UK to boost scale-up of biomanufacturing infrastructure

A report on engineering biology published by the House of Lords Engineering Biology Committee includes a number of recommendations from the Institution of Chemical Engineers (IChemE) that identify critical areas for further development of the field. While the US government recently reversed its prioritisation of engineering biology through an executive order, the UK has reaffirmed its 2022 commitment to engineering biology and biotechnology as a source of biotechnological production processes with high potential to reduce dependence on fossil resources.

Recommendations from the report include improving access to scale-up infrastructure through targeted funding, skills development, and better access to pilot-scale facilities.

By harnessing the power of synthetic biology, gene editing and biomolecular engineering, engineering biology has immense potential to transform industries by providing sustainable and resource-efficient solutions to societal challenges such as climate change, raw material resilience, food safety and self-sufficiency, and energy resilience, says IChemE. Bioengineering has applications in many sectors, including energy, environment, food, healthcare, and manufacturing.

IChemE’s evidence to the Committee highlighted the need for increased investment in scale-up processes and specialised expertise in chemical and bioprocess engineering. IChemE also called for better access to pilot-scale facilities and greater collaboration between academia and industry to turn early-stage innovation into commercially viable products.

According to Andrew Foster, IChemE’s Director of Strategic Partnerships and Impact, industry-academia collaborations such as the ‘Ready for Industry‘ programme and education programmes are key to establishing UK leadership in future manufacturing processes.

Independent technology innovation centres can play a key role in addressing these challenges, such as improved regulation, by providing key expertise and equipment, as well as driving regional growth in sectors such as biopharmaceuticals and sustainable food.

However, the financial self-sufficiency requirements of existing facilities often drive companies to move operations offshore. Adopting a funding model similar to Germany’s – where a significant proportion of the budget comes from industry and research projects – could help the UK better support its innovation hubs and ensure they remain at the forefront of this emerging field. This approach would also help protect the UK’s hard-won innovation and research investment from being lost to countries with more accessible scale-up opportunities.