Event details

The UK government has identified engineering biology as a strategic priority within its Modern Industrial Strategy, recognising its potential to transform sectors from agriculture and food through to chemicals, materials, medicine and the environment. In recent years, there has been substantial investment through the National Engineering Biology Programme and UKRI’s mission‑led initiatives.

To stimulate the development and adoption of engineering biology technologies, Innovate UK and Defra are preparing for an Engineering Biology Contracts for Innovation (CFI) initiative, anticipated to launch in 2026. CFIs are competitive UK government programmes where public bodies fund innovative companies to develop solutions for specific challenges, providing a route to market, funding for R&D and a chance to work directly with the public sector.

Why attend?

Innovate UK and Defra are planning a two stage engagement process for this CFI. The first will be this online event on 26 February, open to all interested stakeholders. The webinar will help stakeholders understand the direction of the proposed competition and provide insight into Defra’s challenge areas.

The event will outline several areas where Defra has identified challenges that could benefit from engineering biology–based solutions, including:

• real time, low cost water quality monitoring
• novel biopesticide approaches
• next generation veterinary vaccine platforms
• technologies to address per-and poly fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) pollution
• real time genomic monitoring of aquatic environments
• AI driven eDNA based ecosystem insights

Attendees will have the opportunity to engage with Defra colleagues in break-out rooms to learn more about the specific challenge areas.

The second stage is planned to be an in person workshop, to explore the problem statements and potential solution areas in more depth, alongside opportunities for partnership building. The second event is being developed and may be subject to change.

Who should attend?

Innovators from industry and the science base that have the potential to develop engineering biology inspired solutions to the problem statements identified – anticipate that these solutions will be at TRL4+ (technology readiness level).