Winter Message from CEO Mark Bustard

I am delighted to welcome Strathendricks Biogas and OGI Bio to our network who are two of twelve organisations who have joined IBioIC’s network in 2020.

2020 has been an extremely challenging year, and while the IBioIC network has been dealt some blows to face-to-face engagement, we have been working on a variety of support measures for the network. Earlier this year we issued a membership fee holiday, held a virtual members-only WEST Brewery beer tasting event and also delivered a review of our 2020 activity. Earlier this year our Scale Up Centres team was able to return safely to work, and created specific COVID-19 safety guidance to support other members’ laboratories in their safe return to work.  As a further measure of support, our flagship Annual IBioIC Conference will be free to attend on 10 and 11 February 2021 and will be delivered via a virtual platform due to the COVID-19 restrictions. 

 Industrial Biotechnology’s role in growing the bioeconomy is beginning to take centre stage thanks to plans for a green recovery. We saw the Scottish Government’s Inward Investment Plan unveil recognition for industrial biotechnology, and IBioIC explicitly, in the opportunity that lies ahead. Critical to this success, is the ongoing sugar beet supply chain work with leading figures in the agricultural community which continues at pace. 

Collaborative working has continued to be one of our strengths, albeit remotely and there has been some great progress to increase the profile of industrial biotechnology with organisations such as Zero Waste Scotland, Scottish EDGE, Interface and the Bioeconomy Cluster Builder project. Within the funding landscape, we have been able to pivot our feasibility funding to support COVID-19 related projects as well as our core focus; and we successfully partnered with Algae UK, HVB Net and Scottish EDGE to support specific projects and spin out companies.

The green jobs of the future will need an appropriately-skilled workforce. 2020 was a record-breaking year for our IB skills programme, with the BBSRC awarding 15 PhD studentships to IBioIC. The PhD programme has studentships with EastBio DTP and Criticat, and this year we welcomed 6 Fujifilm Diosynth Biotechnology students onto the programme. Our MSc course experienced record-breaking pass rates, with 57% of our current cohort receiving distinction and 30% merit, making the class average 69%.

Many of you will know the target for 2025 is to grow industrial biotechnology associated turnover to over £900 million in Scotland, and I am proud to report that IBioIC estimates that the turnover for 2019/20 stood at £747 million. We will continue with all key stakeholders to support the growth of the bioeconomy in Scotland and wider UK and I would like to thank you all for your continued support and interaction this year and I look forward to working with you after the Christmas break.

On behalf of IBioIC I would like to wish you and your families a safe and peaceful holiday period and I look forward to the challenges and opportunities that 2021 will bring.