BITTS and pieces – targeted training for scaling biotech
Kirsty Neilson, Programme Manager at the Industrial Biotechnology Innovation Centre (IBioIC), explains why she has just launched a new programme – Biotech Innovators: Train to Scale – offering a specialist business support programme for budding bioentrepreneurs.
As many founders quickly find, industrial biotechnology has its unique challenges – from sourcing perishable feedstock to fermentation in vast volumes. Most business accelerators do not provide the specialist support these bioentrepreneurs need to weather the ‘valley of death’ that often leads to the demise of otherwise good ideas. To address this gap in support, IBioIC has created a more tailored training programme called Biotech Innovators: Train to Scale (BITTS).
IBioIC, in partnership with Scottish Enterprise and Forth Valley College, operates as the Cluster Management Organisation (CMO) for Scotland’s bio-based manufacturing cluster, which was recently supported by a UKRI Innovate UK £7.5 million Scottish Launchpad award. As the CMO Programme Manager, I provide a range of bespoke support and training opportunities to Launchpad award beneficiaries, start-ups and bioentrepreneurs in the sector.
My own journey as the first employee at a biotech start-up has helped me shape the training programme to meet the very specific challenges facing SMEs in this diverse sector. Moving straight from university into a start-up was a baptism of fire: over the following 12 years, I had to wear a lot of new hats, from setting up a pilot plant and laboratory, leading R&D projects, and scaling our technology. This was bewildering and often stressful, as it was often difficult to know even what questions to ask and who to contact. I believe my experience ensures BITTS equips SMEs with a broad understanding of what they need to know to build a successful bio-based business.
Our first BITTS cohort started this week with a cohort of 7 company founders. Their innovations are exciting and very diverse, from a non-invasive bioreactor monitoring system, tailored seaweed nanocellulose materials, biobased elastane, and the world’s first biotechnology-derived wildfire retardant!
The training starts with IBioIC’s bespoke virtual business game, followed by 13 modules of interactive training from experts and (importantly) real-world case studies. The course covers some of the usual business topics but importantly focuses on more specialist subjects such as technoeconomic and life cycle analysis, developing routes to market, how to build a pilot facility, and the challenges of scale-up. The programme includes pitch training for an Investor Showcase in November.
Scaling up a process to generate an industry-ready process that can make a cost-competitive final product is challenging and a common point of failure in biotech. One of the real benefits that IBioIC brings is its FlexBIO bioprocess scale-up facility based at Heriot Watt University. FlexBIO offers a wealth of technical expertise, advice, training and support for scale up to 300L volumes to accelerate innovation.
Our ambition for BITTS is to equip the next generation of bioentrepreneurs and growing companies with the skills, tools and networks to navigate these complex but nuanced biobusiness challenges. This will increase their confidence and their chances of scaling. Indeed, it’s the scale where the UK fails! We hope that BITTS will be part of the solution.
BITTS is funded by the UKRI Innovate UK Launchpad CMO award to IBioIC and partners. The programme is currently in ‘prototype stage’ and targeting Scottish businesses in the first two cohorts but with ambition to roll out across the UK therafter.
Beyond BITTS, IBioIC offers broad support to the sector in Scotland and beyond. Established in 2014, the Centre is a European centre of excellence connecting industry, academia, and government to drive industrial biotechnology. With over 380 industry members—mostly SMEs—it is a key driver of Scotland’s National Plan for Industrial Biotechnology.
