Engineering Biology is the design, engineering and re-engineering of biologically based or biologically inspired parts, devices and systems. This research area includes developing or scaling up techniques to deliver a greener, healthier, more resilient future.
This area encompasses the application of engineering tools and principles to design and engineer novel biologically based parts, devices and systems that do not exist in the natural world, as well as the redesign of existing natural biological systems for useful purposes.
Engineering biology is an evolution of synthetic biology, with our definitions of both being informed by the Royal Academy of Engineering report (PDF, 1.65MB). It encompasses the wider capabilities of the biosciences, engineering and the physical sciences to support the exploitation of synthetic biology knowledge for economic and public benefit.
As engineering biology matures and moves closer to application across a wide range of sectors, it increasingly draws on insight from a broad range of disciplines such as environmental science, biomedicine, economics and social sciences.
To maximise the full potential of engineering biology, UKRI’s research councils work hand in hand with national and international partners across governments, academia and industry to drive this critical technology forward. This means that the broad remit of the engineering biology research area spans remits of multiple research councils.
EPSRC funds engineering biology research with a focus on applying engineering tools to biological systems to deliver new biologically based or biologically inspired parts, devices and systems which could result in a greener, healthier, more resilient future. Engineering biology research which primarily fits within other research councils’ remit is outside of scope of EPSRC funding. For interdisciplinary research that may cross research council remits, it can be difficult to know which council to submit an application to. Use our remit service to seek advice on which council to submit your application to.
This research area has developed substantially through targeted investments seeking to increase the UK’s competitive advantage. It remains of strategic importance, with EPSRC playing a vital role in ensuring that engineering biology’s potential can be realised. We will look to capitalise on existing investments and infrastructure with a view to exploiting the manufacturing and scale up potential.
A continued focus will be to ensure that engineers in particular, along with mathematicians and physical scientists, are fully engaged and play a leadership role in developing the future of engineering biology. Research in this area is central to addressing current and future national challenges related to sustainability and resource efficiency.
Standards, metrology and responsible research innovation are three areas of significant importance to growing the potential of engineering biology, due to their importance in transforming research into viable industrial technologies. The community should have embedded them into research practices as standard.
We will also work with the community and other important partners to identify suitable challenges and areas of strategic importance within the portfolio as they arise.