National Biofilms Innovation Centre Annual Report 2024
The National Biofilms Innovation Centre (NBIC) Annual Report 2024 is now available to download. This report covers key achievements to date and future plans.
Foreword – A few words from NBIC CEO, Professor Jo Slater-Jefferies
The UK biofilms community continues to make substantial contributions to the national economy while addressing global challenges. At the National Biofilms Innovation Centre (NBIC), our commitment to supporting and connecting industrial and academic experts across the UK, as well as our expanding network of international partners, remains steadfast. We measure our success by our ability to harness and translate cutting-edge knowledge, capabilities, and technologies in the prevention, detection, management, and engineering of biofilms.
Looking ahead, we are excited to advance our ambitious plans across four strategic pillars:
Research
Our funding has enabled us to sustain and support our dynamic cohort of Interdisciplinary Research Fellows (IRFs) at our four core universities. These fellows are deeply engaged in both foundational research and collaborative projects with industry partners, driving innovation forward. We have also supported numerous funding applications nationwide, ensuring that the UK remains at the forefront of biofilm research.
Innovation
With the announcement of the awarded projects following our fifth Proof of Concept call, we continue to provide a unique platform for accelerating academic-industry partnerships, translating biofilm research into innovative solutions across multiple sectors. Additionally, we are collaborating with regulatory bodies to establish standards that support credible claims for biofilmfocused products, further enhancing the impact of our work.
Training
We are expanding our cohort of PhD students through our Doctoral Training Centre in Biofilms Innovation, Technology, and Engineering (BITE). NBIC’s Collaborative Training Partnerships (CTP) scheme focuses on addressing industrial research challenges through collaborations between businesses and research organisations.
Policy and Public Engagement
Our commitment to increasing NBIC’s influence in the public sphere is unwavering. We are dedicated to supporting our partners and collaborators as they navigate the complex policy-making landscape in the UK. Through our public engagement initiatives, we are raising awareness of biofilms, promoting our research, and inspiring the next generation of scientists across the UK.
It is evident that the UK biofilms community remains united in our vision: to deliver breakthrough science and technologies for controlling and exploiting biofilms, and to inspire the research leaders and entrepreneurs of tomorrow.