Cash boost for UK bioprocessing

The private industry has been urged to join a public sector commitment fund in the UK to advance manufacturing R&D in bioprocessing, following the investment of approximately £9 million from two UK research councils.

The amount, provided by the UK's Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) and the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), has been committed to the second phase of the public–private partnership Bioprocessing Research Industry Club: BRIC 2. The first phase of BRIC established a coherent bioprocessing community in the UK; the second phase aims to increase the numbers of trained bioprocessing professionals.

"The BRIC programme not only provides funds for projects that are relevant for all companies developing and manufacturing biological medicines, but also has produced a stream of researchers with the skills that are much needed by the UK bioprocessing sector," Mark Bustard, Head of bioprocessUK — which strongly supports the investment —said in a press statement. "This is a unique activity within the UK that we aim to build on to increase competitiveness and innovation in the development of biological medicines."

In a separate press statement issued by the BBSRC, Celia Caulcott, Director for Innovation and Skills, said: "We have been running the first phase of the partnership since 2005 when we committed to investing a combined total of £14 million. I am proud to say we have 17 bioprocessing companies in the club. BRIC 2 will build on early successes, but needs the commitment of both existing and new companies in the sector."

www.bbsrc.ac.uk