Spring message from CEO Mark Bustard

Hello,

I’m pleased to update you that since December 2020 we have welcomed nine new members to the IBioIC network, and I would like to extend a warm welcome to new 2021 members National Horizons Centre, Impact Solutions, Net Carbon Zero, Investing Women, miRNA, Cyanofeed, Strameno, NuCana and Agroceutical Products. 

In February, our 7th Annual Conference ‘Towards Net Zero: Growing the Bioeconomy’ was delivered as a fully virtual event and free to attend with nearly 800 registrations for the event. I regard it as a great success and the feedback has been excellent to date. If you were unable to join us for the conference we have made this available as a resource online. I was particularly pleased with the participation from senior politicians from both Scottish Government, Trade and Innovation Minister Mr Ivan McKee, and UK Government’s Bioeconomy Minister, Lord Callanan. Climate Change was a key theme at #IBioIC21, and on this we were delighted to secure Lord Deben, Chair of the UK’s independent Climate Change Committee.

On a different note, IBioIC’s students are key to our activities, and many of them have struggled as a consequence of Covid-19. We are currently trying to secure MSc industrial placements, which given the restrictions may likely be desk-based research projects. If you think your organisation may be able to support one of our students in this space, please contact Elba at skills@ibioic.com. The industrial placement within the course contributes significantly to their employability and we are doing everything we can to support their research projects in a range of ways but would appreciate any help you could offer.

Best wishes,

Mark

Dr Mark Bustard

CEO, IBioIC