Biotechnology
The Biotechnology team at Innovate UK Business Connect focuses on Industrial Biotechnology (IB), Engineering Biology (EB, commonly referred to as Synthetic Biology) and Microbiomes.
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These technologies have the potential to carry out transformations which would not be feasible, technically or economically, using traditional chemistry. They hold the potential to make entirely new materials or to develop processes which run at low or ambient temperatures, thus reducing energy consumption. Consequently they can have a major impact in the UK’s move to Net Zero emissions.
The team works with all sectors that either use, or are interested in using, biotechnology in their business, in particular Chemicals, Pharmaceuticals, Home & Personal Care, AgroChemicals, Food and Drink – and many more.
Our experts use deep knowledge of the sector to help you and your business innovate through access to funding, expertise and building connections and collaborations. The team works closely with national bodies such as the Industrial Biotechnology Leadership Forum (IBLF) and the Engineering Biology Leadership Council (EBLC). In 2025 we launched the Engineering Biology Innovation Network, aiming to progress innovations, create a commercially focused community, and foster new consortia to advance innovations towards commercial applications.
Our current focus in this area
Related Opportunities
UK Defence Innovation: Rapid transfusion diagnostics - blood testing in the field
Opens: 16/03/2026 Closes: 02/06/2026
UKDI seeks innovations to support the donation and transfusion of blood in deployed settings.
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Biofilms ICURe Discover
Opens: 14/04/2026 Closes: 08/05/2026
Biofilms ICURe Discover is an upcoming ICURe programme themed around biofilms across all applications including healthcare, engineering, marine, food and agriculture, the built environment, water and wastewater, energy, personal care and home care.
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UKDI Biosecurity Frontiers: Defending against biological threats
Opens: 17/04/2026 Closes: 10/06/2026
This competition seeks innovations to strengthen the UK's ability to detect, prevent and respond to biological risks.
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ARIA: Universal Fabricators - full proposals
Opens: 01/04/2026 Closes: 05/05/2026
ARIA's £50m Manufacturing Abundance programme seeks to harness proteins to produce a functionally universal range of materials at scale.
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Global Incubator Programme: Agri-Tech USA THRIVE, cohort 1
Opens: 01/04/2026 Closes: 28/04/2026
Innovate UK seeks innovative Agri-Tech companies to participate in an acceleration programme to support growth by exploring the potential of the USA market.
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Medicines Manufacturing: Labs of the Future
Opens: 13/04/2026 Closes: 27/05/2026
UK registered businesses can apply for a share of up to £7.5 million to support the development and use of digital, automated, and robotic technologies. This aims to improve the speed and efficiency of pharmaceutical process development and manufacturing.
More Information
Related Events and Recordings
Our Experts
Related News
02/09/2025
Announcing the Engineering Biology SPARK Award winners
The Engineering Biology Innovation Network has funded 15 SPARK Awards designed to tackle real-world challenges faced by UK SMEs or to accelerate their journey towards developing new products, processes, or services.
Read more
15/10/2025
Biomedical Catalyst investment fuelling innovative healthcare solutions
Investment from Innovate UK Biomedical Catalyst will help innovative UK businesses translate breakthrough ideas into products and therapies for patients, bringing them a step closer to commercialisation and impact.
Read more
Related programmes
Engineering Biology Innovation Network
Driving 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.
Microbiome Landscape
Connecting the UK’s growing microbiome community to raise the visibility of the UK’s world leading microbiome science and enable its translation to benefit academic institutions, start-ups, SMEs and larger established companies.