‘At Croda we recognise that engineering biology is already becoming an important foundation for the transformation of multiple industries in the UK.’
The UK government has set out its National Vision for Engineering Biology. Backed by £2 billion in funding, the aim is to ‘harness the power of engineering biology to deliver new medical therapies, crop varieties, eco-friendly fuels and chemicals’.
The government said that the plans follow on from ‘extensive engagement with industry and stakeholders’ and ‘lays out the government’s strategy for turning [engineering biology] potential into concrete benefits for the economy…’ An Engineering Biology Steering Group, which is included as one of the six priorities, is also being launched, which will bring together policy makers, business leaders and innovators.
The £2 billion will be released over the next decade to fund research and development, along with the infrastructure needed to boost innovation and scale-up, as well as ensuring regulation helps products derived from engineering biology reach the market.
The government added that it would also focus on establishing the UK as a ‘world leader in responsible engineering biology innovation by 2030.’ There is also a focus on growing a diverse talent pool to match demand from academia and industry, covering scientific, technical and entrepreneurial skills.
The news was welcomed by Croda, with David Bishop, Investor Relations and Corporate Affairs Director at the company commenting: ‘At Croda we recognise that engineering biology is already becoming an important foundation for the transformation of multiple industries in the UK. From improving sustainability to underpinning innovative products and services, we expect it to influence the growth of the UK economy and therefore fully support the government’s decision to invest in its successful implementation.’
Andrew Griffith, Minister for Science, Innovation and Research said: ‘I am determined to ensure that the UK remains at the cutting edge of this exciting field. This £2 billion vision sets out how we will bring all the levers of investment, policy and regulation to bear in ensuring that safely and responsibly we seize the potential for engineering biology breakthroughs.’
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