘MosaiQ’) from proof of concept through to full validated manufacture.

Neil studied his BSc in Molecular and Cellular Biology at the University of Kent. During his degree he did a sandwich year at a Bioprocess development group at Pfizer, focusing on downstream purification and analytical method development. His PhD was at the University of Nottingham developing a diagnostic protein microarray for antibody-specific food allergy testing.

Loris Fossier Marchan Post-Doctoral Research Associate

Loris joined the team in November 2016, after completing his PhD in Marine Biotechnology at Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh. Loris gained a solid knowledge in the Biotechnology and Food Industry and developed skills in fermentation, industrial microbiology and biochemistry during his Msc and MEng studies. He has previously worked in the food industry as well as large researcher centres such as the National Institute for Agricultural Sciences (INRA) in Paris.

Loris’ role in the equipment centres is focused on working with clients on their projects from initial enquiry through to completion. He is on hand to assist with everything from experimental plan design through to conducting experiments and can even advise on funding and costing issues.

Yingying Li Facility Manager, RBPC

Our longest-serving team member is our RBPC lab Manager, Yingying Li. Yingying is responsible for the daily operation of the RBPC including providing guidance and technical support to clients, helping clients to develop appropriate analytical methods and experiment plans, undertaking experiments on clients’ behalf, training clients to use the equipment as well as looking after the maintenance and repair of the equipment and apparatus, giving tours to visitors and prospective clients and sourcing new equipment.Yingying received her degree and PhD in Biology in KU Leuven, Belgium, in July 2016. During her PhD she carried out fundamental and applied research in the field of bioethanol production – developing robust industrial yeast strains for xylose fermenting combined with inhibitor tolerant in lignocelluloses hydrolysates, improving the halotolerance of yeast strains, investigating the causative genes using next generation whole genome sequencing technologies.

Anybody interested in joining IBioIC as a member should contact info@ibioic.com or to know more about IBioIC visit www.ibioic.com.

Readers interested in starting a project in our pay-per-use equipment centres should contact FlexBio@ibioic.com or RapidBio@Ibioic.com.

If you would like to submit an IBioIC related story to our next newsletter, please contactashley.jackson@ibioic.com

Industrial BiotechnologyInnovation Centre Inovo, 121 George Street, Glasgow G1 1RD United Kingdom

info@ibioic.com

Copyright © 2017 IBioIC. All rights reserved. This email is sent to all of our IBioIC partners and members.

www.ibioic.com @IBioIC