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Industrial biotech

Industrial biotech is one of Scotland's rapidly growing industries. It's fuelling economic growth, making manufacturing more sustainable, and supporting the country to achieve its net zero ambitions.

With massive potential and hundreds of new jobs being created each year, you could find your next industrial biotech role in Scotland. 

Industrial biotech in Scotland

  • Green growth

    Scotland is home to more than 140 industrial biotech companies, with aims to increase this to 220 in 2025.

  • Global market potential

    The animal feed market alone is worth $454 USD billion globally.

  • A billion-pound industry

    The industry in Scotland has a target to grow turnover from £797 million to £1.2 billion in 2025.

Industrial biotech in Scotland

Come to Scotland and join a growing number of innovative companies working to find solutions to global challenges like the climate crisis. With world-class expertise, global market potential, and plenty of opportunities, there's never been a better time for industrial biotech careers in Scotland.

Your skills are in demand

Scotland’s national plan for industrial biotechnology set out to transform the sector with a focus on competitiveness and sustainability. It has a target to increase jobs by one third, from 3000 people in 2020 to 4000 in 2025. Creating rewarding and high-quality careers to grow this workforce is at the heart of the national strategy. 

The sector in Scotland has huge potential for further expansion. An emergent cluster of companies based just north of Edinburgh is home to up-and-coming SMEs and established global players alike. And both have opportunities for you to use your skills and experience to support this growing sector.

Industrial biotech employers with a sponsor license

More industrial biotech employers based in Scotland

Find the latest industrial biotech roles in Scotland

We’re scaling up in the industrial biotech sector. So, whatever your passion, and however niche your expertise, you’ll find a home for it in Scotland. 

Find industrial biotech roles on LinkedInopens in a new window 

How Scotland supports industrial biotech

The growth of Scotland’s bioeconomy is essential in realising Scotland’s net zero ambitions. The Scottish Government’s vision is for Scotland to be the go-to destination to create and grow bioeconomy businesses to scale and produce sustainable products and services. 

Thanks to its natural environment and access to by-products from Scottish industries like whisky, seafood and forestry Scotland is perfectly placed to develop this sector.

The Industrial Biotechnology Innovation Centre (IBioIC)opens in a new window was established to fulfil the aims of the national plan and grow the sector into the 2020s. It ties together networks of industry, academia and government to bring biotech processes and products to the global market. It offers scale-up facilities, talent development, funding provision, and promotion of Scotland’s assets. 

The industrial biotech sector at a glance

Industrial Biotech in Scotland is growing fast – along with opportunities for new talent. The industry is moving at such pace it’s already outgrown the aims it set itself back in 2019, with even more ambitious targets for 2025. According to the IBioIC, by 2021 over 200 new products, processes and services had been developed in Scotland.

Develop your skills in Scotland across a range of innovation areas that cross over into other sectors including life sciences, hydrogen, and carbon capture, utilisation, and storage (CCUS).

Research and market strengths

Scotland has world-class expertise in research areas that support industrial biotech including engineering biology, advanced metrology, fermentation, big data, automation, and robotics. Its network of world-leading universities are well placed to take research in industrial biotech even further. 

In 2024 funding of £847,000 was awarded to the IBioIC to purchase a 300-litre fermenter to be hosted at FlexBio – the innovation centre’s scale-up facility based at Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh. This new equipment will allow testing and scaling up of processes to industrial volumes, essential for companies wanting to expand into global markets. 

The innovative industrial biotech sector in Scotland is key to tapping into this potential for economic growth. The biomaterials market alone is worth $450 billion globally with Scotland having six high-growth companies already in this space.

Building on our existing strengths in animal feed, biomaterials, chemicals and healthcare, Scotland is primed to make a global impact in the industrial biotech sector in the coming decades - and you can be part of it.

Quality of life

Scotland has lots to offer outside of work. 
 
Wherever you decide to work in Scotland, you’ll discover welcoming communities, rich history and vibrant culture. Enjoy shorter commutes, world-class education, free healthcare, and plenty of green space on your doorstep. 

Building a career in Scotland comes at a lower cost of living than many other major locations.  You’ll benefit from flexibility for hybrid and remote working while being fully supported by reliable digital connectivity. 

As one of the best-connected places in Europe, Scotland has six airports with daily direct flights to 150 destinations worldwide. We also have fast and frequent rail links to all parts of the UK. 

Moving to Scotland

We welcome people from around the world who want to build exceptional careers across Scotland. 

Learn more about moving to Scotland on Scotland.org opens in a new window