NBIC Expands National Consortia with Sixth Accession Round
At the National Biofilms Innovation Centre (NBIC), we are proud to mark another major milestone with the completion of our sixth round of accession, welcoming 10 additional UK universities and research institutions into our growing community. This latest expansion reflects both the increasing recognition of the importance of biofilm research and NBIC’s role in uniting expertise from across the academic and industrial landscape.
NBIC was launched in 2017 by its four lead Universities (Edinburgh, Liverpool, Nottingham and Southampton), with funding from Innovate UK and BBSRC, and is led by four Co-Directors: Professors Cait MacPhee, Rasmita Raval, Kim Hardie and Jeremy Webb respectively and CEO, Jo Slater-Jefferies. Since 2017, NBIC has grown rapidly into a vibrant partnership of 72 research institutions and more than 300 companies, supported by a strong and expanding international network.
Together, these partners form a truly national platform dedicated to advancing biofilm science and ensuring that fundamental research is translated into practical, real-world solutions. Our collaborative model brings together researchers, innovators, and industry leaders to address some of the most pressing challenges biofilms present, impacting $5 trillion per annum in global economic activity – from food and health to ships, clean water and energy.
This continued growth further strengthens NBIC’s position as the UK’s leading hub for biofilm research, policy, training and innovation. By providing a single point of access to world-class expertise, facilities, and funding opportunities, NBIC enables organisations to accelerate discovery, reduce barriers to collaboration, and turn cutting-edge research into tangible outcomes. Central to our mission is the creation of long-term, sustainable partnerships that connect academic excellence with industrial need, helping to de-risk innovation and drive economic, societal, and environmental impact.
Our 10 new research partner institutions bring with them a wealth of expertise across diverse disciplines, further strengthening the breadth and depth of capability within the NBIC consortium. Their inclusion enhances our ability to connect specialist knowledge with real-world challenges, supporting innovation across multiple sectors:
- University of Plymouth
- University of Ulster
- University of Leicester
- Cardiff Metropolitan University
- Northumbria University
- Bangor University
- The Open University
- University of the West of Scotland
- Queen’s University Belfast
- University of Reading
Professor Jo Slater-Jefferies, NBIC CEO said:
“This latest round of accession reflects the extraordinary momentum behind our mission. Over the last 8 years, we have built a truly national platform for biofilm innovation, uniting leading universities, research institutions and industry partners to accelerate discovery, strengthen collaboration, and translate world-class research into real-world solutions. What we are seeing is more than growth; it is the creation of an ecosystem that will shape the future of biofilm science and deliver lasting impact for industry, society and the global research community”.
If you’re an academic in a research institution or a commercial organisation with a desire to join our mission to achieve breakthroughs in biofilm innovation, please contact us at nbic@biofilms.ac.uk.