The Industrial Biotechnology Innovation Centre (IBioIC) holds its 12th Annual Conference in Glasgow on 10 and 11 March 2026.
This year we are delighted to be in partnership with the BioBased and Biodegradable Industries Association (BBIA).
Location: Glasgow, Scotland
Dates: Tuesday 10 and Wednesday 11 March 2026
Website: https://ibioicconference.com
IBioIC26 – BioSolutions for Tomorrow’s World will be IBioIC’s 12th Annual Conference. This year we are delighted to partner with the BioBased Industries Association (BBIA).
This not-for-profit conference is the industry event of the year for the industrial biotechnology community in Scotland and the UK, and one of the pre-eminent events in the global biotech calendar. The conference attracts biotech professionals from industry, research and academia, as well as policy-makers, service providers, and emerging client sectors.
The 2026 conference will focus on delivering tangible benefits for attendees, including the cultivation of strategic partnerships, facilitating new connections and collaborations, providing examples of best practice, understanding regulations, and effective communication.
Why take part?
- The conference attracts over 400 delegates from across the biotechnology sector and beyond.
- Conference attendees are made up of predominantly C-suite or senior level industry representatives from both large, established companies and emerging and start-up enterprises, as well as senior academics, researchers in industry or academia, students and recent graduates, investors, and policy makers
What to expect
- The theme of this year’s conference is BioSolutions for Tomorrow’s World.
- Fast paced sessions will explore topics ranging from bio-similar in manufacturing to food innovation and the role of biotechnology in restoring natural environments.
- We’ll look into key issues such as the extent to which bio-based products can replace fossil, and factors influencing the adoption of alternative proteins, while fireside chats and panel sessions will delve into issues in depth.
- Sponsored workshops on Day 2 will give hosts and delegates an opportunity to discuss issues in-depth in an interactive and outcome-driven setting, and informal networking.
- 1-1 partnering throughout will give delegates opportunities to meet key contacts and build new connections.
Schedule:
Day 1 | Tuesday 10 March 2026
10.00 – 10.50 Morning Plenary
10.50 – 11.50 Session 1 Rebuilding tomorrow’s world with biology
This session will explore how we can make everyday items – from cosmetics to concrete – using biology rather than fossil resources.
Chair: Fiona Mischel, Associate Director of Strategic Development, Holiferm
Speakers:
- Russ Tucker, CEO, TWIG Bio, ‘Using AI to bring biotech to beauty’
- Jonathan Edmunds, Sustainability Director, ‘Bio-based plastic that’s high on performance, and negative on carbon’
- James MacDonald, CEO, Solena Materials ‘Next generation sustainable fibres for market-leading apparel’
- Alex Neves, CEO, Clean Food Group ‘Function-specific, sustainable oils and fats, from food waste’
11.50 – 12.15 Fireside Chat
Getting novel bio-based products to market.
12.15 – 12.35 Tomorrow’s World Showcase Pitches
- Katherine Manshreck, Senior Sustainability Strategist, Shellworks, ‘Made with plants, not plastic: innovation that looks good and does good’
- Prantar Mahanta Tamuli, Founder, Tattva ‘Built by Biology. Bioengineered materials for construction, automotive, farming and space industries’
12.35 – 14.00 Networking lunch and poster observation
14.00 – 15.00 Session 2 Feeding the future with biotechnology
This session will look at the factors influencing the adoption of alternative protein.
Chair: Imran Afzal, CEO, NAPIC
Speakers:
- Derek Stewart, The James Hutton Institute
15.00 – 15.30 Session 3 Launchpad for Success
This session will take a look at the impact of the UKRI Innovate UK Launchpad programme and the Net Zero projects it has supported.
Chair: TBC
Speakers:
Alisha Fuller-Armah, BlazeBalm
15.30 – 16.00 Coffee break
16.00 – 16.55 Session 4 Tomorrow’s healthy planet
Who’s in the loop? – Water is the lifeblood of the circular economy and this session will focus on how it sits in a continuous renewal with waste, soil and ecosystems.
Chair: Professor Frederic Coulson, Director, EBIC
Speakers:
- Elise Cartmell, Chief Scientist, Scottish Water
- Pete Vale, Carbon & Circular Economy Architect, Severn Trent
16.55 – 17.15 Day 1 wrap up and prizegiving
Day 2 | Wednesday 11 March 2026
10.00 – 10.45 Morning Plenary
Scott Winston, MD, Pulpex, ‘From Concept to Consumer: Reimagining Packaging — The Pulpex Way’
Holly Reeves, CEO, HydRegen, ‘From Breakthrough to Scale-Up: The HydRegen Story’
11.00 – 12.30 Session 5 Workshops
Choose from an exciting offering of workshops and get useful know-how, insights, and engage and contribute to the discussion.
12.30 – 13.30 Networking lunch
13.30 – 14.30 Session 6 The Bio Factor
Channel your inner Simon Cowell and rate our line up of exciting start up pitches. If you dare, sign up to be on the stage. Prizes available!
14.30 – 15.10 Session 7 What’s next for tomorrow’s world?
We have come a long way with biotechnology, but there’s so much more out there. From the ocean depths to distant stars, where will biology take us next?
Chair: Lord David Willets
15.10 – 15.30 Conference wrap up and close
Attendees:
Riaan Fox
