FOCUS – THE UK’S BIO-ENGINEERING INDUSTRY
DON’T FAIL TO SCALE Experts report a lack of breadth within the UK’s biological and chemical engineering workforce
Saskia Henn looks at the skills gaps in the UK’s chemical and biological engineering industry and asks how they might be fi lled
T
raining in the UK’s engineering biology sector is something that the UK must urgently develop to avoiding
falling behind other countries. Currently, there is a shortage of
professionals with robust training in engineering biology. There are several reasons for this, including the fundamental challenge that engineering biology crosses two research councils.
PROBLEM OF TWO COUNCILS Both the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences and Engineering & Physical Sciences Research Councils are responsible for providing funding for grants, post-graduate degrees, scientifi c research institutes and university research departments. The structural split in funding
breeds uncertainty about which research council assists what organisations, and what form that assistance takes. While challenges lie in the blueprints of the structure built to support
it, the problems with the training infrastructure extend far beyond that. Many scientists reportedly struggle
to translate their academic work into useful products ready to be marketed and sold. It is rare for a biology engineer to understand regulations and intellectual property, for example, because the opportunities for academics to learn about these topics are so few.
LACK OF BREADTH Members of the Institution of Chemical Engineers (IChemE), a community of chemical, biochemical and process engineers have noticed this. IChemE head of policy and impact,
Duncan Lugton, said: “We often see challenges for people who are really good at all the things they’ve trained for as an academic - getting those ideas, working in the lab, writing the grant proposals - but when they have to dive into some of the other kinds of skills, that are required to scale things up,” he continues, “this is quite a diff erent set of skills, and there can often be a gap.”
Engaging with commercial realities
at an earlier stage could help scientists increase the likelihood that their work move from pipette to product. Another organisation that has
observed similar challenges is the UK Institute for Technical Skills and Strategy (ITSS) a programme supporting organisations and employers of technicians to strengthen their technical workforce. ITSS director Kelly Vere also
suggests that incorporating commercial aspects into everyday laboratory education could help the UK with its scale-up problem by forging new routes forward. “Employers and funders should
prioritise retention strategies for technical professionals that include enhanced career progression pathways,” says Vere. “Recognising the overlap of technical and academic roles is key to creating new opportunities and ultimately a sustainable workforce.” Enriching existing PhD programmes
and off ering more post-graduate learning opportunities are two more
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