World-class Research
The region is home to internationally important research in the bioeconomy, with a track record of developing competitive bio-based products, processes and services. Hundreds of scientists and technologists are at work in universities, specialised research centres, scale-up facilities and technology institutes. Their research and development attracts worldwide recognition and major investment from grant-awarding bodies and the private sector.
Scale-up facilities for biorenewables
- The Biorenewables Development Centre (BDC) offers open-access facilities that bridge the gap between the world-class science base at the University of York and the needs of industry to develop and scale up new greener processes and products.
Specialised research centres
- The Centre for Novel Agricultural Products (CNAP) provides research underpinning the development of plants and microbes as green factories.
- The Green Chemistry Centre of Excellence (GCCE) promotes the development and implementation of green and sustainable chemistry and related technologies into new products and processes.
- The York Environmental Sustainability Institute (YESI) delivers interdisciplinary research on environmental sustainability for the research community, industry and policy makers.
- The National Centre of Excellence for Food Engineering develops advanced engineering capability for the food and drink industry.
Agricultural and horticultural research
- Fera is a leading supplier of scientific solutions, evidence and advice across the agri-food supply chain.
- The Stockbridge Technology Centre has premier horticulture R&D facilities.
Research partnerships and networks led from the region
- The N8 Agri-Food Resilience Partnership combines the world-leading crop and livestock research at the N8 universities with the translational capabilities of six university farms to create a single research programme.
- The Biomass Biorefinery Network (BBNet) will serve as a focal point to build and sustain a dynamic community of industrial and academic practitioners, working together to develop new processes for the conversion of non-food biomass into sustainable fuels, chemicals and materials.
- High Vale Biorenewables (HVB) Network focuses on responding to the current and future needs of a multi-disciplinary research community, promoting discovery and facilitating knowledge transfer between UK academia.
