EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Bioprocess Engineering Leadership

英国政府认识到“我们的经济是由高水平的技能和创造力驱动的”，并优先考虑将技能投资作为从当前经济衰退中迅速复苏的手段（HM政府：新产业，新工作，2009）。生物处理技术支持细胞和微生物的可控培养，以及安全、环保和具有成本效益的生物制造工艺的设计。这些技能是通用的，越来越多地应用于化学、制药和再生医学部门。然而，最近的报告强调，特定的技能短缺限制了英国利用这些领域的财富和创造就业机会的能力。他们强调需要与“数学技能……”应用相关的生物处理技能。在核心的生物工艺操作中，如“发酵”和“下游加工”，以及对许多工程专业毕业生来说“实践经验不足”。英国公司报告了在“寻找有创造力的人从事发酵和下游加工”（ABPI：维持技能管道，2005年和2008年）和寻找能够解决“使用生物材料扩大生产所带来的挑战”的个人方面的具体问题（工业生物技术创新和增长团队报告：最大化英国工业生物技术的机会，2009年）。生物加工技术在国际上也是稀缺的。许多英国公司已经注意到，在招聘研究生和熟悉生物处理技能的毕业生方面遇到的困难是普遍存在的，而海外的吸引力进一步夸大了这一困难（生物科学创新和增长团队报告：生物科学2015年，2003年和2009年更新）。EPSRC生物工艺工程领导工业博士中心（IDC）在为研究生科学家和工程师提供英国工业所需的生物处理技能方面取得了成功的记录。它将提供一个以发酵和下游加工技能为基础的“整个生物过程”培训主题，这将受益于一个设备精良、价值2500万英镑的生物过程试点工厂。该项目旨在加速毕业生进入博士研究领域，并建立一个多学科研究队伍。许多先进的生物处理模块将通过我们的MBI培训计划提供，该计划受益于每年约70名行业专家的投入（www.ucl.ac.uk/biochemeng/industry/mbi）。研究项目将与许多英国领先的化学和制药公司合作进行。国际数据中心还将在支持以生物技术为基础的中小型企业（SMEs）的研究活动方面发挥重要作用。绝大多数工程博士毕业生在毕业后进入相关的生物产业职业，这一事实证明了对IDC的需求。这一提议将使IDC能够培训下一代生物产业领导者，使他们能够利用基础生物科学的快速发展。特别是合成生物学的进步，现在使生物系统的合理设计能够利用可持续的原材料来源并提高制造效率。这将在化学品和生物燃料的生产、化学和生物药物的合成以及用于治疗的细胞培养方面带来益处。IDC的下一代毕业生还将更好地理解英国公司现在必须在全球环境中运营。这将通过为每位工程博士研究人员提供国际实习机会和新的培训途径来实现，无论是在生物工艺企业和创新方面，还是在卓越制造方面。通过这种方式，我们将为英国最优秀的科学和工程毕业生提供国际领先的研究和培训机会，从而为英国生物工艺行业的未来成功做出贡献。

The UK government recognises that 'our economy is driven by high levels of skills and creativity' and has prioritised investment in skills as a means to recovery rapidly from the current economic downturn (HM Government: New Industry, New Jobs, 2009). Bioprocessing skills underpin the controlled culture of cells and microorganisms and the design of safe, environmentally friendly and cost-effective bio-manufacturing processes. Such skills are generic and are increasingly being applied in the chemical, pharmaceutical and regenerative medicine sectors.Recent reports, however, highlight specific skills shortages that constrain the UK's capacity to capitalise on opportunities for wealth and job creation in these areas. They emphasise the need for bioprocessing skills related to the application of 'mathematical skills... to biological sciences', in core bioprocess operations such as 'fermentation' and 'downstream processing' and, for many engineering graduates 'inadequate practical experience'. UK companies have reported specific problems in 'finding creative people to work in fermentation and downstream processing' (ABPI: Sustaining the Skills Pipeline, 2005 & 2008) and in finding individuals capable of addressing 'challenges that arise with scaling-up production using biological materials' (Industrial Biotechnology Innovation and Growth Team report: Maximising UK Opportunities from Industrial Biotechnology, 2009). Bioprocessing skills are also scarce internationally. Many UK companies have noted 'the difficulties experienced in recruiting post-graduates and graduates conversant with bioprocessing skills is widespread and is further exaggerated by the pull from overseas (Bioscience Innovation and Growth Team report: Bioscience 2015, 2003 & 2009 update).The EPSRC Industrial Doctorate Centre (IDC) in Bioprocess Engineering Leadership has a successful track record of equipping graduate scientists and engineers with the bioprocessing skills needed by UK industry. It will deliver a 'whole bioprocess' training theme based around fermentation and downstream processing skills which will benefit from access to a superbly equipped £25M bioprocess pilot plant. The programme is designed to accelerate graduates into doctoral research and to build a multidisciplinary research cohort. Many of the advanced bioprocessing modules will be delivered via our MBI Training Programme which benefits from input by some 70 industry experts annually (www.ucl.ac.uk/biochemeng/industry/mbi). Research projects will be carried out in collaboration with many of the leading UK chemical and pharmaceutical companies. The IDC will also play an important role supporting research activities within biotechnology-based small to medium size enterprises (SMEs). The need for the IDC is evidenced by the fact that the vast majority of EngD graduates progress to relevant bioindustry careers upon graduation.This proposal will enable the IDC to train the next generation of bioindustry leaders capable of exploiting rapid progress in the underpinning biological sciences. Advances in Synthetic Biology in particular now enable the rational design of biological systems to utilise sustainable sources of raw materials and for improved manufacturing efficiency. These will lead to benefits in the production of chemicals and biofuels, in the synthesis of chemical and biological pharmaceuticals and in the culture of cells for therapy. The next generation of IDC graduates will also possess a better understand of the global context in which UK companies must now operate. This will be achieved by providing each EngD researcher with international placement opportunities and new training pathways either in bioprocess enterprise and innovation or in manufacturing excellence. In this way we will provide the best UK science and engineering graduates with internationally leading research and training opportunities and so contribute to the future success of the UK bioprocess industries.