Former Tomorrow’s World presenter set to address biotechnology event

Parry is encouraging start-ups to show the positive impact their offering can make to everyday life and the environment. Picture: contributed.

Vivienne Parry will address the event, which is now in its sixth year and expected to attract more than 450 delegates – including IB business leaders, policy-makers, investors and innovators and technical experts from around the world. They will congregate in Glasgow on 5 and 6 February, and will see innovative companies exhibiting their smart solutions to a global audience.

Parry, a scientist by training, is the head of engagement at Genomics England and a UK Research and Innovation board member – and has extensive writing and broadcasting experience that has “inspired a generation of scientists”.

She said industrial biotechnology (IB) start-ups “need to get out and tell people what they are doing, quickly showing the solution to a problem – scientists can sometimes struggle to communicate to policy-makers and the public the significance of what they are doing to save the planet.

Mark Bustard, commercial director at IBioIC, said a “change in mindset” is needed if startups are to capitalise on their innovations. “Companies like ScotBio, Cellucomp and Celtic Renewables are all fantastic examples of award-winning organisations who are… driving science to generate and make products.”