The Catalyst was set up in January 2014 to support UK researchers and companies to work together to bring their biotechnology innovations to market and to help cement the UK’s position as a world leader in this sector.

It is funded by Innovate UK, the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council and the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council.

Paper ‘crumble’, algae, seaweed and polyester

The funding will enable the winning projects to undertake feasibility studies and industrial research in a wide range of intriguing areas.
The Institute of Food Research is leading a feasibility study with partners Palm Paper Ltd, Vireol Bio-Industries plc, and Lenzing to investigate turning paper ‘crumble’ destined for the landfill into fermentable sugars.

The Integr-algal project led by Algaecytes Ltd partnered by the University of Nottingham, is exploring using algae to make ‘fish oil without the fish’.

Biome Technologies and the University of Liverpool are looking at the technical and commercial feasibility of manufacturing bio-based polyester from cellulose-based compounds.

The Sea Gas project, led by the Centre for Process Innovation is working on producing bio-methane fuel from seaweed by anaerobic digestion. Project partners include The Crown Estate, Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture, Queens University Belfast, and Newcastle University.

Merlin Goldman, lead technologist in high value manufacturing at Innovate UK, said: “The UK’s strength in industrial biotechnology and bioenergy is confirmed by this latest round of funded projects through the Industrial Biotechnology Catalyst.”

“The Catalyst provides valuable support for research organisations and industry to work together or individually, to create innovations in energy generation, novel materials and biological processes.”