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ADBA welcomes funded AD research network

ADBA PRESS RELEASE

The Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council* (BBSRC) has today [18 Dec] announced that a proposal for a funded research network in AD, led by Professor Charles Banks at the University of Southampton and supported by ADBA has been successful.

The AD network is one of 13 unique collaborative ‘Networks in Industrial Biotechnology and Bioenergy’ (BBSRC NIBB) designed to boost interaction between the academic research base and industry, promoting the translation of research into benefits for the UK.

The networks pool skills from academia and business to develop research projects with the potential to overcome major challenges in the industrial biotechnology and bioenergy arena. Each network includes funds to support a range of small proof of concept research projects, to demonstrate potential commercial benefits. Research challenges and potential solutions will then be developed by the network and industry in tandem. It is envisaged that many of these ideas and collaborative links will build into the next phase: the Industrial Biotechnology Catalyst, funded by BBSRC, the Technology Strategy Board (TSB) and the EPSRC, to be launched in early 2014 to support the development of ideas from concept to commercialisation.

Welcoming the news Charlotte Morton, chief executive, ADBA, said:

It is truly excellent news that the significant contribution that anaerobic digestion could make to the UK bioeconomy – with good communication within and between academic and industrial communities – has been recognised by the BBSRC through the support of this network

 

This is a just reward for all the hard work that Professor Charles Banks, ADBA and others have been doing to foster communication between the industry and academic communities.

 

We will be working closely with Charles Banks as the AD Network is developed alongside ADBA’s own work on the R&D Strategy for AD.

These new schemes (BBSRC NIBB and the Industrial Biotechnology Catalyst) form the central part of BBSRC’s strategy to support the development of Industrial Biotechnology and Bioenergy (IBBE) as a key component of the UK bioeconomy and will help to provide sustainable processes for producing bio-based alternatives products which currently rely on petrochemicals.

More information on the 13 networks and their Directors can be found on the BBSRC website here

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