The BBSRC have announced that sixteen projects have received a share of £17M to bring innovative biotechnology concepts to market. These projects have been funded under Round 4 of the Industrial Biotechnology Catalyst and they focus on a wide range of products from creating new drugs from bacteria, to increasing yields in the production of platform sugars from municipal solid wastes (MSW). The IB Catalyst has invested over £75M in four rounds and has helped create jobs, drive new technologies and promote academic and industrial collaborations to translate research into commercial reality. More information can be found in the complete BBSRC press release here.
Registraton open: Value Chain of Waste & Bio-resources, Manchester 30 Jun-1 Jul
The BBSRC Integrated Biorefining Research and Technology club (IBTI) and Networks in Biotechnology and Bioenergy (BBSRC NIBB), including ADNet, FoodWasteNet, LBNet and P2P, are hosting a FREE event focussed on addressing issues with the value chain of waste and bio-resources as feedstocks, at the Portland Hotel, Manchester on 30th June-1st July 2016. We will be discussing topics underpinning the value chain of waste feedstocks, particularly aiming to assess the value chain from all perspectives; from the feedstock to the end-product end of the value chain, as well as capturing novel technologies for the future and the challenges with respect to policy and regulation in the utilisation of waste feedstocks. This event will provide a brilliant opportunity to identify and highlight the major roadblocks in utilising waste and bioresource feedstocks and allow for right communities to combine their thoughts and efforts in order to tackle these issues.
This event has a maximum capacity and therefore a limited number of spaces are available. Should the number of applicant registrations exceed the maximum attendance, the registrations will be assessed in order to ensure that the most suitable audience is invited to attend.
Registration is available via the following link, https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/WVKVD3V. Registration will close at midnight on the 06/06/2016 and attendance will be confirmed by 10/06/2016.
Posters and flash presentations
All applicants are welcomed and encouraged to apply for one of our flash and/or poster presentation spaces. All details regarding these are included in the registration link above.
Bursary placements
Please inform colleagues who may be interested in the following.
The bursary placement scheme aims to allow academics who are not members of IBTI to attend a Dissemination Event and covers cost of attendance at the event (excluding travel). This is available to individuals who can benefit from interaction with the IBTI community and who also have a contribution to make. We would in particular like to invite academics who have engaged or attempted to engage with the community. Recipients will present a poster of relevant research and present a 2 minute poster flash to introduce themselves and their interests.
To apply for an IBTI bursary placement please use the following link, in addition to the event registration above, https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/WC36NMS. Registration for bursary applications will close at midnight on the 06/06/2016.
Round 4 of the Energy Catalyst Now Open
We have not yet heard any further news on the next round of Industrial Biotechnology Catalyst award (see our news here), but Round 4 of the Energy Catalyst is now open. In most cases, Anaerobic Digestion is not applicable to the Energy Catalyst, but proposed solutions can focus on any part of the energy trilemma. Eligibility criteria and further information can be found here.
Note that registration for mid- and late-stage awards closes on 8 Jun 16, with the early-stage award deadline being 7 Sep 16.
ATBEST Conference, Linkoping, Sweden – 7/8 September 2016
ATBEST – Advanced Technologies for Biogas Efficiency, Sustainability and Transport – is hosting an international conference at Linköping Concert and Congress to explore how we can maximise the efficiency and sustainability of the Biogas supply chain.
The conference will comprise presentations from leading academics and industry experts on the following topics:
- Feedstocks and digestion
- Process monitoring
- Upgrading and supply
- Optimum biogas utilisation
The 2 day programme will also include delegate presentations, networking opportunities and an industry led workshop focusing on the biogas market for the future.
Those interested in presenting will be invited to submit their abstracts in early 2016. Deadline for submissions will be 30 April 2016.
For further information please register your interest with the ATBEST team atbest@qub.ac.uk
Funded by the European Union, the ATBEST Marie Curie ITN is a collaboration between eight partners located in the UK, Ireland, Germany and Sweden. The project tackles several key research challenges along the biogas supply chain, improving its competitiveness with respect to fossil derived fuels and increasing the sustainability of the biogas industry in Europe.
Learn more about the ATBEST project at www.atbest.eu
Funding Opportunities: Spending review announces Global Challenges Research Fund
AD Network members may be interested in a new £1.5 bnGlobal Challenges fund announced in the latest spending review (pages 35 & 54). The fund is allocated over the next 5 years to ensure that UK science takes a leading role in addressing the problems faced by developing countries whilst developing our ability to delivery cutting-edge research.
The exact nature of the funding streams has not been defined, but it is clear that there will be opportunities for UK industrial biotechnology and bioenergy (IBBE) expertise to be applied to these challenges. We will keep you updated with any developments.
Help needed – Academic experts in wastewater treatment
Mark Scaife is a principal scientist at Mara Renewables Corporation (http://Maracorp.ca) who in partnership with Algal Omega 3 are producing omega-3 fatty acids via microalgal fermentation, in Liverpool. This produces large volumes of waste water rich in sulphates, phosphates and protein.
They are looking for academics who would be keen to apply their knowledge to jointly develop a solution to this waste water challenge, ideally through a BIV bid, in the first instance. Interested parties can contact Mark at mscaife@maracorp.ca
International Energy Agency report on small scale anaerobic digestion released
Task 37 of the International Energy Agency has just published a report entitled ‘Exploring the viability of small scale anaerobic digesters in livestock farming’ written by AD Network member Dr Clare Lukehurst, OBE and AD Network co-manager Angela Bywater.
The report explores the viability of small scale anaerobic digestion for livestock farming where there is a need to deal with animal manure and slurry in a manner that minimises the emission of greenhouse gases. Dairy farming for example, is dominated by small herds of animals, the slurry from which must be managed efficiently for the farm and to maintain high standards of health. AD is an acknowledged technology for farming operations that
affords a high standard of manure management, the production of high quality biofertiliser and also the possibility of generating energy for own use as well as export.
The report is aimed at farmers, as well as energy policy and decision makers and can be downloaded from the IEA Task 37 website here.
CONSULTATION – EU Sustainable Bioenergy Policy post-2020. Your parcipation needed
We would like to notify all AD Network members of the above EU consultation which closes on 10 May 16.
This is designed to consult stakeholders and citizens on an updated EU policy on sustainable bioenergy for the period 2020-2030, as part of the EU renewable energy package.
More information can be found on the consultation website.
SINAL Bio-Industrial Event, Chalons-en-Champagne, 24-25 May 16
The UK Trade and Industry team in Lyon is happy to partner with ABE events and bring you to the 8th edition of the SIÑAL EXHIBITION which will be held 24 & 25 May 2016 in Châlons-en-Champagne: www.sinal-exhibition.eu A special delegate package is on offer – see details here.
Every year, thanks to an effective business meeting system, SIÑAL EXHIBITION brings together professionals, academics and researchers around topics such as BIOBASED MATERIALS, PLANT-BASED CHEMISTRY AND BIOENERGY
- 300 participants gathered over 2 days
- More than 2,000 pre-planned business meetings arranged to identify commercial and technological opportunities
- 18 conferences and roundtables to get informed on the latest trends and news
- Innovative companies awarded by two innovation prizes
Conferences last 25 minutes, with 10 minutes for Q&A. There are a wide variety of proposed conference themes, but those that might interest AD Network members include:
- What strategies and approaches for launching biosourced products
- The R&D route to industialisation : opportunities and leverage, restraints and costs
- Construction and biosourced materials : the market and perspectives
- Bio refineries : state of the art and industrial deployment in Europe
- Bio refineries: what are the perspectives for today and tomorrow
- Public/private relationships : what are the partnership possibilities for funding collaborative European projects ?
- The bio-energy sectors : what perspectives ?
- Lignins and their potential in the short, middle and long term
How does it work? :
- Take a few minutes to fill out the registration form online with a description of your skills, fields of application; OR your needs and the knowledge you are looking for.
- Three weeks before the event, you access to the online catalogue with the profiles of all participants. You identify and request meetings with relevant contacts.
- Our team sets-up your individual schedule in accordance with your selection and availability. You can consult it online and thus prepare for your meetings before the event.
SEE THE 2015 PARTICIPANTS’ LIST
Free analysis – Anaerobic Digestion Science meets Industry, 10 May 16, University of Warwick
This FREE event will bring together AD users and scientists. Come and enjoy interesting talks, hear from experts on the AD process, participate in an open discussion session and hear how you can take part in our initiative to monitor AD microbiomes!
There will be talks from the following acadmics and industry people:
Prof Charles Banks – University of Southampton
Prof Tom Curtis – University of Newcastle
Prof Angus Buckling – University of Exeter
Dr Phil Hobbs – Anaerobic Analytics
Angus Browne – G’s Fresh
Bring a sample from your digester to the meeting and we will analyse it’s microbial profile for FREE!
If you are a member of the Anaerobic Digestion Network and need help with travel costs, we can provide funding of up to £100 to attend.
To REGISTER, visit http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/go/adevent