Anaerobic Digestion Network

这项建议是在厌氧消化（AD）网络，将促进和促进科学研究所需的支持英国不断增长的AD产业。该研究将解决提高工艺效率和扩大可接受原料范围方面的紧迫挑战;并通过开发新的生物基产品和工艺，鼓励多样化进入工业厌氧生物技术的新领域。所需的基础研究是跨学科的，分子生物学家和微生物生态学家致力于代谢途径和社区结构的作用，通过过程科学家和技术专家将这些见解转化为实际过程。工艺工程师将考虑如何在新型反应器设计和操作方案中最好地实施这些技术，以及如何通过先进的工艺集成和优化来最大限度地提高资源效率;而环境和社会科学家将分析这些新技术的潜在效益和影响，并评估其对工业，社会和环境的影响。该网络的目的是建立一个综合的反倾销研究社区，将这些专家聚集在一起。为此，需要支持整合和扩大现有的研究基础，同时沿着有效的传播手段，并加强学术界与各行业利益攸关方的接触。该网络将通过与主要行业协会（包括厌氧消化和沼气协会（ADBA）和可再生能源协会（REA））联合组织的主题研讨会鼓励学术/行业互动。最初征求了所有潜在的网络成员对拟议工作组的兴趣。已收到来自约85个组织（约70个学术组织，约50个行业组织）的120多份积极答复。该网络一旦正式启动，预计将随着研究生和初级研究人员参与其活动而进一步扩大。该网络本身将以侧重研究的工作组为基础，共同主席来自工业界和学术界。这些将确定支持最终用户企业在生物能源和生物精炼领域开发有竞争力的生物基技术所需的研究。将为一系列高度创新的项目提供概念验证资金。这与其他网络活动将鼓励跨学科联盟的形成，从而使英国团队处于首要地位，以响应国家和国际研究呼吁，如BBSRC IBBE催化剂和欧盟的地平线2020计划。通过其享有盛誉的国际咨询小组，它还将提高英国科学家的形象，并帮助建立英国作为工业生物技术这一分支的领导者的地位。因此，该网络是发展英国作为创新厌氧技术世界领导者地位的重要因素，具有开拓新市场和研究领域的潜力。选择了5年的时间，以确保在英国和国际层面长期发展强大的合作研究，并通过研究活动，借调和交流加强。拟议的规模是必不可少的，既包括所有所需的学科和专业知识类型，并确保建立一个有效的和互动的AD研究社区，将超越BBSRC的资金。

This proposal is for a Network in Anaerobic Digestion (AD) that will promote and facilitate the scientific research needed to support the UK's growing AD industry. The research will both address immediate challenges in terms of improving process efficiencies and broadening the range of acceptable feedstocks; and encourage diversification into the novel area of industrial anaerobic biotechnology through the development of new bio-based products and processes. The underpinning research required is interdisciplinary, with molecular biologists and microbial ecologists working on the role of metabolic pathways and community structure, through to process scientists and technologists translating these insights into practical processes. Process engineers will consider how these can best be implemented in novel reactor designs and operating protocols, and how to maximise resource efficiency by advance process integration and optimisation; while environmental and social scientists will analyse the potential benefits and impacts of these new technologies and evaluate their implications for industry, society and the environment. The purpose of the Network is to create an integrated AD research community which draws these specialists together. To achieve this, support is needed for integration and expansion of the existing research base, along with effective means of dissemination and stronger engagement of the academic community with the various industry stakeholders. The Network will encourage academic/industry interaction by means of themed workshops organised in conjunction with the main trade associations, including the Anaerobic Digestion and Biogas Association (ADBA) and the Renewable Energy Association (REA). All potential Network members were initially canvassed concerning their interest in proposed working groups. More than 120 positive responses have been received from ~85 organisations (~70 academic, ~50 industry). Once officially launched, the Network is expected to expand further as research students and junior researchers become involved in its activities. The Network itself will be based around research-focused working groups with co-Chairs from industry and academia. These will identify the research needed to support end-user businesses in developing competitive bio-based technologies in both the bioenergy and biorefinery fields. Proof-of-concept funding will be provided for a range of highly innovative projects. This with other networking activities will encourage the formation of cross-disciplinary consortia, and thus put UK teams in a prime position to respond to national and international research calls such as the BBSRC IBBE Catalyst and the EU's Horizon 2020 programme. Through its prestigious International Advisory Group it will also raise the profile of UK scientists and help to establish the UK's position as a leader in this branch of industrial biotechnology. The Network is thus a vital element in developing the UK's position as a world leader in innovative anaerobic technology with the potential to open up new markets and research areas. A 5-year duration has been chosen to ensure long-term development of strong collaborative research at both UK and international levels, reinforced by research events, secondments and exchanges. The proposed scale is essential both to encompass all the required disciplines and types of expertise, and to secure the establishment of an effective and interactive AD research community that will endure beyond the BBSRC funding.