CPI is collaborator of choice for IB Catalyst Funding

Following the recent announcement from Business Secretary, Vince Cable, that £20 million will be invested into a series of innovative biotechnology projects, The Centre for Process Innovation (CPI) has confirmed it has been chosen as a delivery partner in over a quarter of the projects.

The 23 projects will share funds allocated from the Industrial Biotechnology Catalyst, a scheme introduced in January 2014 to support collaboration between UK researchers and the emergent industrial biotechnology sector*. Its primary aim is to ensure the UK cements its position as a global leader in this sector.

That CPI has been allocated a role in six projects reaffirms its position as a key partner within the UK biotechnology sector and that its success in helping to bridge the gap between innovation and commercialisation is fully recognised and supported.

The six projects that CPI will collaborate on include:

• Improved downstream operation through formulation innovation
• Bioplastic polymers based on aromatic dicarboxylic acids derived from lignin
• ALGIPRO – Alginates by Production Scale Fermentation and Epimerisation
• Combinatorial genome editing to create enhanced biomanufacturing platforms
• Biochemical production of succinic acid from biorefinery glycerol: De-risking, scale-up, and feasibility
• Driving down the cost of waste derived sugar

Nigel Perry, CEO, CPI said: ​“To be selected to partner in six of the 23 projects is testament to our proven track record in delivering tangible innovation in this field. Successful partnerships rely upon a collaborative approach and this is at the core of our innovation model. Our expertise lies in bringing partners and supply chains together effectively to take a new product to market, which in this instance will have a social benefit through the creation of a low carbon, resource efficient bioeconomy. We look forward to working with those companies and organisations we have been partnered with, and the successful delivery of our five projects.”

Speaking of the funding Vince Cable said: ​“Whether it’s developing new antibiotics or producing plastics from plants, this funding will help our talented researchers across the UK continue to bring their innovative ideas to market. The government is committed to supporting this emerging sector as part of our science and innovation strategy and this additional £20 million through the Industrial Biotechnology Catalyst will help cement the UK’s position as a world leader in this sector.”

The announcement follows the recent news that CPI will establish a new National Centre for Healthcare Photonics in NETPark, Co. Durham which will complement the National Biologics Manufacturing Centre in Darlington which is set to launch this summer. In addition CPI is developing plans to deliver the National Formulation Centre and the National Graphene Applications Centre.

*The Industrial Biotechnology Catalyst Scheme is funded by Innovate UK, The Biotechnology and Biosciences Research Council and the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council.