PHYCONET: unlocking the IB potential of microalgae

真核和原核生物微藻是多种多样的光合作用微生物，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、生物燃料到高价值生物活性等广泛的天然和工程生物产品。此外，封闭式光生物反应器的培养为现有的异养技术提供了一个有吸引力的低碳替代方案。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、规模化养殖和下游加工方面取得阶段性进展。目前，美国和中国等国以及几个欧洲国家正在进行大量研发，这从数百万美元的投资和众多初创公司中可见一斑。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，一些英国中小企业目前正在探索该领域的商业机会，但目前这项研究资源不足，协调不力。PHYCONET网络将正面解决这一问题，将英国藻类生物科学研究社区、IB行业的企业和其他利益相关者聚集在一起，创造关键的专业知识、努力和重点，以实现这一转变，使英国成为藻类生物技术领域的领先者。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，以进一步提升英国社区的形象，分享资金和培训机会。该网络的范围将限制在封闭式光生物反应器中由微藻产生的高价值产品，因为工业和公众将以最快的速度接受这一新的IB部门，因为清楚地证明微藻可以成为小规模生产高价值商品的可行平台。

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.