Angela Bywater

Funding available for SME’s: SuperBIO and BioBase4SME

SME? You still have a year to access the services of SuperBIO (H2020 funded) and BioBase4SME (Interreg funded). Services offered include market research, techno-economic assessment, feedstock analysis, business plan development, LCA, regulatory appraisal and process scale-up testing (both on chemical processes and IB processes, including high throughput strain engineering and process optimisation).

Through those two programs, SMEs in Europe can access services up to a value of:

€ 100,000 (with a SME cofunding share in cash of max. 50% from the SME) via BioBase4SME
€ 60,000 (with a SME cofunding share in cash of max. 25% from the SME) via SuperBIO

See: http://www.h2020-superbio.eu and http://www.nweurope.eu/projects/project-search/bio-innovation-support-for-entrepreneurs-throughout-nwe-regions/ .

AD Network’s December 2017 Event and training roundup

There are a vast number of great events on offer over the next few months. The AD Network has our “Valorisation of Animal By-Products” event for both researchers and industry who are interested in ways of creating value from such products. The event is at Longleat Forest, Warminster, Wiltshire on 7 Mar 18 and will be followed by an optional visit to Malaby Biogas where they put animal by-products through anaerobic digestion. Register here.

ALGAEUROPE 2017, Berlin. 5-7^th December 2017. This will be a unique opportunity for all stakeholders to be up-dated on the recent industrial developments in the field with an overview of European initiatives. Keynote presentations and panel discussion will provide a high quality forum for discussion and information exchange. See: http://algaeurope.org/conference-program-2017/ .
The European Mineral Fertilizer Summit, Amsterdam. 6-7^th December 2017. See: www.wplgroup.com/aci/event/european-mineral-fertilizer-summit/ .
BioBase4SME Workshop: LCA – wanted, needed, but truly understood? Düsseldorf, 7^th December 2017. See: http://www.nweurope.eu/projects/project-search/bio-innovation-support-for-entrepreneurs-throughout-nwe-regions/events/biobase4sme-workshop-lca-wanted-needed-but-truly-understood/ .
HVCfP: Introduction to Drug Discovery, University of York. 11^th December 2017. See: https://hvcfp.net/events/introduction-to-drug-discovery/ .
Biochemical Society training day: Shaping your career in molecular biosciences: taking a wider view, Queen Mary University of London. 15th January 2018. See: www.biochemistry.org/Events .
Phyconet: UK Microalgal Biotechnology: Creating A Unified Vision, Cambridge. 1^st February 2018. See: http://www.phyconet.org.uk/event/uk-microalgal-biotechnology-creating-unified-vision .
Biogaz Europe 2018, Nantes, France.7/8^th February 2018. See: https://biogaz-europe-2018.b2match.io/ .
HVCfP: “Plant cell cultures: production of high value chemicals”, Edinburgh. 28th February 2018. See: https://hvcfp.net/events/plant-cell-cultures/ .
2nd International Conference on Marine Biomass as Renewable Energy, Glasgow. 5-6^th March 2018. See: www.asranet.co.uk/Conferences/MBRE .
Crossing Biological Membranes – Introduction to Industrial Biotechnology – Short Course, CPI. 6-8^th March 2018. Registration Closes 15th December 2017. See: http://cbmnetnibb.group.shef.ac.uk/events/crossing-biological-membranes-introduction-to-industrial-biotechnology-short-course-2/ .
The Industrial Biotechnology Forum 2018, TUM, Garching, Germany. 13-14^th March 2018. See: http://ibf-conference.org/ .
ChemEng Day UK 2018: Molecules to Manufacturing, University of Leeds. 27/28^th March 2018. See: http://www.chemengdayuk.co.uk/ .
HVCfP: “Application of industrial biotechnology to the identification and recovery of high value products from plant waste material”, Colworth Park, Bedfordshire. 10th April 2018. See: https://hvcfp.net/events/application-of-ib-to-high-value-products-from-plant-waste/ .
The Microbiology Society Annual Conference 2018, ICC Birmingham. 10-13^th April 2018. See: www.microbiologysociety.org/event/annual-conference/annual-conference-2018.html .
IBIC 2018, Venice. 15-18th April 2018. See: http://www.aidic.it/ibic2018/venue.php .
The Astbury Conversation, Leeds. 16-17^th April 2018. The second biennial Astbury Conversation aims to bring together leading researchers from across the globe to discuss the most recent progress in the field of structural molecular biology in its broadest sense. See: www.astburyconversation.leeds.ac.uk .
The 11th annual International Biomass Conference & Expo, Atlanta, GA. 16/18^th April 2018. See: http://www.biomassconference.com/ema/DisplayPage.aspx?pageId=The_Conference .
The EFB Microbial Physiology Section 4^th Microbial Stress meeting, Kinsale, Ireland. 23-25^th April 2018. See: http://www.efb-central.org/index.php/microbial_stress/ .
The 5th International Conference on Renewable Energy Gas Technology, REGATEC 2018, Toulouse, France – 3/4^th May 2018. See: http://regatec.org/ .
EUBCE – 26^th World Biomass Conference and Exhibition, Copenhagen, Denmark. 14-18^th May 2018. See: http://www.eubce.com
14th International Conference on Renewable Resources and Biorefineries, Ghent, Belgium. 30^th May – 1^st June 2018. See: http://www.rrbconference.com/welcome .
18th European Congress on Biotechnology, Geneva, Switzerland. 1-4^th July 2018 See: http://www.ecb2018.com/abstracts/submission-guidelines .
7th EuCheMS Chemistry Congress – Molecular frontiers & global challenges, Liverpool. 26–30^th August 2018. The deadline for submission of oral abstracts will be 29 January 2018 and for posters will be 16 April 2018. See: www.euchems2018.org .
GlycoBioTechnology 2018, Manchester. 3-4^th September 2018.See: http://ibcarb.com/events/#upcomingevents .
BioProNET’s 5^th Annual Science Meeting, London. 10-11^th October 2018. BioProNET’s flagship Annual Science Meeting will be held on October 10-11th 2018 at British Medical Association House, Central London. See: http://biopronetuk.org/category/events/ .

Courses

EMBL COURSE: Microbial Communities: Modelling Meets Experiment, Heidelberg, Germany 3 – 7^th December 2018. See: www.embl.de/training/events/ .

Free on-line courses are gaining in popularity and a great way to get a taster of a related field. Why not check out Futurelearn? Courses include Biochemistry: the Molecules of Life; Energy, the Environment and Our Future; Elements of Renewable Energy; Climate Change: The Science…See: www.futurelearn.com

Funding Roundup – December 2017

APEX Awards

The APEX award scheme offers established independent researchers, with a strong track record in their respective area, an exciting opportunity to pursue genuine interdisciplinary and curiosity-driven research to benefit wider society. See: www.royalsociety.org/grants-schemes-awards/grants/apex-awards/ .

Deadline: 14^th December 2017.

Royal Society Research Grants

This scheme provides seed-corn funding for early-career scientists for research within the Society’s remit in the life and physical sciences. Grants are worth up to £20,000 each over one year. Closing Date: 19^th December 2017. See: https://royalsociety.org/grants-schemes-awards/grants/research-grants/ .

ERC Consolidator Grant

Worth a look whilst they are still available. See: https://erc.europa.eu/funding/consolidator-grants . Deadline: 15th February 2018.

David Clarke Fellowship

The David Clarke Fellowship is co-funded by the Energy Technologies Institute (ETI) and

Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC). At least one fellowship will

be awarded per year. The research focus of the fellowships must be interdisciplinary across the Energy theme See: www.epsrc.ac.uk/files/skills/david-clarke-fellowship/ .

Don’t forget about the AD Network’s Business Interaction Vouchers (closes: 31 Dec 17) and our final Proof of Concept (closes: 15 Jan 18). More information on our website.

The Rank Prize

Are you working in crop science? The Rank Prize offers opportunities for support like their Travel awards £7,500 (Deadline: 29^th January 2018) and Vacation Scholarships £2,500 (Deadline: 14^th February 2018). See: http://www.rankprize.org/ .

ADBA Best Practice Scheme

ADBA have open access to their Best Practice Scheme (BPS). These checklists on Risk Management, Procurement and Operational Performance encourage operators to ask the right questions as part of their procurement processes. See: http://adbioresources.org/our-work/best-practice-scheme/best-practice-checklists/. For more information on this, as well as a great line-up of industry speakers, register to attend the ADBA National Conference.

AD Network Training Roundup – Oct 17

Cogent Skills: Increasing Methane Yields; understanding the science behind anaerobic digestion, South East – 7/11 or 13/12 2017. See: http://www.cogentskills.com/courses/technical-courses-industrial-biotechnology/anaerobic-digestion/ .
IBBK Biogas Training: International BIOGAS HANDS ON, Enniskillen – 22/24^th November 2017.3-day In-depth course. Special focus on biowaste fermentation and gas treatment for direct feed into the natural gas grid. See: http://www.ibbk-biogas.de/en-gb/hands-on-oct-2017-ireland.
AquaEnviro courses from www.aquaenviro.co.uk/events/training/

Odour management: An introduction to odour regulation, assessment and control. 6^th December 2017, Aqua Enviro Event Suite, Wakefield

Phosphorus Removal and Tertiary Treatment Processes. 7^th December 2017, Aqua Enviro Training Suite, Wakefield

Design of Activated Sludge Systems. 20^th February 2018, Aqua Enviro Training Suite, Wakefield

Operation & Control of Activated Sludge Plants. 21^st February 2018, Aqua Enviro Event Suite, Wakefield

Microscopic Examination for the Operation & Control of Wastewater Treatment Plants. 22^nd February 2018, Aqua Enviro Training Suite, Wakefield

Digester operation and making the most of the digestate. 24/25^th April 2018 Wakefield

Advanced Training Partnerships, January 2018.

Online Training for Biotech Industries via Industrial Biotechnology Distance Learning.

Next modules start January 2018. See: http://www.ind-biotech.com/ .

~Biorenewable Feedstocks

~Biorefining Technologies

~Carbon Footprinting and Life Cycle Assessment

~Drivers of the Bio-economy

~Waste Stream Valorisation

~Genetics and Genomics

~Biobased Product Development

~Climate Change

On- Farm Anaerobic Digestion (AD), May 2018

This 12 week module will explore the role of anaerobic digestion (AD) as an important technology to improve the sustainability of the food production system. See: http://www.atp-pasture.org.uk/en/study-options/distance-learning-modules/anaerobic-digestion-ad-distance-learning-course .

The Biovale Special Interest Group are running a learning event “Focus on Feedstock” on 1 Nov 17 in York

AD Network – Funding Roundup – Oct 17

Supergen Bioenergy Hub Flexible Funding 2017 – Closes 22 Nov 17. £100K available to support up to 4 projects on Supergen Themes, plus £75 for projects which target priorities of the low carbon fuels strategy of the DfT. See the Supergen website.

The Royal Society Entrepreneur in Residence (EiR) scheme aims to increase the knowledge and awareness in UK Universities of cutting edge industrial science, research and innovation. Worth £40K each over two years, there are 10 on offer. Deadline: 4^th January 2018

See: https://royalsociety.org/grants-schemes-awards/grants/entrepreneur-in-residence/ .

Royal Academy of Engineering: Industry-Academia Partnership – Colombia, India, Indonesia, South Africa and Thailand. Dealine: 27^th November 2017

See: http://www.raeng.org.uk/grants-and-prizes/international-research-and-collaborations/newton-fund-programmes/industry-academia-partnership .

AD Publications of Interest

The World Biogas Association provide access to a range of information ranging from current market reports to “A critical review of the VFA/TA (FOS/TAC) method”. See: http://www.worldbiogasassociation.org/ .

Keep up to date with a host of recent AD publications from the Research Group at Southampton University via their BORRG page. See: http://www.bioenergy.soton.ac.uk/publications.htm

Who’s who. An overview of the state of AD research across Europe unsurprisingly highlights Germany as the lead for papers whilst the Technical University of Denmark stands out as the highest publishing institution. But how did the UK fare…

Technology overview of biogas production in anaerobic digestion plants: A European evaluation of research and development. Rafaela Lora Grando, et al. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews 80: 44-53. See: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1364032117307074 .

Integration of Power to Methane in a waste water treatment plant – A feasibility study. Tim Patterson, University of South Wales et al. Bioresource Technology 245(A): 1049-1057 – December 2017. See: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0960852417315973 .

Biological methanation of CO2 in a novel biofilm plug-flow reactor: A high rate and low parasitic energy process. Savvas Savvas, University of South Wales et al. Applied Energy 202:238-247 – September 2017. See: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0306261917306748 .

A critical review of integration analysis of microbial electrosynthesis (MES) systems with waste biorefineries for the production of biofuel and chemical from reuse of CO2. Jhuma Sadhukhana, University of Surrey et al. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews 56: 116-132 – April 2016

Advances towards understanding and engineering direct interspecies electron transfer in anaerobic digestion. Sajib Barua and Bipro Ranjan Dhar, University of Alberta. Bioresource Technology 244: 698-707-November 2017

AD Network – Roundup of PhD Opportunities – Oct 17

Improving understanding of veterinary medicine degradation and fate in organic fertilisers and anaerobic digestion plants (VetMedDeg) – University of Leeds

Deadline: 6^th October 2017

Supervisor: Dr Paul Kay

Funded PhD Project (UK Students Only)

Microbial ecology of early stage colonisers in the digestive tracts of large herbivores – Aberystwyth University

Deadline 1^st November 2017

Supervisor: Dr G W Griffith

Funded PhD Project (European/UK Students Only)

Innovative biological processes for the production of chemicals from organic waste – Aberdeen University

Applications accepted all year round

Supervisors: Dr D Dionisi and Dr A Majumder

Self-Funded PhD Students Only

Integration of Sustainability Assessment and Global Optimization for Sustainable Production of Biofuels and Chemicals – University of Manchester

Applications accepted all year round

Supervisors: Dr R Cuellar-Franca, Dr N Zhang and Dr J Li Application

Self-Funded PhD Students Only

Isolation, Characterization and Genome Mining of Novel Environmental Bacteria and Archaea – University of Huddersfield

Applications accepted all year round

Supervisor: Prof Humphreys and Dr S Rout

Self-Funded PhD Students Only

Chemistry for the Bioeconomy: novel transformations in hot water – Aberdeen University

Applications accepted all year round

Supervisors: Dr M J Plater, Dr W T A Harrison and Dr A Raab

Self-Funded PhD Students Only

Supergen Buoenergy Hub Flexible Funding 2017 – Invitation for proposals – closes 22/11/17

Proposals are invited for research-related activities which support the Supergen Bioenergy hub’s core objectives.

The Supergen Bioenergy hub invites proposals for its “flexible funding” programme. A total of £100,000 is available to support up to 4 projects at institutes eligible to receive RCUK funding. We are pleased to also be able to offer additional funding of up to £75,000 for projects which target priorities of the low carbon fuels strategy of the Department for Transport. The priority areas eligible for this enhanced funding are specified below.
Applications for research funding should support the hub’s objectives and submissions should specify which of the priority areas they are addressing.

The funding can be used to support bioenergy research and research-related activities, including exchanges and visits to develop new research collaborations, preparatory work for large strategic bids, feasibility studies, work with industrial partners to advance implementation, work with other stakeholders to support bioenergy policy development, secondments to improve research impact etc.

NB: It is a condition of funding that successful applicants engage with the Supergen Bioenergy hub in relation to the funded activity. Full details and application form available from the website.

AD Network Events Roundup – Oct 17

The 2nd Annual Food and Drink Engineering & Processing Summit, Coventry -7^th November 2017. Food and Drink Business Europe has over 20 years’ experience in the food and beverage manufacturing industry. See: http://foodengineeringexpo.com/ .

BIOSURF/Bin2Grid EU projects Final Conference, Brussels – 24^th November 2017

These EU Horizon 2020 projects have been running for 3 years and their joint (free) final conference is in November. Further details at: http://www.biosurf.eu/en_GB/ and http://www.bin2grid.eu/en_GB/home . For more information, please contact the EBA secretariat at info@european-biogas.eu .

World Biogas Association/EESC: Making Carbon Count: pricing in externalities to drive the Circular Economy, Brussels – 11^th December 2017. See: http://www.worldbiogasassociation.org/carbon-pricing-conference/ .

BioCatNet/RSC Biotechnology Group: BIOTRANSFORMATIONS: From science to industrial application, London – 19^th December 2017. See: http://www.rsc.org/events/detail/28220/biotransformations-from-science-to-industrial-application .

3rd International IET/SynbiCITE Engineering Biology Conference 2017, London – 12/13^th December 2017. See: http://events.theiet.org/engineering-biology/index.cfm?utm_source=redirect&utm_medium=any&utm_campaign=engineering-biology .

Water Innovation Network: Bioresources – Getting the most out of sludge, Peterborough – 24^th January 2018. This event is your chance to collaborate with Anglian Water to improve the anaerobic digestion methods and processes to produce more energy, and to make further suggestions on how to get the best return from sludge. See: http://waterinnovation.net/event/bioresources-getting-the-most-out-of-sludge/ .

European Biogas Association 2018, Antwerp, 24-26^th January 2018. The theme to this bi-annual conference will be ‘Greening gas’. See: http://european-biogas.eu/events/eba-conference/ .

REA Event – UK Biomethane Day 2018, Birmingham – 2^nd May 2018. A fantastic networking opportunity, where developers and operators can meet financiers, feedstock providers, waste hauliers, government officials and suppliers. See: https://www.r-e-a.net/events/rea-event-uk-biomethane-day-2018 .

IBioIC Annual Conference, Glasgow, 25-26^th January 2018. See: http://ibioic.com/news_and_events/d4/ .

RWM Exhibition, NEC Birmingham,11-13^th September 2018. RWM is the leading community for the Waste, Energy, Recycling and Water sectors to network, learn and trade. With over 450 exhibitors and 11,000 visitors you can join them 11-13th September 2018 NEC Birmingham. See: www.rwmexhibition.com/welcome/about-us#/ .

Biogas Science 2018, Torino, Italy, 16-19^th September 2018. The deadline for Abstracts for this conference is 30^th November 2017. We still have a number of ECR Conference Travel bursaries available – contact us for details. See: http://www.biogas-science2018.it/index.php#!/sez_11 .