Do you want to get access to funding of £15 million? Are you experiencing a barrier in your business that could be overcome using industrial biotechnology? Want to find out more?

A total of £15 million has been allocated to fund approximately 10 multidisciplinary networks focusing on a broad range of fundamental and strategic questions and challenges facing the Industrial Biotechnology and Bioenergy (IBBE) area.

These Networks for Industrial Biotechnology and Bioenergy (NIBB) will include academic and industrial participants and be technology based with a focus on biological processes.

If you would like to share the risk involved in technology development then register your interest in and participate in a network on the _connect Open Innovation website. Note that participation in the _connect BBSRC NIBB group is a prerequisite of submitting an outline application.

You will then have the opportunity to initiate or contribute to all relevant discussions.

In 2014 BBSRC will launch an IBBE Catalyst with initial funding for network members to support major integrated and collaborative research projects in IBBE derived from the networking activities.

Aims of NIBB

1. To build links between business and academia

2. To develop wider cross-sector collaborations with energy, technology, chemicals, life sciences and engineering

3. Establish UK as an internationally recognised partner of choice for industrial biotechnology and bioenergy and with world-leading capabilities in innovative research

4. To provide the resources to support proof of concept funding for a range of research projects identified by the networks, ultimately leading to more competitive, collaborative, cross-disciplinary and integrative research proposals to BBSRC and elsewhere

5. To encourage the interaction between the academic research base and technology-deploying, associated value-chain and end-user businesses, promoting the translation of research particularly involving genomic, systems and synthetic biology

6. To enable the supported networks to provide the leadership to develop, in collaboration with business, challenges to be addressed by the IB Catalyst fund

How to get involved

Step 1 - Register with _connect Open Innovation

Step 2 - Join the _connect BBSRC NIBB group

Step 3 - Join or initiate a network discussion

Step 4 - Once your discussions have led to an idea for a network, post your draft outline proposal application

Note: Participation in the _connect BBSRC NIBB group is a prerequisite to submitting an outline application.

The expansion of IBBE approaches and expertise will underpin the development of a sustainable UK Bioeconomy. This will have the potential to maintain future energy security, create innovative bio-based products, and increase the efficiency of a wide range of manufacturing processes, generating sustainable economic growth and creating jobs.

Closing date for expressions of interest 16th April 2013

Need more help?

For further information and to register, visit the _connect Open Innovation website

Contact Dr Michael Booth nibb@bbsrc.ac.uk