NBIC Awarded BBSRC CTP Funding in Partnership with Smith+Nephew
The National Biofilms Innovation Centre (NBIC) led by four universities (Edinburgh, Liverpool, Nottingham and Southampton) have been awarded funding in partnership with Smith+Nephew and the NBIC Industry Advisory Board as part of a £22.5m investment from UK government to address skill gaps in the UK bioscience industry.
The Collaborative Training Partnerships (CTP) scheme run by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) will address these skill gaps through doctoral training led by businesses. The collaborative partnerships will work across the BBSRC’s strategic priorities areas such as Net Zero+, Tackling Infections, Transformative Technologies and more.
The Smith+Nephew and NBIC Consortium will focus on developing interdisciplinary scientists for small, medium and large companies, addressing biofilm challenges that have a £45bn impact in the UK.
NBIC CEO, Dr Mark Richardson said,
“We are delighted to have been given the opportunity to award these studentships. Led by our Industrial Advisory Board, these will enable the development of interdisciplinary scientific talent for the biofilm sector in the UK. This will support our enduring mission of harnessing the UK’s academic and industrial strengths in biofilms through research, innovation and training”.
A total of 225 studentships have been awarded CTP funding, in partnership with academia and industry, spanning 29 businesses and 12 academic research organisations. The four-year studentships will be delivered over the period 2022-28 with £22.5m of funding from BBSRC, and more than £14m cash and in-kind co-investment from industry partners.
BBSRC Executive Chair, Professor Melanie Welham said,
“With the awards we have announced today BBSRC underlines it commitment to work with industry to support the next generation of bioscience researchers. Projects will span areas vital to our strategic priorities, such as tackling infections and helping to meet our net zero goals”.
You can view the full list of grant holders in the BBSRC news release.