Industrial biotechnology
report sets vision for UK industry to maximise the opportunities in
a low carbon economy
DEPARTMENT FOR
BUSINESS, ENTERPRISE AND REGULATORY REFORM News Release (2009/163)
issued by COI News Distribution Service on 14 May 2009
The industry-led
Industrial Biotechnology Innovation and Growth Team (IB-IGT)
chaired by Ian Shott today published its report setting out its
vision for industrial biotechnology (IB) by 2025 and its
recommendations to Government and industry achieve this.
The IB-IGT vision for IB in the UK by 2025:
"Sees the power and benefits of IB being fully evidenced
across the UK chemical and chemical-using industries, driven by
coherent manufacturing, skills, environment and technology
policies, judicious investment, and a sense of urgency, to deliver
innovation, jobs and prosperity"
The IB-IGT's work over the last year has focused on how to
put the UK in the strongest possible position to gain maximum
benefits from the new strategic market in renewable chemicals, and
low-carbon manufacturing.
IB provides a sustainable, commercially viable route for the UK
out of dependence on fossil fuels. Furthermore, IB is also vital
to maintaining UK competitiveness in global markets, where
bio-based systems and processes are rapidly gaining strength and scale.
Robust estimates of the global IB market by 2025 range from £150
billion to £360 billion. Similar estimates for the UK IB market
range from £4 billion to £12 billion, with a favourable research
environment and technology development having a high likelihood of
pay-off in the future in the area of high-value low-volume chemicals.
The IB-IGT has looked at the whole business environment affecting
IB, with the full involvement across Government. It has worked
closely with key opinion leaders in industry and has identified
five critical recommendations that will ensure the UK is best
placed to translate the opportunities IB presents into
innovations, jobs and prosperity:
* Provide leadership to promote and connect IB activities across
all supply chains;
* De-risk access to new IB products,
processes and technologies;
* Accelerate the innovation and
knowledge transfer process for IB;
* Position IB to attract
and retain high quality scientists, engineers and managers;
and
* Create a truly supportive 'public' and
'business' environment for IB.
The Chair of the IB-IGT, Ian Shott, said:
"I have seen the various ebbs and flows of this technology
sector with market investment windows opening and closing over the
last three decades. However never have I been more certain that
the growing maturity of this technology, combined with its all
pervasive breadth, and ever increasing depth will ensure that it
makes a major contribution to the opportunities and challenges
facing the world as we strive for global sustainability."
Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise & Regulatory
Reform Lord Mandelson said:
"The Government welcomes this report, and it comes at an
opportune time as the Government focuses on building a low carbon
economy. Industrial biotechnology will be one of the strongest
driving forces behind the world's low-carbon revolution.
Offering businesses the capability to develop and use less carbon
intensive products and processes, whilst also reducing costs and
opening-up new, emerging and established markets."
Notes to editors
1. The industry-led Industrial Biotechnology Innovation and
Growth Team (IB-IGT), was set up by BERR to look into how
industrial biotechnology can improve the competitiveness of the
chemical and chemical-using industries.
2. The IB-IGT consists of over 80 senior representatives of the
UK Biotechnology, Chemical and Chemical Using industries.
3. The full IB-IGT report is available at: http://www.berr.gov.uk/files/file51144.pdf
4. Industrial Biotechnology is defined as - the use of biological
resources for producing and processing materials, chemicals and
energy - such resources include plants, algae, marine life, fungi
and micro-organisms.
5. Further supporting documents and evidence including an
economic analysis of IB and renewable chemicals are available on
the BERR website at: http://www.berr.gov.uk/whatwedo/sectors/chemicals/IBIGT/page44395.html
Department for Business, Enterprise & Regulatory
Reform
7th Floor, 1 Victoria Street, London SW1H 0ET
Public enquiries +44 (0)20 7215 5000
Textphone +44 (0)20 7215
6740 (for those with hearing impairment)
http://www.berr.gov.uk