The UK government has announced a new investment of £100 million to support the biotech sector, as part of its ambition to make the UK a science and technology superpower. The funding will be distributed among 22 projects and six mission hubs that will use engineering biology to tackle some of the world's biggest challenges, such as health, food, and environment.
Engineering biology is the application of engineering principles and tools to design and modify biological systems, such as cells, genes, and proteins. It has the potential to create new products and processes that can improve human health, enhance food security, and protect the planet.
The 22 projects will receive up to £5 million each to develop innovative solutions in areas such as synthetic vaccines, biodegradable plastics, and biofuels. The projects will involve collaborations between universities, research institutes, and businesses across the UK.
The six mission hubs will receive up to £10 million each to establish centres of excellence in engineering biology, and to deliver on specific missions that align with the UK's strategic priorities. The missions are:
• Pandemic Preparedness: to develop rapid and scalable platforms for vaccine and antibody production.
• Sustainable Agriculture: to create novel crops and livestock that can increase yield, resilience, and nutrition.
• Flood Protection: to engineer natural and synthetic materials that can prevent or mitigate flooding.
• Biomanufacturing: to harness biological systems for the production of chemicals, materials, and drugs.
• Biosecurity: to detect and counter biological threats, such as pathogens and invasive species.
• Bioinformatics: to develop computational tools and methods for analysing and designing biological systems.
The funding for the biotech sector is part of the £3.5 billion package that the government has allocated to the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT), which was created a year ago to drive the UK's science and technology agenda. The DSIT has also launched the Science and Technology Framework, which outlines the government's strategy and vision for investing in research and development, supporting start-ups and entrepreneurs, and fostering a pro-innovation culture in the public sector.