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
Farming Futures R&D Fund: Precision Breeding
Opens: 05/05/2025 Closes: 25/06/2025
UK registered businesses can apply for a share of up to £12.5 million for precision breeding of arable and horticultural crops.
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Farming Futures R&D Fund: low emissions farming
Opens: 05/05/2025 Closes: 25/06/2025
UK registered organisations can apply for a share of up to £12.5 million for industrial research projects from the Farming Futures R&D Fund.
More Information
Horizon Europe 2025 work programme Cluster 6: Food, Bioeconomy, Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment
Opens: 03/05/2025 Closes: 24/09/2025
Topics available under Horizon Europe’s Cluster 6 programme for 2025/26, with up to €130m available for the largest single projects
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Horizon Europe 2025 work programme Cluster 1: Health
Opens: 03/05/2025 Closes: 16/09/2025
Topics available under Horizon Europe’s Health programme for 2025/26, with funding of up to €20m per project.
More Information
Horizon Europe 2025 EU Missions: Soil Deal for Europe
Opens: 06/05/2025 Closes: 24/09/2025
Funding available through Horizon Europe to achieve healthy soils for Europe by 2050, with up to €11m for the largest projects.
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Horizon Europe 2025 EU Missions: Cancer Mission
Opens: 06/05/2025 Closes: 24/09/2025
Funding available through Horizon Europe for research into cancer prevention and cures, with up to €11m for the largest projects.
More Information
Related Events and Recordings
Our Experts
Related News
18/06/2024
Materials Research Exchange 2024: event highlights
Highlights from the Reimagining Materials and Manufacturing Together team, who attended this year’s Materials Research Exchange.
Read more
20/09/2024
Getting to GRIPS with plastic waste
Over 600 delegates attended the fourth annual Global Research and Innovation in Plastics Sustainability Conference (GRIPS 2024) on Thursday 19 September, held at the University of Sheffield, and online.
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.