Engineering Biology Innovation Network

Driving the development of a joined-up UK innovation ecosystem to ensure synthetic biology tools, technologies and processes can be developed and adopted by industry.

Advancing Innovations in Engineering Biology

Engineering biology is a rapidly growing field with potential for innovation and applications across industry sectors and technology areas. It encompasses the wider capabilities and ecosystem that supports the exploitation of synthetic biology – the design, engineering and re-engineering of biologically based parts, devices and systems – to address major economic and societal challenges.

The Engineering Biology Innovation Network, led by Innovate UK Business Connect in collaboration with Innovate UK and UKRI’s Technology Mission Fund, aims to drive the development of a joined-up UK innovation ecosystem to ensure synthetic biology tools, technologies and processes can be more easily developed and adopted by a variety of industries. The network’s goal is to progress innovations, create a commercially focused community and foster new consortia to advance innovations towards commercial applications.

The UK Government has identified engineering biology as one of five critical technologies with the potential to significantly influence the UK’s future prosperity, security, and global leadership.

The Engineering Biology Innovation Network will support UK innovators in the field of engineering biology by connecting them with new partners and opportunities. It will provide a forum for discussion and development in this field, supporting new innovations to become real-world products and services across various sectors.

 

Core focus areas of the programme

The Engineering Biology Innovation Network will focus on potential innovation and applications across six core areas including agriculture, food, health, energy and low carbon fuels, materials and chemicals, and waste recycling.
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Agriculture and food

Contributing to food security and minimising greenhouse gas emissions.

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Energy and low carbon fuels

Creating a sustainable and green transport and energy sector.

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Health

Enabling the development of precision medicine, cell therapies and innovative solutions to fight diseases.

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Materials and chemicals

Reducing reliance on petrochemicals in manufacturing and addressing challenges associated with end-of-life.

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Waste recycling

Contributing to the circular economy by transforming waste into valuable products.

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Tools

Developing synthetic biology tools and methodologies that support application of engineering biology.

EVENT

Engineering Biology Innovation Network Launch Event

Join us online for the launch of the Innovate UK Engineering Biology Innovation Network. Our aim is to connect innovators and researchers in Engineering Biology to end-users and investors, developing supply-chains and creating a commercially focused community.

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