Engineering biology holds immense promise in addressing global challenges such as healthcare, environmental sustainability, and food security. Imperial College London is advancing this field through a new programme designed to foster collaboration between academics and industry. This initiative has received a £3 million investment from UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), aiming to bridge the gap between research and commercialization.
The programme, which is currently open for applications, will be managed through the SynbiCITE Innovation and Knowledge Centre (IKC) at Imperial’s White City DeepTech Campus. The initiative provides access to cutting-edge facilities like The London Biofoundry, offering a range of equipment and training to accelerate the development of engineering biology projects.
Successful applicants will be those whose projects demonstrate significant commercial potential and have progressed to a stage where further validation—be it technical, market, or commercial—is necessary to attract investment or industry partnerships. This ‘proof of concept’ initiative will help move innovative ideas from the lab to market, making them more viable for investors and product development.
Professor Richard Kitney, Chair of BioMedical Systems Engineering at Imperial, highlighted the importance of engineering biology in solving global challenges and stimulating economic growth. He pointed to successful startups like Multus Media, Colorifix, and LabGenius, which emerged from Imperial’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, showcasing the UK’s success in nurturing synthetic biology startups.
Science Minister Lord Vallance emphasized the transformative potential of engineering biology, noting its applications in healthcare, sustainable energy, and the economy. He stressed the government’s commitment to supporting this field, which he believes could significantly improve national resilience and drive economic growth. The funding from UKRI aims to support innovators in translating their breakthroughs into market-ready solutions.
Dr. Kedar Pandya, UKRI’s Senior Responsible Owner for the Technology Missions Fund, echoed these sentiments, calling engineering biology a critical technology for the UK’s future. He pointed out that the field has the potential to generate billions of dollars globally in the coming decade, addressing key challenges while providing substantial economic benefits to the UK.
This programme is a step forward in ensuring that the transformative potential of engineering biology is fully realized, benefiting both the UK and global communities by addressing critical issues across health, sustainability, and the economy.