our

mission

Bringing Researchers & Industry Partners Together

Our mission is to establish a network of research and innovation capacity catalysing collaboration with industry in the study of biofilms to achieve breakthrough innovation.

research partners

industrial Partners

Our Vision

The National Biofilms Innovation Centre exists to create a fusion of world class interdisciplinary research and industry partnerships to deliver breakthrough science and technologies to control and exploit biofilms.

A Centre for Innovation & Knowledge

The National Biofilms Innovation Centre is an Innovation Knowledge Centre (IKC) jointly funded by the BBSRC, Innovate UK, and the Hartree Centre. At NBIC we aim to connect scientists specialising in Biofilms across the UK, and to provide a mechanism for industrial partners to explore their unmet needs with our researchers. With our roadmapping sessions and conferences, we aim to facilitate the exchange of problems, solutions and ideas in the biofilms sector.

Addressing Challenges & Unmet Needs

Biofilms are central to our most important global challenges – from antimicrobial resistance and food safety to water security – and exert significant economic, social and environmental impact. NBIC was launched in 2017 to address these challenges and unmet needs, and bring together the best of UK research and businesses to drive the translation of biofilm research into innovative solutions.

Creating a National Pioneering Centre

By bringing together the original four lead universities (Southampton, Nottingham, Liverpool and Edinburgh) NBIC has a partnership that has now expanded to include 63 associate Research Institutions (RIs), support from a growing base of more than 100 companies, and an inclusive strategy to new companies and RIs. This brings an unprecedented set of capabilities, and a huge potential for innovation and collaboration that will allow us to lead on a global stage with the world’s leading biofilm research institutions. By combining our collective talent, we will grow the next generation of research leaders and entrepreneurs delivering growth and wealth creation in the UK and beyond.

Building Connections

With our roadmapping sessions and conferences, we aim to facilitate the exchange of problems, solutions and ideas in the biofilms sector. We are creating a vibrant cross-sectoral community within the UK and globally, providing opportunities for research collaboration and innovation by connecting universities/research institutes and companies with an interest in biofilm research and innovation.

Become a Partner

Training the Next Generation of Scientific Leaders

Through our PhD and Post-Doctoral programs, we will nurture researchers to grow their expertise. We will also provide entrepreneur training to our researchers to help them better understand the commercial environment and encourage the start-up of Micro and SME businesses. We aim to connect biofilm specialists across the UK, and to provide a mechanism for industrial partners to explore their unmet needs with our researchers. Through all this we aim to ensure the UK remains a global leader in biofilms R&D.

Doctoral Training Centre

Theory of Change

We have ambitious plans for the next 5 years, with the ultimate goal of achieving long-term growth for the UK economy.

Download our Theory of Change Model

Our Four Strategic Themes

NBIC is addressing four strategic themes: Prevent, Detect, Manage, and Engineer biofilms by capitalising on world class underpinning research and infrastructure to address sectoral challenges identified together with our industry partners. It dedicates the resource of our Interdisciplinary Research Fellows (IRFs) to support the NBIC fundamental research and training strategy, and who also conduct focused Proof of Concept collaborative industry projects.