Agenda

Day 1 | Wednesday 12 March 2025

09.00 - 10.00 Registration

10.00 - 10.40 Opening Plenary

Welcome from Mark Bustard, CEO, IBioIC

Lord Vallance, Minister of State for Science, Research and Innovation

Jen Vanderhoven, COO, BBIA

Tony Heslop, EMEA Regional Lead Sustainability, BASF

Thanks to our Platinum sponsor

10.40 - 11.25 Partnering for success: the importance of collaborations across research, innovation and supply chains (Part 1)

Session lead: Liz Fletcher, Director of Operations, IBioIC  

Today's sessions will focus on the importance of collaborations across research, innovation and supply chains. In this session, we have two exciting case studies of successful collaborations across engineering biology and biotechnology.

Industry-Academia Partnerships for Sustainable Chemical Manufacture using Engineering Biology | Professor Stephen Wallace, Chair of Chemical Biotechnology and UKRI Future Leaders Fellow, University of Edinburgh

Engineering the future of fashion: biological dyes at scale  | Sophie Vaud, Head of the Microbial Engineering Division, Colorifix

Thanks to our Gold sponsor

11.25 - 11.55 Coffee break

Enjoy some refreshments while networking, browse the exhibitor stands on Levels 2 and 3, and visit the posters on Level 3 to speak to our students about their research.

Thanks to our Bronze Sponsor

11.55 - 13.40 Partnering for success: the importance of collaborations across research, innovation and supply chains (Part 2)

Session lead: Kim Cameron, Senior Impact Manager, IBioIC 

Clusters are recognised as critical drivers of regional success. In this session, we look at what we can learn from successful clustering initiatives focussed on specific feedstocks and regions, and how we can adapt and apply those ideas locally.

Creating Value Through Clusters: Seafood By-Product Insights from Iceland and Opportunities for Scotland

Chair: Donna Fordyce, Chief Executive, Seafood Scotland

  • Melanie Siggs, Director of the Global Seafood Alliance, Vice President of The Centre for Responsible Seafood, Ambassador for the Iceland Ocean Cluster,

  • Alastair Kennedy, Director, Lornal Consultancy

  • Craig Sterling, CEO, Marinatex; CTO, Salvortech

Launchpad for Biomanufacturing in Scotland - take off for cluster growth

Chair: John Hand, Specialist, Industrial Biotechnology Future Industry Team, Scottish Enterprise

In 2023, Scottish Enterprise, IBioIC and Forth Valley College won a £7.5M UKRI funded launchpad to grow the bio-based manufacturing cluster in Scotland. Here we offer you a taste of some of the exciting projects supported through Launchpad funding. 

13.40 - 15.00 Networking Lunch, poster observation, 1-1 meetings

Join our Copper sponsors in the foyer on Level 2 and the mezzanine on Level 3 for a buffet lunch and enjoy the opportunity to take part in informal networking.

Visit the poster zone on Level 3 to speak to our students about their work. Voting on posters will take place throughout the day with the winner announced at the end of Day 1.

Thanks to our Copper sponsor

15.00 - 15.55 Partnering for success: the importance of collaborations across research, innovation and supply chains (Part 3)

Celtic Clusters - Learning from best practice from biotech innovation cluster across Europe.

Chair: Keith Marin, Scottish International Trade Executive, Scottish Development International

Continuing our exploration of the value of clusters and activities across Europe, we have invited our colleagues from Spain, France and Ireland to share more about their activities and opportunities for collaboration.  

Bridging Academia and Industry: Fostering Skills and Innovation in Industrial Biotechnology.

This session will explore the pivotal role colleges can play in driving innovation within the industrial biotechnology sector. This session will delve into strategies for fostering collaboration between colleges and biotech companies, highlighting successful case studies and best practices. Participants will learn about:

  • Leveraging academic resources and expertise to solve real-world biotech challenges

  • Innovation vouchers and how they can support both workforce development and product, process and service development

  • Co-designing industry relevant curricula

Whether you’re an educator, researcher, or industry professional, this workshop will provide valuable insights and actionable strategies to enhance the synergy between colleges and the industrial biotechnology sector.

  • Shona Pettigrew, Director of Enterprise an Knowledge Exchange, Edinburgh College

  • Paul Fagan, Head of Enterprise and Employability, West College Scotland

15.55 - 16.40 Innovation Showcase

Session Lead:  Lynsey Blain, Senior Impact Manager, IBioIC  

Scotland has a rich supply of research and innovation, which is driving rapid growth of the bioeconomy. This session offers a taste of some of the exciting projects from researchers and entrepreneurs in industrial biotechnology. 

  • Peter Childs, Senior Lecturer, University of Strathclyde: MAINSTREAM Hub: Upscaling stem cell production to meet clinical demand

  • Marcos Valenzuela Ortega, University of Edinburgh: Microbial upcycling of PET waste into nylon precursors

  • Sander Nevejans, CEO, Seastex: Mussel Beard Recycling, Production & Products

  • Martin Currie, AMYBO: Sustainable Protein for All

  • Tim Eyes, Co-Founder and Chief Product Officer, Imperagen: At Imperagen we are transforming the speed of biocatalyst development through Digital Enzyme Evolution™ helping industry change for the better

  • Montella Simeon Gordon, X-Genix/ University of St Andrews: Precision Molecule Editing Accelerating Drug Discovery

16.40 - 16.50 Catherine Baker Memorial Prize Awards and Poster winner prizegiving

This year’s Catherine Baker Memorial Prize award winners, and the poster prize winner will be announced.

16.50 - 16.55 Day 1 wrap up

Chair: Mark Bustard, CEO IBioIC 

Mark will offer delegates a warm welcome to attend the Civic Reception at the stunning Glasgow City Chambers a short stroll from the conference venue. 

16.55 - 18.00

Networking and move to Civic Reception

18.00 - 20.00 Civic Reception, Glasgow City Chambers

All conference delegates are invited to join us for an informal networking evening in Glasgow’s spectacular City Chambers.

Day 2 | Thursday 13 March 2025

09.30 - 10.00 Morning Plenary

Chair: Sara Holland, UK and European Patent Attorney (Partner), Potter Clarkson

Peter Williams, Group Technology Director and Head Of Investor Relations, INEOS

20 years in Sustainable polymers: lessons learnt | Gert-Jan Gruter, CTO, Avantium

10.00 - 10.45 Innovation Showcase

Session Lead: Annelie Du Plessis, Senior Impact Manager, IBioIC

Scotland has a rich supply of research and innovation, which is driving growth of the bioeconomy. This second session offers more fast fire pitches from researchers and innovators in industrial biotechnology. 

  • Victoria Outram, Chancellor’s Fellow, Department of Chemical and Process Engineering, University of Strathclyde: A universal process transforming waste to bio-based chemicals

  • Matt Jones, Senior Lecturer, University of Glasgow: Vertical Farming Growing Smarter, Powering Greener

  • Dariusz Abramczyk, University of Edinburgh: Leveraging Stable Synthetic Nanochromosomes in Yeast for Humanised Glycoprotein Production

  • Alastair McGinness, Product Development Director, Fermtech: How can Scottish grains save the global cocoa crisis?

  • Christina Rode, founder, Hulk Bio: Unlocking the Future of Infant Nutrition with Cell-Based Human Milk

  • Evans Chelal, Founder and CEO, Vaste: Driving efficiency and transparency in the biomass feedstock supply chains

11.00 - 12.00 Workshops

An opportunity to choose one of several engaging interactive workshops run by our community. 

See details of the workshops

Booking is open for registered delegates on the conference app or contact ibioic@luxevents.co.uk for booking support.

Booking will close on 10 March 2025. 

12.00 - 13.00 Networking lunch

Enjoy a range of buffet options at the catering stations on Levels 2 and 3 while taking a final opportunity to relax and catch up with colleagues ahead of the afternoon session.

Thanks to our Copper sponsors

13.00 - 14.15 Getting to Market: branding, scaling up, and investment

Session Lead: Caroline Kewney, Senior Impact Manager, IBioIC

Day 2 offers an opportunity to explore how to take successful products to the marketplace. Our expert speakers explore how new regulations may impact claims you can make about your green products, the trials and tribulations of raising investment to scale manufacturing, and what to consider when marketing and branding your products.

Realising the future: from complexity to clarity. How brand narrative and strategic design can catalyse emergent technologies | Aoife Challis, Creative Lead and Simon Chuck, Associate Creative Director, New Territory

Panel session: Scaling up and securing investment

Chair: Alison Grieve, Editor at Young Company Finance Scotland. CEO & Inventor at G-Hold

Thanks to our Gold Sponsor

14.15 - 14.25 Closing remarks