A refreshed National Plan for Industrial Biotechnology, prepared by the Industrial Biotechnology Innovation Centre (IBioIC) on behalf of Scottish Enterprise, has been launched by Alyn Smith MSP, Minister for Innovation, Technology and Tertiary Education, at the Scottish Biobased Manufacturing Launchpad Showcase.

The refreshed National Plan for Industrial Biotechnology 2030 outlines the actions needed to accelerate innovation, support commercial scale-up, strengthen domestic supply chains and drive further growth across Scotland’s bioeconomy. Targets include increasing the number of active industrial biotechnology companies to 220, growing the sector’s turnover to £2 billion, supporting more than 5,500 jobs and raising gross value added (GVA) to £650 million.

The strategy comes as countries around the world invest in bio-based manufacturing and engineering biology to strengthen supply chains, reduce emissions and accelerate the transition to more sustainable industries.

Since the first National Plan was published in 2013, Scotland’s industrial biotechnology sector has demonstrated promising growth despite economic and geopolitical headwinds. The number of active companies has increased from 43 to more than 175, while sector turnover has risen from £189 million to more than £1.6 billion (2023, the most recent ONS data). The industry now employs more than 4,500 people and contributes more than £500 million in gross value added (GVA) to the Scottish economy.

Recent examples of the sector’s growth and momentum include MiAlgae progressing at pace with construction of its large-scale Omega 3 production facility at Grangemouth, alongside innovative companies such as Seastex, Vaste and LiYF Bioethanol choosing Scotland as a base for their operations. Together, they demonstrate Scotland’s growing appeal as a location for industrial biotechnology businesses, underpinned by world-class research, collaborative networks and support for innovation and scale-up.

Delivery of the Plan will involve collaboration across government, industry, academia, investors and enterprise agencies. Key actions include the creation of an industry-led Taskforce for industrial biotechnology (IB), an online platform connecting innovators with specialist expertise and facilities, and an IB Skills Observatory developed alongside Skills Development Scotland, universities and colleges to track workforce needs.

Priorities include improving access to scale-up infrastructure, strengthening domestic supply chains, attracting greater private investment, developing future workforce skills and creating a more supportive environment for innovation and commercialisation. Stakeholders across the sector, including IBioIC, will play a role in supporting delivery of these initiatives.

Alyn Smith MSP, Minister for Innovation, Technology and Tertiary Education, said: “Industrial biotechnology represents one of Scotland’s most exciting opportunities for sustainable economic growth, delivering innovation that supports sectors like food and drink, agriculture and pharmaceuticals to reduce emissions, decarbonise processes, and use resources more efficiently.

“The leadership and expertise of the Industrial Biotechnology Innovation Centre have been instrumental in supporting businesses to innovate and scale. The refreshed National Plan renews our collective ambition for the industrial biotechnology sector, and the Scottish Government’s determination to work with businesses to unlock growth opportunities and strengthen our competitive edge globally.”

Mark Bustard, CEO at the Industrial Biotechnology Innovation Centre, said: “Scotland’s industrial biotechnology sector has come a long way since 2013, growing despite a challenging economic and geopolitical backdrop. We’ve built a strong foundation, but scaling up remains one of the biggest challenges facing many companies. They need access to facilities where they can prove their processes at commercial scale, investors who understand the sector, and reliable supply chains.

“The opportunity ahead is significant, but it will take continued collaboration across industry, academia, investors and government to make the most of it. This Plan gives us a clear set of priorities to work towards together and build on the progress the sector has already made.”

Adrian Gillespie, Chief Executive of Scottish Enterprise, said: “Scotland has built a dynamic industrial biotechnology ecosystem, with world-class research, ambitious businesses and strong partnerships helping to turn innovation into economic opportunity. The refreshed National Plan sets out a clear roadmap for the next phase of growth, focused on scaling companies, attracting investment and strengthening the infrastructure and skills needed for long term success.

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“The Launchpad Showcase event brought this ambition to life. Through our partnership with IBioIC, Innovate UK and Forth Valley College we’ve helped secure £7 million of investment across more than 30 projects, supporting businesses to develop the next generation of sustainable products and manufacturing technologies. Scottish Enterprise is committed to helping these companies scale, compete internationally and create high-value jobs and economic success for Scotland.”

The National Plan was launched at the Scottish Biobased Manufacturing Launchpad Showcase, which celebrates the progress being made across Scotland’s bioeconomy cluster. In 2023, Scotland’s industrial biotechnology cluster was awarded £7 million through the UKRI Innovate UK Launchpad programme, recognising the country’s strengths in industrial biotechnology and biobased manufacturing. Delivered by Scottish Enterprise, IBioIC and Forth Valley College, the programme has since supported 32 projects involving 30 SMEs, helping companies develop new technologies, secure investment and accelerate commercialisation.

Supporting commercial scale-up is a central ambition of the refreshed Plan. Existing assets such as IBioIC’s FlexBIO facility already provide businesses with access to specialist scale-up expertise, while future developments including the Grangemouth Sustainable Manufacturing Campus will further strengthen Scotland’s infrastructure for industrial biotechnology. Supported by £20 million through the Falkirk and Grangemouth Growth Deal, the Campus is set to anchor future bio-based manufacturing growth and commercial scale-up activity.

Progress against the National Plan’s 2030 targets will be tracked through an annual IB Dashboard, developed by the industry-led IB Taskforce and its stakeholders.