Durham University Secures Major £24 Million Award to Boost Sustainable Consumer Innovation
Durham University wins over £24 million in national funding. The award comes from the Industrial Doctoral Landscape Award given by BBSRC. This funding launches BiSCI. BiSCI stands for Bioconvergence for Sustainable Consumer Innovations. It trains PhD students in bioscience research for consumer goods.
Training the Next Generation of Sustainable Bioscience Leaders
BiSCI runs a new training programme every year. It trains three groups of PhD students. The programme links Durham’s top bioscientists with key industry and academic partners. These partners include:
- Procter & Gamble
- Insiligence
- Prozomix
- Newcastle University
- Northumbria University
- Imperial College London
Students work with industry experts from their first day. They face real challenges in sustainable manufacturing and consumer innovation.
Four Pillars of Research Excellence
BiSCI focuses on four key research areas:
- Discovering New Biological Molecules
- Developing New Research Methods
- Advancing Sustainable Manufacturing Processes
- Understanding Biological Systems
These areas work together to create greener and eco-friendly consumer goods.
A Collaborative UK-Wide Research Initiative
Durham’s Department of Biosciences leads this three-year project. The department is ranked third in the UK by the Complete University Guide 2026. The project is part of a larger UKRI initiative. UKRI funds over 320 new PhD studentships nationwide. This support boosts UK leadership in bioscience, biotechnology, AI, data science, and engineering biology.
Professor Martin Cann, Head of the Department of Biosciences, said:
“BiSCI is an excellent opportunity to drive innovation in the UK consumer product and biocatalysis sectors. We are immensely pleased to work with Procter & Gamble and our other partners to prepare the first cohort of PhD students next year for the future North East regional economy.”
Learn More & Get Involved
- Discover more about Professor Martin Cann’s research.
- Explore Durham University’s undergraduate and postgraduate biosciences courses.
- Learn about UKRI and BBSRC’s role in funding sustainable bioscience innovation.
Durham University’s investment in BiSCI shows its strong commitment to sustainability and scientific excellence. This work helps position the UK as a leader in eco-friendly consumer innovation.
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