About the event

Critical materials play an essential role in everyday products. As demand grows, organisations across mining, processing, recycling and manufacturing are exploring new ways to improve resource efficiency, recover valuable materials from waste streams and strengthen supply chain resilience. Engineering biology offers new approaches to some of these challenges. Innovations such as biological recovery of materials, bioleaching, biomining, waste valorisation and biologically informed processing are being developed to support sustainable and efficient approaches to resource recovery and materials management.

This webinar will explore how engineering biology approaches are being applied to critical materials challenges and where they may provide value for industry. Through accessible presentations, practical examples and discussion, attendees will gain insight into emerging technologies, the problems they are designed to address and the opportunities they may create for future collaboration.

The event is designed to bring together researchers, technology developers, businesses and innovation stakeholders to explore opportunities for innovation, adoption and cross-sector collaboration. It forms part of a wider programme of activity aimed at strengthening connections between industry and the engineering biology community while improving understanding of real-world industrial challenges and adoption requirements.

This webinar is hosted by the Engineering Biology Innovation Network and the Critical Materials Supply Chains Innovation Network, bringing together two communities with a shared interest in developing innovative solutions to critical materials challenges. The wider programme aims to strengthen connections between industry, researchers, technology developers and investors, while supporting the adoption and commercialisation of emerging technologies.

Why watch?

Viewers can expect:

• an overview of engineering biology approaches relevant to critical materials and resource recovery challenges
• insight into emerging technologies and applications including biological recovery, recycling and waste valorisation approaches
• examples of industrial challenges that engineering biology technologies may help address
• discussion of potential operational, environmental and commercial benefits
• greater understanding of the opportunities and considerations associated with technology adoption, including scale-up, integration and evidence requirements
• opportunities to hear perspectives from across industry, research and innovation communities
• the chance to identify potential collaborators and future partnership opportunities
• opportunities to contribute to future conversations around critical materials challenges and emerging solutions

These themes reflect the identified need for stronger links between researchers, technology providers and industrial adopters, alongside greater focus on adoption, evidence and real-world challenges.

Agenda

10:00-10:05: Dr Jessica Dobson, Innovate UK Business Connect – Welcome

10:05-10:15: Professor Sebastien Farnaud, Coventry University – From research to industrial adoption

10:15-10:25: Bioscope – From academic collaboration to commercial opportunity

10:25-10:35: CellCycle – An SME perspective

10:35-10:45: Advanced Alloy Services – Applying bioleaching to an industrial challenge

10:45-10:55: Professor Louise Horsfall, University of Edinburgh – From industrial problem to biological solution

10:55-11:05: Dr Christopher Egan Morriss, University of Manchester – Exploring future commercial opportunities

11:05-11:25: Audience Q&A

11:25-11:30: Dr Jessica Dobson, Innovate UK Business Connect – Closing remarks and next steps