Bioeconomy Cluster Builder
The Bioeconomy Cluster Builder raises awareness of the benefits and applications of biotechnology. It connects people and resources to support the development of new value chains across the bioeconomy.
Benefits to industry
Improve your environmental performance, increase efficiency and create value from co-products and waste streams. Novel and creative applications of biotechnology allow us to produce bio-based alternatives from renewable feedstocks and waste streams, creating significant commercial and environmental benefits.
The bioeconomy is both circular and regenerative. It therefore offers solutions to the traditional ‘take-make-dispose’, linear approach to production.
What we do
Connecting People
Making the right connections is fundamental to innovation and collaboration. Using the extensive networks of our partner organisations we’re able to connect you with the right people and resources to bring your ideas to life.
Awareness Raising
Biotechnology has the power to transform key industries like food and drink manufacturing, textiles, chemical manufacturing, energy and pharmaceuticals. By delivering sustainable, bio-based alternatives to goods and services, the bioeconomy is core to achieving our Net Zero ambitions.
The BCB runs regular targeted events. You can find details of forthcoming activity here.
Funding and Support
Funding and innovation support are crucial to getting new projects off the ground. The BCB provides signposting and expert guidance on accessing the best funding to meet your needs.
Our partner organisations are well positioned to help you identify and access the funding and investment needed to progress your innovation;
IBioIC offers a range of funding opportunities. To date the Centre has supported over 80 collaborations between industry and academia.
Innovate UK KTN are experts in helping businesses navigate the complex innovation funding landscape. They maintain an up-to-date database of live funding opportunities.
Background
The BCB is a collaboration between the Industrial Biotechnology Innovation Centre (IBioIC) and Innovate UK KTN. We deliver targeted events and provide innovation support and funding guidance to help companies use biotechnology to develop their products and services.
Growing the Bioeconomy
The Bioeconomy Cluster Builder (BCB) is key to the delivery of the Scottish Government’s National Plan for Industrial Biotechnology. The plan aims to create an established bioeconomy encompassing over 220 companies with a combined turnover of £1.2billion by 2025.
A mature bioeconomy, that makes the most of Scotland’s natural and human resources, academic excellence and infrastructure, is vital to reducing our dependency on carbon intensive feedstocks. It makes our economy more resilient, efficient and sustainable.
What is biotechnology?
Biotechnology uses the metabolic processes of plants, fungi, algae and micro-organisms to create useful products and services. Traditional examples include the use of yeasts for baking and brewing, but biotechnology processes now produce a diverse range of high value products including biofuels, bioplastics and pharmaceuticals.
Watch our short explainer video below.
What is the bioeconomy?
The bioeconomy uses biotechnology and renewable biological resources to produce things like sustainable fuels, plastics, livestock feed and medicines. It encompasses an ever-expanding network of diverse stakeholders from industry, academia and beyond. Feedstocks for the bioeconomy come from a range of sources including agriculture, aquaculture, brewing and distilling co-products, forestry, food processing and municipal solid waste and carbon dioxide.