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What is the IBIC?

The Industrial Biotechnology Innovation Catalyst (IBIC) is a £5m EPSRC place-based initiative that brings together north-west England's industrial biotechnology community to accelerate knowledge exchange, skills development, and innovation. IBIC was established in 2024 and will galvanise links between the region's science, research, innovation, and teaching sectors to create real-world impact. IBIC is led by Director Prof Aline Miller (The University of Manchester) and co-created with civic and business partners and the universities of Liverpool, Salford, and 91Ö±²¥ Metropolitan. It will act as a north-west hub for industrial biotechnology and has a vision to supercharge the growth of careers, business and our regional economy, while delivering a low carbon economy. 

About the Advisory Board

The strategic direction of the IBIC programme will be overseen by the IBIC Advisory Board, which has a rotating membership comprising members of the IBIC Programme Team, Partner Representatives, senior UKRI Project Representative and Community Representatives from key industrial biotechnology ‘sectors’.  Dr Phil Carvil is the Chair of the IBIC Advisory Board.  The IBIC Advisory Board provides assurance that the work of IBIC meets, and remains aligned with, the needs and priorities of industry, local civic bodies and national government and existing R&D organisations. It offers external advice, direction, and challenge to the IBIC project on its level of ambition, scope, scale, operation, success factors, risk mitigation and long-term sustainability. A core function of the IBIC Advisory Board will be to bring together key strategic and delivery partners from the wider biotechnology communities across the UK and beyond, ensuring synergies are maximised. It will also act as a forum to bring new organisations into the NW region’s biotechnology ecosystem.

Advisory Board member selection criteria and responsibilities

There are currently up to six Advisory Board Member roles available. The Advisory Board Member will be a senior experienced advocate with a high-level understanding of the industrial biotechnology sector and the ability to represent the interests of IBIC to senior stakeholders within their respective communities. Members will also champion and raise awareness of IBIC among their stakeholder communities. Members may be drawn from academia, industry, civic society or industry association bodies. Key responsibilities will include:

• Strategic leadership and decisions on IBIC direction
• Portfolio oversight
• Research priority assessment and recommendation
• Foresight for new research calls
• Providing advice on the dissemination of IBIC’s progress and utilising industry, government and academic networks to promote the IBIC and to obtain feedback on it

Role expectations

It is expected that the IBIC Advisory Board role will require a commitment of around four days per annum, with Advisory Board meetings taking place quarterly, in person or online. The costs of travel and subsistence incurred in connection with the role will be reimbursed. IBIC Advisory Board Members may also be expected to communicate in between meetings, as required. These roles will be administered via a letter of terms from The University of Manchester. Typically, appointment will be for two years and subject to an annual review.

How to apply

To apply for an IBIC Advisory Board Member role, please complete the application form, upload a summary CV (max 2 sides of A4) and complete the equality data gathering form. All of the forms are hosted on the Qualtrics platform.

The deadline for completing your application is Wednesday 24 July.

If you have any questions about the IBIC, the role, or the application and selection process, please email ibic@manchester.ac.uk.

Your answers will be treated in the strictest confidence, and all data disclosed will comply with the Data Protection Act 1998. All data is handled in accordance with The University of Manchester Policy and more details can be seen in our privacy policy<.