PHYCONET: unlocking the IB potential of microalgae

真核和原核微藻是多种光合微生物，具有相当大的潜力作为工业生物技术（IB）平台，用于从生物塑料和生物燃料到高价值生物活性物质的各种天然和工程生物产品。此外，在封闭的光生物反应器中培养提供了一种有吸引力的低碳替代现有的异养技术。然而，微藻IB是一个不成熟的领域，需要在藻类生物学、基因工程、大规模培养和下游加工方面取得长足进步。目前，相当多的研究和开发正在美国和中国等国家以及几个欧洲国家进行，这从亿美元的投资和许多初创公司中可以看出。相比之下，尽管英国在藻类生物科学方面拥有强大的学术基础，而且一些英国中小企业目前正在探索该领域的商业机会，但该研究目前资源不足，没有得到最佳协调。要在英国建立一个有竞争力的藻类IB，并吸引大公司的投资，需要有必要的基础。PHYCONET网络将通过汇集英国藻类生物科学研究界、IB行业的企业和其他利益相关者，创造关键的专业知识，我们需要做出努力和集中精力来实现这一阶段性变化，使英国成为藻类生物技术的领先者。我们还将与欧洲、美国、澳大利亚和其他主要国家的其他藻类生物技术网络和组织建立联系，以进一步提高英国社区的知名度，并分享资金和培训机会。该网络将把其职权范围限制在封闭式光生物反应器中微藻生产的高价值产品上，由于工业界和公众对这一新的基础设施部门的接受将通过明确证明微藻可以成为小规模生产高价值商品。

Eukaryotic and prokaryotic microalgae are diverse photosynthetic microorganisms that have considerable potential as industrial biotechnology (IB) platforms for a wide range of natural and engineered bio-products, from bioplastics and biofuels to high value bioactives. Moreover, cultivation in closed photobioreactors offers an attractive low-carbon alternative to existing heterotrophic technologies. However, microalgal IB is an immature field that requires step-changing advances in algal biology, genetic engineering, cultivation at scale and downstream processing. Currently, considerable research and development is occurring in countries such as the US and China, and several European countries, as is evident from $m investments and the many start-up companies. In contrast, although the UK has a strong academic base in algal biosciences, and a number of UK SMEs are currently exploring commercial opportunities in the sector, the research is currently under-resourced and not optimally coordinated. Essential underpinning is needed to create a competitive algal IB presence in the UK, and attract investment from major companies.The PHYCONET network will to tackle this issue head on, by bringing together the UK algal biosciences research community, businesses operating in the IB sector, and other stakeholders to creating the critical mass of expertise, effort and focus needed to achieve the step-change and make the UK a leading player in algal biotechnology. We will also forge links with other algal biotech networks and organizations in Europe, the US, Australia and other leading countries to further raise the profile of the UK community and share funding and training opportunities.The network will limit its remit to high-value products produced by microalgae in closed photobioreactors, since industrial and public acceptance of this new IB sector will occur most rapidly through clear demonstrations that microalgae can be viable platforms for small-scale production of high-value commodities.