NBIC Event: Biofilms Beyond Healthcare, 8 September 2026
The National Biofilms Innovation Centre (NBIC) is bringing together industry, technology providers and academic researchers for ‘Biofilms Beyond Healthcare: Industry Challenges, Solutions and Collaboration’ an in-person workshop event taking place on 8 September 2026 at the University of Nottingham, Jubilee Campus. The event will explore the biofilm-related challenges facing industry beyond healthcare and provide a platform for organisations to share experiences, showcase solutions and develop collaborative approaches to tackling biofilms across sectors including food production, advanced manufacturing, water, agriculture, clean energy, transport and the built environment.
While biofilms are widely recognised for their impact on healthcare, their influence extends far beyond clinical settings. Across industrial and environmental sectors, biofilms can create significant operational and economic challenges, including contamination, spoilage, fouling and corrosion. Equally, they offer opportunities for innovation in areas such as biotechnology, sustainable manufacturing and environmental management. Understanding biofilms is therefore an increasingly important priority for industry.
This interactive workshop will bring together organisations experiencing biofilm-related challenges with researchers and solution providers who can help address them. Through a combination of industry case studies, solution pitches, facilitated discussions and networking, participants will identify priority areas for action, explore opportunities for collaboration and contribute to the development of an industry-led roadmap for future activity.
Whether your organisation is seeking support to Prevent, Detect, Manage or Engineer biofilms, or you have expertise and technologies that could help address these challenges, this workshop offers an opportunity to connect with potential collaborators and shape future innovation initiatives.
Why attend?
Participants will have the opportunity to:
- Share biofilm-related challenges and unmet needs from their sector.
- Learn about emerging technologies, approaches and expertise that could help address these challenges.
- Engage directly with industry peers, researchers and solution providers.
- Explore opportunities for collaborative research, innovation and funding.
- Contribute to a prioritised action plan that reflects industry needs and opportunities.
- Help inform future NBIC activities, partnerships and funding initiatives.
Workshop format
The workshop builds on NBIC’s successful track record of convening stakeholders to address biofilm-related challenges in sectors including food production, corrosion, marine environments, agriculture and microbe–metal interactions.
Previous workshops have led to a range of impactful outcomes, including the development of educational resources and infographics, the establishment of stakeholder networks, contributions to policy and regulatory discussions, biobanking initiatives, position papers and the creation of collaborative innovation programmes.
The day will feature:
- Industry case studies highlighting biofilm challenges beyond healthcare.
- Short pitches from organisations offering potential solutions.
- Facilitated breakout discussions to identify challenges, needs and opportunities.
- Collaborative sessions focused on developing practical solutions and prioritising actions.
- Informal networking throughout the day.
Who should attend?
This event is aimed at:
- Companies and organisations from non-health sectors experiencing biofilm-related challenges.
- Technology developers and solution providers working in biofilm detection, monitoring, prevention, management or engineering.
- Academic researchers interested in collaborating with industry to address real-world biofilm challenges.
- Innovation, research and development professionals seeking new partnerships and funding opportunities.
By bringing together stakeholders from across the biofilm innovation landscape, this workshop aims to generate meaningful collaborations, identify shared priorities and create a clear pathway towards industry-driven impact.
Registration
NBIC Industry Member Price: £75
Regulators Price: £75
Industry Price: £100
Academic Price: £100
Become an NBIC Industry Member to benefit from the discounted rate, alongside a range of additional perks designed to support your organisation. Membership is focused on driving biofilm innovation and commercial growth, helping industry partners translate cutting-edge research into real-world applications. It also provides access to a collaborative network of researchers and businesses, knowledge exchange opportunities, and resources that accelerate development and strengthen impact across the biofilms sector.
As places at this event are limited, and to ensure a diverse mix of participants from different industrial sectors and disciplines, we are inviting expressions of interest prior to registration.
Please complete this short form to express your interest in attending. Once applications have been reviewed and a place has been confirmed, successful applicants will be sent a separate registration link to complete their booking and payment.
By registering for this event, you agree that the National Biofilms Innovation Centre (NBIC) may share your personal details with the University of Nottingham. NBIC event data is administered and processed by the University of Southampton. Data collection is carried out in line with relevant data protection laws and the University of Southampton Data Protection Policy.