b'ResearchStrategyADDRESSING GRAND CHALLENGESOur research strategy is dictated by the innovation and impact needed to address cross-sectoral and global grand challenges for biofilms. We embed responsiveness to both emerging UK government strategic priorities, as well as the societal and stakeholder needs that we identify through extensive consultation across our academic and industry partnerships. Challenges and emerging areas where NBICs technologies strive to provide transformative impacts and economic growth include: NBICs focus on tackling antimicrobial resistanceResearch into the impact of climate change on (AMR), hospital-acquired infections, and developingbiofilms and microbiomes critical to agriculture and novel diagnostics and biomarkers, directly supportswater systems seeks to improve productivity and the UK Action Plan for Antimicrobial Resistanceresilience in primary food systems while reducing 20242029 and the Life Sciences Sector Plan,emissions. NBICs contributions also align with which aims to position the UK as a global leader inframeworks for water innovation in each of the health innovation by 2035. devolved nations and the Advanced Manufacturing Sector Plan, which emphasises innovation to ensure Energy efficiency, driven by climate change, wherewater supply for national resilience.challenges include preventing biofouling and microbially influenced corrosion of marine vesselsEstablishment of global, harmonised standards and infrastructure aligns with the Clean Energyin biofilms, and underpinning biobanking and Industries Sector Plan. Future-proofing againstbioresource capabilities to address critical and the same threats is required for new energyunmet enabling needs, as consistently identified by infrastructure e.g. hydrogen transport as the worldour national and international academic-industry starts transitioning towards net-zero emissionsroad-mapping, and in our report with CABI: (Energy Technology Perspectives 2023).Securing the Future of Microbiome Research and InnovationThe Need for Biobanking Mastering the engineering of microbial biofilmInfrastructure in the UK.communities to deliver new energy sources, whether through microbial fuel cell and biomass conversionBy integrating academic excellence with industry technologies, or resource optimisation via aerobicneeds, NBIC fosters scalable solutions that enhance and anaerobic biorefinery.national resilience and global competitiveness. 26'