Driving Economic Prosperity Through the Bioeconomy

Public-private collaboration is at the heart of the University of York’s drive to accelerate a leading bioeconomy cluster in York and North Yorkshire

Up to 10% of the UK’s entire bioeconomy is already active in the region, encompassing over 29,000 jobs and 7,000 businesses. This cluster of bioeconomy activity is three times the national average and has major potential to support a green investment agenda and a transition to net zero.

The University’s innovation and expertise is already attracting inward investment in research, industry and skills to create jobs and improve productivity. Central to this work is BioYorkshire and the £150 million venture fund, Gaia Sciences Innovation, which is tracking climate change and biodiversity loss through start-ups and spin-outs.

BioYorkshire brings together tertiary and higher education, regional government, SMEs and other private sector partners. It is creating a sustainable bioeconomy that builds on the University’s world-class research and expertise in bioscience and biotechnology and is a key focus of the regional Mayor’s economic framework to drive job creation, inward investment and business growth. It is translating research discoveries to deliver profitable bio-based production of chemicals, materials, and fuels, and productive, net-zero food, feed, farming and wider land-use practices.

Examples of innovation to date include a £1 million investment by Fera to create a first of its kind insect research laboratory to provide alternative food for animal feed; Azotic Technologies develop biological alternatives for nitrogen fertilisers and in 2021 they moved their UK workforce to a site adjacent to the University’s Biorenewables Development Centre on the outskirts of York; B-Hive Innovations, a Lincoln-based agritech, collaborated with University chemists to find new ways to convert low-value potatoes into clean-label functional protein.

In total, independent economic analysis demonstrates that BioYorkshire has the potential to create more than 4,000 high-quality jobs, generate £1.4 billion in gross value added, contribute significantly to economic growth in the York and the North Yorkshire region, as well as driving technological innovation of benefit to Yorkshire and Humber and Teesside.

Another key area of economic growth being driven by the University is through a partnership with sustainability investor Greensphere Capital in the Gaia Sciences Innovation venture fund. The original fund of £150 million will invest in spin outs and startups from the University of York and other leading research institutions. The first spin out, Kew Reach, will not only have a home in London but also in York, bringing investment and jobs to the region.

Facts & Figures

  • BioYorkshire has the potential to create more than 4,000 high-quality jobs and generate £1.4 billion in gross value added.
  • The University is part of a £150 million venture fund for start-ups and spin-outs tackling biodiversity loss and climate change.
  • Up to 10% of the UK’s entire bioeconomy is already active in the York and North Yorkshire region, encompassing over 29,000 jobs and 7,000 businesses (a cluster of bioeconomy activity that is three times the national average).

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