Scotland Gets Its First Open-Access 300L Fermenter Thanks to £847K Grant

Scotland’s biotechnology sector has received a significant boost with the installation of the country’s first open-access 300-litre fermenter, funded by an £847,000 grant from Scottish Enterprise. Located at the Industrial Biotechnology Innovation Centre’s FlexBIO facility in Edinburgh, the fermenter expands Scotland’s bioprocessing capabilities tenfold, enabling the cultivation of microorganisms for various applications, from cultivated meat to bio-based ingredients for medicines and cosmetics.

The new fermenter facility aims to support the growth of industrial biotechnology in Scotland by providing essential scale-up infrastructure for bio-based manufacturing companies. Access to equipment and technical knowledge under one roof at FlexBIO aims to help companies overcome investment challenges and accelerate their transition from lab research to industrial production. With a focus on sustainability and innovation, the Scottish government sees industrial biotechnology as a strategic investment focus in achieving net zero emissions by 2045.