New approaches for insect control for Food Security
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Glasgow
Department Name: College of Medical, Veterinary, Life Sci
People |
ORCID iD |
| Shireen Davies (Principal Investigator) |
| Description | This is not a research grant but a Flexible Interchange Award with industry for knowledge exchange and translational benefit for our research; academic input into industry; and professional and personal development for researchers both in academia and industry |
| Exploitation Route | As researchers, we have gained understanding of the industry 'pipeline' at least for one major global company. This has informed the way we develop our translational projects, and has also influenced other partnerships with different industry partners and also in procuring different funding streams. The increased interaction with industry through the FLIP award has also influenced our input into policies and training (e.g. European research and training panels, BBSRC committees). BASF has also utilised our expertise for contract research, and also for its own research development. During 2019, these existing personal links with BASF were instrumental in identifying and securing the Commercial Lead (ex Director BASF) for our planned spinout company. This has been critical for the development of the spinout. |
| Sectors | Agriculture, Food and Drink,Environment |
| Description | The objectives of this project are to: - Conduct Interchange between academic and user communities (industry) to foster longer -term collaborations to maximise the impact of BBSRC-funded research - ? Achieve an industrial perspective to managing and enhancing impact of BBSRC-funded research - ? Achieve translation and commercialisation of BBSRC-funded research - ? Expand the skills base of individuals in both academia and industry, including a PDRA, which maps to BBSRC strategic priorities as well as to the Concordat for Researchers -? Contribute/enhance academic-led approaches in industry The outputs from this programme between ourselves and BASF have been knowledge exchange, enhanced partnership with industry, people exchange between academic and industry and vice-versa; professional development and securing of funding for translational projects of interest to industry. Examples are: - Exposure of PI to early and late biology from an industry perspective, and field testing. PI has also since experienced the business side with marketing, registration and consumer safety. - 5 x visits to BASF North Carolina for the PI, 2 for the co-I (2014, 2015) - 2 x visits to University of Glasgow for 2 BASF staff (2015) - Development of an Innovate AgriTech Catalyst proposal with BASF (2015) - Increased involvement with other industry e.g. 5 new industrial partners via two H2020 EU grants (see later sections) including BASF representation on External Expert Advisory Board (from 2015) - Organisation of University-wide BBSRC Working with Industry Day, held at UoG, August 2015 - Contract research for BASF by our team (2015) - Successful bid for UoG Knowledge Exchange Fund for translational work (2015) - Successful bid for UoG/BBSTC Impact Accelerator Account award for translational work (2016) - Further interactions with international partners (e.g. academic and industry in UK/Brazil), 2015, 2016, 2017 - Successful BBSRC/FAPESP proposals (2018, 2019) with industry involvement - Positive spinout activities (from 2018 - current) due to industry experience |
| First Year Of Impact | 2018 |
| Sector | Agriculture, Food and Drink,Environment |
| Impact Types | Societal,Economic,Policy & public services |
| Description | BBSRC Impact Accelerator Account |
| Amount | £5,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 01/2016 |
| End | 07/2016 |
| Description | H2020 SFS-03a - 2014 Native and Alien pests in Agriculture, Horticulture and Forestry |
| Amount | € 7,000,000 (EUR) |
| Funding ID | 634361 |
| Organisation | European Commission |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | European Union (EU) |
| Start | 05/2015 |
| End | 05/2019 |
| Description | University of Glasgow Knowledge Exchange Fund |
| Amount | £8,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | University of Glasgow |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 07/2015 |
| End | 10/2015 |
| Description | Industry partnership |
| Organisation | BASF |
| Department | BASF Plant Science |
| Country | United States |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Project development, collaboration and partnerships. |
| Collaborator Contribution | As above. |
| Impact | - Advisory Board for H2020 nEUROSTRESSPEP - Partner for Scottish Funding Council GCRF project - Partner for BBSRC-FAPESP application (outcome April 2017) |
| Start Year | 2014 |
| Company Name | SOLASTA BIO LIMITED |
| Description | SOLASTA Bio (solastabio.com) is a bioinsecticides discovery startup company with a unique proposition: insect control products that are nature-inspired rather than selected from a synthetic chemistry library. SOLASTA Bio designs "Insect Water Taps" (IWTs) that are specific, efficacious and safe for non-target organisms and the environment. Our market creating innovation, the multi-technology IWT platform, is developed from the award-winning H2020 nEUROSTRESSPEP and UK Research Innovation projects. SOLASTA Bio is currently supported by Scottish Enterprise (Scotland's economic development agency) and the founders are engaging with investors and SME grant funders to secure the finance to launch the business. The company's management team has world-leading technological expertise; and global commercial and organisational experience having attracted a former Agrochemical Corporate (Ag Corp) executive. SOLASTA Bio candidates are aimed at the €28B global insecticides market and will be licenced to Ag Corp, who are best placed to complete large-scale field trials and have global sales channels. The company is incubated at University of Glasgow, with excellent laboratory space, and facilities for genome analysis, fast screening, insect rearing and testing facilities. SOLASTA Bio's IWT platform, portfolio of lead bioinsecticides and the founding team are the core assets of the business. The company's strategy is to focus on developing the existing lead products against key insect pests to greenhouse/ small field proof of concept studies. This data package will be used to secure agreements with Ag Corp with a view to entering co-development and licensing deals, providing upfront payments, milestones and product royalties. The IWT platform represents a profound change for how insect control agents are discovered, being rooted in insect physiology rather than traditional synthetic chemistry. This provides the company with a disruptive competitive advantage, balancing risk with high reward. Achieving deals with Ag Corp will validate the IWT platform and the company's business model sufficiently to secure a major Series A investment from VC's that will enable SOLASTA Bio to expand and develop its operations. This will signpost IWT platform potential to the global AG industry modern biopesticides that meet grower and consumer demands. |
| Year Established | 2020 |
| Impact | Capital raised to date : Innovate UK grant, £650k (50% matching equity from investment below) Investment £350k 3 Management positions - CEO, CSO, COO 3 full time R&D staff (from April 2020) Planned recruitment for 3 R&D staff (June 2020) |
| Website | http://solastabio.com |
| Description | Industry Day |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | An event "Ways to Work with Industry" based around the BASF collaboration was held to provide researchers with an introduction to the BBSRC FLIP scheme, giving both an industrial and academic perspective. In addition to hearing about strategies undertaken to maximise the impact of BBSRC funded research through this scheme, BASF also presented their key scientific areas of interest and company strategy. Thirteen targeted attendees from across the University were involved, with six one-to-one meetings with Dr John Dorsch (Principal Research Scientist, BASF). Dr John Dorsch commented it was a 'very productive trip to Glasgow' and was very positive about 'the development of additional ties between Glasgow and BASF'. Follow-up activities are linking BASF divisions with UoG academics and at least four potential academic/industrial collaborations are being explored. This coordinated cross-College approach is being developed further with the College of Science & Engineering and the University's Research Strategy & Innovation Office. This event was included in UoG's submission for the BBSRC Impact Competition. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
| Description | Industry workshop |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | - Industry workshop on new biopesticides, BASF, USA, 2017. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |