Infrastructure
The growth of the UK’s vibrant ecosystem of engineering biology SMEs is limited by the infrastructure bottleneck.
‘Infrastructure’ refers to physical infrastructure, both for upstream and downstream processing, including pilot and scale up bioprocessing/fermentation facilities and specialist equipment, as well as analytics. These are needed during both R&D and commercial stages of a company’s development.
Our members report a lack of accessibility, availability and affordability of scale up infrastructure in the UK. This pushes the UK’s homegrown innovators to seek facilities abroad, depriving our economy of much needed growth.
We work closely with the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology to ensure that the UK’s infrastructure policy meets the needs of the biosolutions community.
Our recommendations
Increase accessibility of infrastructure for SMEs
To start up and to reach scale, biosolutions SMEs need access to costly infrastructure and specialist equipment.
Existing pilot and scale-up facilities need to be made more accessible through:
- better signposting
- financial assistance to support access
- incentives for universities and and other infrastructure holders to better share their facilities and make it easier for companies to enter agreements and negotiate rapid access.
Improve information around availability of open-access infrastructure
- Publish clear, comprehensive information on all open-access facilities, as well as private facilities accessible to SMEs.
- Include key details such as location, capabilities, equipment and capacity.
- Conduct a detailed assessment of UK open-access infrastructure alongside the needs of biosolutions start-ups and SMEs.
- Improve demand and supply signalling between SMEs and infrastructure providers.
- Use and expand publicly available databases, such as Pilots4U, to share and maintain this information.
- Use insights from this analysis to identify gaps and inform decisions on future large-scale infrastructure investment.
- Streamline and accelerate permitting processes for companies seeking to build their own scale-up infrastructure.
Provide public funding support to increase the affordability of existing infrastructure
Companies need funding support to access existing pilot and scale-up facilities in a cost-accessible way, including for upstream and downstream bioprocessing, and to access specialist equipment, noting that different sectors need different equipment.
Funding support is also needed for the continued running of existing facilities and the staff needed to support companies throughout the process.
A voucher or credit scheme, managed by IUK or an independent body, for companies to spend at vetted facilities could be trialled to support companies, and to stimulate demand and increase capacity in the system of infrastructure providers. The size of such vouchers or credits must cover the cost of access to and use of facilities for a given project.
Any funding mechanisms should take into account diverging needs in accessing infrastructure for established or standard scale-up techniques, versus entirely novel techniques.
Invest in UK-based scale-up infrastructure and skills to meet demand of SMEs
- To de-risk and incentivise private investment into biosolutions start-ups that otherwise could not generate proof of concept for their potential products, and enable them to scale in the UK.
- Government should invest in UK-based infrastructure where existing provision is identified as lacking or difficult to access by UK companies including, but not limited to, large-scale food-grade fermentation facilities for cultivated novel foods.
- It also must include financing of the highly skilled staff that are essential to running and maintaining such infrastructure and equipment.
- A sustainable pipeline of talent with technical skills must be supported, aided by sustainable immigration policies.
Influencing snapshots
BIA took part in a joint Government Office for Science (GO-Science) and DSIT workshop, in September 2024, on shaping the future of engineering biology in the UK. The workshop formed part of a series led by GO-Science to support a harmonised approach to strategic planning and capability assessment across the five frontier technologies, and directly informed the Sector Plan for Engineering Biology.
Joined by the Government Chief Scientific Advisor, Dame Angela McLean, the workshop explored the UK’s strengths, growth opportunities, national security implications, and innovation potential in engineering biology, and how it can deliver real-world impact. BIA emphasised the importance of increased investment into engineering biology startups to reach scale, enable routes to market for novel products through regulation, and investing into making scale-up infrastructure available and affordable.
Based on extensive member engagement, we published our policy recommendations to enable biosolutions companies to scale and succeed in the UK.
These recommendations indicate what public policy levers and Government support are needed to make significant progress for UK biosolutions. The paper was shared with over 300 policy makers from across Westminster, Whitehall and beyond, and was received with interest by key Government stakeholders, including Lord Willets (chair of RIO), Dame Angela McLean, (Chief Scientific Adviser) and Steve Yemm MP, which led to a meeting on 26 March 2025.
BIA is working with Government and our members to ensure that the recommendations are implemented.
On 10 April 2024, BIA met with the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) National Technology Advisor (NTA), Dr Dave Smith. The NTA’s role includes working closely with industry and academia to integrate their expertise with government and drive growth and innovation in the UK, including in the emerging engineering biology space.
At our meeting, we discussed the value of engineering biology and biosolutions companies to the UK, the importance of integrating engineering biology solutions into the Government’s environmental and growth ambitions, and the key enablers and barriers to companies’ success. This included the necessary regulatory, financial, and infrastructure levers that can aid companies’ scale-up.
