Bringing research to wildlife

Biodiversity is essential for our ecosystem, yet many of us are unaware of our impact on nature. There’s a lot we can do to care for biodiversity and protected species, but conservation efforts require accurate data to have the best possible impact. This data is also useful for developers surveying for protected species and their habitats.

NatureMetrics use eDNA to monitor biodiversity and gather that data. Founded by Dr Kat Bruce as a University of East Anglia spin-out, the company apply academic advancements to real-world commercial applications. They began with eDNA monitoring for protected species in the UK such as great crested newts. They have since expanded into broader biodiversity assessments and now offer scalable, multi-species testing and a digital platform to visualise biodiversity trends over time.

NatureMetrics now work in 110 different countries. They extract DNA from water, soil and air samples – the latter being a new development from their Research and Development team – sequence it and determine which species are in the environment. This replaces time-consuming manual processes such as searching for evidence of species at night.

Dr Tiffany Jedrecka, Head of R&D, and her team focus on developing faster, scalable and more insightful ways to measure biodiversity for their customers. Clients include businesses that need help to understand, manage and mitigate their impact on nature. Their other clients are conservation charities such as the WWF who need to monitor their progress in restoring nature.

Dr Jędrecka said: “At NatureMetrics, our core mission is to empower businesses with the nature intelligence needed to make truly sustainable decisions. Our work directly contributes to safeguarding global biodiversity, translating complex ecological data into clear pathways for positive environmental change.”

Two globe-trotting projects

Since July 2021, NatureMetrics has received strategic support from Innovate UK Business Growth. Working closely with Innovation and Growth Specialist, Monika Dunkel, the company developed a tailored action plan to strengthen its funding strategy, access international opportunities and scale globally.

Monika also played a key role in signposting the company to relevant funding streams, including Horizon Europe and other UK and international grant opportunities – supporting NatureMetrics in identifying and pursuing the most impactful routes for innovation-led growth.

This support has helped NatureMetrics secure funding from several international and national programmes – including €551,000 from Horizon Europe. The company had two projects with Horizon Europe: Biodiversity Conservation to Mitigate the Risks of Emerging Infectious Diseases (BCOMING), which looks at the link between degraded biodiversity and pandemics, and BioMonitor4CAP, which is focused on biodiversity and agriculture.

NatureMetrics applied for BCOMING in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic. The project was based on the theory that pandemic spillover events increase when biodiversity is degraded. It aimed to build models that look at the whole picture of monitoring, helping to identify biodiversity hotspots and where they could be degrading earlier. NatureMetrics monitored four hotspots: Cambodia, Guinea, Guadalupe and the Ivory Coast. Regulatory issues in Cambodia meant a pivot in the research to non-invasive air DNA monitoring, which led to new innovations.

The project took the next step along the biodiversity journey – understanding nature’s connection to other areas such as health. It looked at how biodiversity data can help us make better decisions instead of looking at these areas in isolation.

Their second project, BioMonitor4CAP, monitored the results of the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy. Through this policy, farmers can get payments for improving biodiversity on their land. NatureMetrics looked at how they could make using eDNA affordable, deliver it at scale, and use data they gather to affect policy in the sector.

Dr Jedrecka said: “To be able to look at the biodiversity in Peru, Portugal, the UK, Germany, Finland, all in one project… I don’t think there are many funding opportunities that allow you to do that.”

Horizon Europe was invaluable to NatureMetrics, offering them the time and space for R&D. Both projects allowed the team to gather extensive samples from diverse habitats. Funding allowed the team to grow and bring in new capabilities such as machine learning and metric development. The programme also led to deeper collaboration with academic institutions for scientific validation of their work, increasing their credibility with clients and stakeholders.

Dr Jedrecka adds: “We’re at that point where we’re now able to put things in front of our exec team, our board, and say this has come up in our R&D.”

Dr Jedrecka’s advice for future SME applicants is to begin as early as possible, dedicate time for project workload, and work with a university that’s experienced with the application process. For these project applications, her team focused contributing technical input and negotiating intellectual property and confidentiality in consortium agreements. She recommends choosing programmes that align with your current goals, taking an active role and embracing the diverse range of perspectives that a Horizon Europe project can bring you.

Strategic support secures global recognition

In addition to Horizon Europe, Innovate UK has provided several tranches of grant funding since 2021 that have been essential in enabling NatureMetrics to innovate and scale. This includes early support through a £210,000 Innovate UK grant and a Farming Innovation Programme: ADOPT grant worth £320,000 – delivered by DEFRA in partnership with Innovate UK – which supports on-farm innovation-led businesses to explore and demonstrate innovative sustainable solutions.

More recently, NatureMetrics secured a £300,000 UK–Switzerland bilateral grant for RestoreDNA: Development of scalable eDNA-based solutions for biodiversity regulators and nature-related disclosure. Funded by Innovate UK and Innosuisse, the project began in January 2024 and is being delivered in partnership with Rothamsted Research in the UK, alongside Swiss collaborators Restor and ETH Zurich. The collaboration strengthens NatureMetrics’ international research links and advances scalable, science-based approaches to biodiversity monitoring and reporting.

Monika also supported Dr Juliet Jones, Chief Scientific Officer at NatureMetrics, in joining the Innovate UK Business Growth Peer Network, while NatureMetrics participated in two Global Business Innovation Programmes (GBIPs) as a consequence of its support, including one focused on offshore wind in the US. This led directly to a partnership with Dartmouth Ocean Technologies and opened new market opportunities in marine biodiversity.

Dr Jędrecka added: “Innovate UK’s continuous and substantial grant funding has been absolutely foundational to NatureMetrics’ growth and ability to push the boundaries of innovation. This sustained investment since 2021 has enabled us to accelerate our research, scale our operations and solidify our position as a global leader in nature intelligence.”

In 2024, NatureMetrics was named a finalist for The Earthshot Prize and raised $25 million (approx. £20.16 million) to scale its platform. The company also joined Tech Nation’s Future Fifty cohort – further recognition of its impact as a fast-growing UK innovator.

The company has since increased its headcount by 76 and significantly boosted its revenue by 110%. They are now engaging with policy makers and governments, with their recommendations being well received by the Polish government and further interest from other EU nations.