Swansea University’s Natural Products BioHUB (NP BioHUB) has secured £4.5m in funding as part of UKRI’s £25m Accelerating the Green Economy programme, that will bring jobs, skills, and prosperity to areas across the UK.
The NP BioHUB aims to lead innovation in natural products use in the agricultural, pharmaceutical, and manufacturing industries to become healthier, greener, and more sustainable.
This funding positions NP BioHUB as the first centre of its kind in the Wales, spotlighting Swansea University and the Swansea Bay region at the forefront of developing greener industries for a more sustainable future.
Through the Accelerating the Green Economy programme, five new centres will bring together researchers, businesses, local leaders and key partners to help co-develop and deliver new products and processes to bring them successfully to market.
The centres will launch in October 2024 with UKRI funding support guaranteed for at least the next four years.
The NP BioHUB Centre seeks to enhance the industrial potential of eukaryotic microbes, fostering a collaborative ecosystem across disciplines.
The eukaryotic microbe natural products market has grown substantially, with annual increases of 10-15%, including markets such as antimicrobials, organic acids, and emerging sectors in algal and agricultural natural products.
The potential of eukaryotic microbes, including fungi and algae, goes beyond established markets like industrial ethanol production to address urgent global needs in alternative energy, resilient net-zero agriculture, and antimicrobial resistance.
The NP BioHUB represents a pioneering collaboration between academia, industry, and civic partners, including Swansea University, the Centre for Agriculture and Bioscience International (CABI), and the Scottish Association for Marine Science (SAMS).
Announcing the funding Dr Kate Hamer, UKRI Programme Director, Building a Green Future, said: “Transitioning to a sustainable green economy is a win-win for all; it creates new jobs, new partnerships and new industries.
“Through investment in collaboration between researchers and innovators, we harness our collective effort across the public and private sector, driving innovation to secure the future of our environment and deliver sustainable economic growth.”
UKRI’s Building a Green Future strategic theme aims to accelerate the green economy by supporting research and innovation that unlocks solutions essential to achieving net zero in the UK by 2050. It is one of five UKRI strategic themes aiming to harness the full power of the UK’s research and innovation system to tackle large-scale, complex challenges.
Project lead Professor Dan Eastwood said: “This funding is a testament to our academic excellence and investment in state-of-the-art facilities to support innovation in nature-based solutions. It underscores our commitment to driving forward impactful research that benefits society and the environment.”
Project Co-lead Dr Farooq Shah added: “The Centre will foster an ecosystem for co-creating and accelerating the Green Economy. This funding presents immense opportunities for businesses to network, engage in collaborative R&D, and maximize their outputs. By providing a platform for academia and industry to work hand in hand, the NP BioHUB Centre will be a catalyst for innovation and growth, driving forward solutions to global environmental challenges.”
The Director of the Centre, Professor Tariq Butt, highlighted the significance of receiving the funding, stating: “The UKRI’s recognition of NP BioHUB as a Green Economy Centre is a milestone that will strengthen and further develop our academic-industry collaboration. This funding not only validates our efforts but also amplifies our capacity to drive meaningful change. By fostering close partnerships between academia and industry, we can accelerate the development and implementation of nature-based solutions that are critical for sustainable development.”