NEW TECH FOODS

Scotland’s biotechnology sector has launched the country’s first open-access 300-litre fermenter, designed to help early-stage companies scale up the production of bio-based products.

Installed at FlexBIO – the Industrial Biotechnology Innovation Centre’s (IBioIC) scale-up facility at Heriot-Watt University – the new equipment was funded by an £847,000 grant from Scottish Enterprise.

The fermenter, a type of bioreactor used to grow microorganisms, increases IBioIC’s upstream bioprocessing capacity from 30 to 300 litres. It is intended to support start-ups in bridging the gap between lab-scale research and industrial-scale production, without the cost or disruption of acquiring the infrastructure themselves.

The facility was officially launched at an event attended by industry stakeholders at FlexBIO and the National Robotarium in Edinburgh.

Fermentation is a core step in bioprocessing and is used to create products ranging from cultivated meat and alternative proteins to sustainable fibres, natural dyes and pharmaceutical ingredients. Despite its potential, the scale-up stage remains a hurdle for many businesses due to high costs and limited access to technical expertise.

The new equipment is expected to help address these challenges by offering companies both physical and technical support at a critical stage of development.

Mark Bustard, CEO of IBioIC, said: “The new fermenter will provide a significant boost for Scotland’s bioeconomy, offering the vital scale-up infrastructure that many companies need to take the next step. It enables a smoother transition from lab research to industrial production, giving businesses greater confidence and credibility as they seek investment to scale. Beyond that, it also reinforces Scotland’s reputation as a hub for sustainable innovation and a leading destination for producing bio-based products and materials.”

Adrian Gillespie, CEO at Scottish Enterprise, added: “Providing access to cutting-edge equipment, like this fermenter, is a vital step in supporting Scotland’s bio-based manufacturers to reach their full potential. Using these facilities will help ambitious spinouts, start-ups and smaller companies to scale up, accelerating their journey from the lab to full-scale production. At Scottish Enterprise, we’re focused on helping more companies to scale, creating more high quality jobs and economic growth for Scotland.”

The fermenter also supports Scotland’s broader net zero ambitions, by promoting bio-based alternatives to traditional, petrochemical-based manufacturing.