The UK Industrial Biotechnology (IB) Strategy presents a consistent plan to develop the IB sector but fails to endorse an innovation process that allows for input from multiple publics. This could be disadvantageous for the bioeconomy: there are notable cases where negligence to address societal dimensions has caused innovation failure.

In 2018, the UK Industrial Biotechnology Leadership Forum (IBLF) published Growing the UK Industrial Biotechnology Base: A National Industrial Biotechnology Strategy to 2030, a report that advances an ambitious vision and roadmap for the UK IB sector from 2018 to 2030 [2]. Copromoted by the UK Bioindustry Association (BIA), the report sets two ambitious goals: to develop a national strategy that establishes the UK as a world leader in IB, and to enable the sector to become a mainstream part of UK industry. In order to achieve these goals, the document proposes a programme that involves a variety of elements that range from the development of a supportive policy and regulatory environment, improved access to funding and finance, the promotion of trade and commercialisation, to unified communication and public outreach. From this, the report develops a plan of action that seeks to cultivate a political, regulatory, infrastructural, and public environment that supports the IB sector consistently and that aids realisation of the technological and economic potential of IB. The document proposes a three-phase implementation plan and close collaborations with UK funding bodies, government departments, and industry organisations.