About
Introduction
InCrops is part of the Adapt Low Carbon Group, based at the University of East Anglia.
The InCrops team works with businesses and entrepreneurs to increase low carbon economic growth in the East of England. This includes providing consultancy on the development or adoption of bio-based products made from plants, algae, and agricultural and food wastes.
We facilitate the interaction between business and the exceptional academic expertise in the East of England and beyond, resulting in a higher impact from research and added value for business.
Funding from the European Regional Development Fund enables us to provide free support to eligible businesses and we also provide a competitive consultancy service through Adapt Commercial, our sister organisation. If your business is looking for venture capital funding, you may be interested in the Low Carbon Innovation Fund, also part of the Adapt Group.
Partners
The InCrops partnership brings together a group of leading academic and research organisations with exceptional expertise.
Our core partners include:
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Bangor BioComposites Centre (BC)Since 1989, BC has been at the forefront of research, development and the commercial application of bio-based alternatives to synthetic materials in manufacturing and industry. This research centre specialises in industrial contract research with expertise in biopolymers and biocomposites, testing and prototyping capabilities. |
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Centre for Process InnovationThe Centre for Process Innovation is a UK-based technology innovation centre. It uses applied knowledge in science and engineering, combined with state of the art facilities to enable clients to develop, prove, prototype and scale-up the next generation of products and processes. |
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Department of Civil, Environmental, Aerospace Engineering and Materials, Faculty of Engineering, University of Palermo (Sicily)This organisation engages in research programmes that develop knowledge in the fields of chemical engineering and material sciences. It has expertise in engineering, composite materials and joining technologies using crop-derived materials. |
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Easton CollegeEaston College is an agricultural based college located seven miles west of Norwich, in over 200 hectares of idyllic countryside and farmland. Easton offers courses in areas such as agriculture, countryside management and horticulture. |
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Faculty of Agronomy, Technical University of Lisbon (Portugal)This is the largest and most reputed school of Engineering, Science and Technology and Architecture in Portugal. It is involved with active research in agricultural science and has commercial links in the agro-forestry, food, environmental, and biotech areas. |
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Forestry CommissionThis UK Government department is responsible for the protection and expansion of Britain's forests and woodlands with responsibilities spanning research, commercial timber production, sustainability programmes and policy, as well as learning and leisure. |
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Fraunhofer Institute for Mechanics of Materials (Germany)This applied research institute has expertise in materials development and testing. The institute promotes and undertakes applied research within an international context, and works to ensure it is of direct use to private and public enterprises and of benefit to society. |
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Kingston University, Faculty of Art, Design, and ArchitectureKingston University offers research and teaching activities related to sustainability and the use of renewable and recycled materials. As part of this, it maintains a materials library to improve the global availability and readiness of new materials made from waste. |
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National Institute of Agricultural Botany (NIAB)NIAB is a plant science research organisation which develops parental plant breeding material, technical services and training in plant genetic resources for world-wide use. NIAB’s basic principal is that agricultural science and technology have a vital role to play in boosting productivity, conserving resources and coping with climate change. |
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Norwich Research ParkThe Norwich Research Park is a partnership between the University of East Anglia, Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, John Innes Centre, Institute of Food Research, the Genome Analysis Centre and the Sainsbury Laboratory. It is home to over 30 science and technology based businesses, and supports the development of commercial activity. |
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Rothamsted ResearchRothamsted is the largest agricultural research centre in the UK with an outstanding international reputation as a centre of excellence for science in support of sustainable land management. It aims to develop innovations to benefit our health, farming and the environment. |
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University of East Anglia,Schools of Biological Sciences and Environmental SciencesThe School of Biological Sciences carries out world-leading research that covers the full spectrum of biology, from biomedicine and developmental biology to microbiology, biochemistry, evolutionary biology, ecology and conservation. The School of Environmental Sciences is one of the longest established, largest and most fully developed Schools of Environmental Sciences in Europe. It has a holistic approach to teaching and research that integrates physical, chemical, biological, social and geotechnical sciences. |
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University of Essex, School of Biological SciencesThe University of Essex is one of the UK's leading academic institutions with an international reputation for high quality teaching and research. The School of Biological Sciences has a strong research focus, including environmental biology, marine and microbial sciences, plant biology and molecular medicine. |
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University of CambridgeThe University of Cambridge is consistently ranked among the foremost universities in the world. InCrops works with the Department of Plant Sciences, the Department of Biochemistry, the Department of Chemistry, the Department of Chemical Engineering, the Department of Engineering, Institute of Manufacturing, the Department of Social Anthropology, the Department of Pharmacology and the Judge Business School. |
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University Campus Suffolk (UCS)This higher education institution operates through a network of teaching and research centres around Suffolk. UCS brings expertise into the partnership from its School of Science, Technology and Health, which includes regenerative medicine, biotechnology and marine biotechnology. |
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University of Southampton, Faculty of Engineering and EnvironmentThe Faculty of Engineering and Environment is one of the leading engineering faculties in Europe, with a strong focus on addressing real world problems that affect and involve people and the environment. |
Meet the team
Our dedicated, specialist team provides a wide range of expertise.
Dr Liliya Serazetdinova
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Programme Manager Liliya leads InCrops’ team of experienced consultants and has expertise across the biorenewables sectors. She manages the delivery of the team’s ERDF project objectives and determines InCrops’ strategic direction. Liliya’s specialisms include the development of market opportunities in biopolymers and bioplastics, as well as fashion, design and art. She has a PhD in plant molecular biology from the University of Hamburg. Liliya's specialisms: biopolymers, bioplastics, packaging, fashion, design and art. |
Dr Beatrix Schlarb Ridley
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Business Innovation Manager and Director of the InCrops Algal Innovation Centre Project Beatrix is an experienced biochemist and technology transfer professional. Her specialisms within InCrops include algal technologies, biorefineries and biopharmaceuticals. She has a thorough understanding of current and emerging issues in algal research and commercialisation, both nationally and internationally. Beatrix studied Biochemistry in Germany and then moved to Cambridge, where she obtained her PhD in photosynthesis research. Beatrix's specialisms: algal technologies, biorefining, biopharmaceuticals and ethnomedicines. |
Iris Anderson
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Business Innovation Manager Iris is a career civil servant with 30 years experience of government policy and strategy, she joins InCrops on secondment for 6 months. Iris was the UK lead for the EU Bioeconomy Strategy and previously led the Bioeconomy Innovation team in DECC, served on the OECD steering group futures project: the Bioeconomy to 2030. She has a wide knowledge of Biomass, Energy from Waste, Industrial Biotechnology, Renewable Materials and Sustainable Consumption & Production. Iris has built up extensive contacts in the UK, EU and worldwide. Based at the Innovation Centre in Norwich, Iris is leading on the development of commercial opportunities and proactive business support to companies in the bio-renewable and bioeconomy sector. Iris's specialisms: holistic approach to the bioeconomy, tying up supply chains and EU and UK policy on biorenewables |
Dr Gilu George
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Business Innovation Manager Gilu’s work focuses on projects encompassing bioenergy and high-value products from non-food feedstocks. Her key interests are in linking supply chains and developing collaborative projects between academic researchers and industry. She has broad knowledge of the biofuel sector, having previously worked on a large EU-funded biorenewables project supporting SMEs. This proejct included a mix of research, business development and communications activities. Gilu has research experience working with a wide-range of plants including spices, medicinal plants, non-food crops and cereals. Gilu studied Agriculture and holds an MSc in Plant Biotechnology from India. She then moved to UK to do a second MSc in Applied Bio-Molecular Technology at the University of Nottingham and went on to complete her PhD in Plant Biology with Prof O. Leyser at the University of York. Gilu’s specialisms: Bioenergy, Biofuels, Sustainable Agriculture, Agronomy and Crops, Biomass and Food/Feed. |
Dr Agnieszka Krzyzaniak
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Business Innovation Manager Agnieszka’s main areas of expertise are in the production of bio-based chemicals and materials. Thanks to her dual background in biotechnology and chemical engineering, she is knowledgeable in both upstream and downstream aspects of bioprocesses. This knowledge is used to facilitate the development of new processes and products, and to promote bioprocess integration initiatives (biorefining). Based at the Innovation Centre in Norwich, Agnieszka focuses on developing projects including recovery of valuable compounds from (food) waste streams, production of bio-based (bulk) chemicals, as well as biomaterials. She has experience in commercial consultancy in the areas of light industry, food and beverages and the chemical industry. Agnieszka holds an MSc in Biotechnology from University of Life Sciences in Poznan, Poland and a PhD in Chemical Engineering from Technical University of Eindhoven, the Netherlands. Agnieszka’s specialisms: bio-based chemicals, biomaterials, integration of bioprocesses and biorefining. |
Dr Brenda Parker
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Business Innovation Officer Based at the University of Cambridge, Brenda divides her time between the EnAlgae project, facilitating the development of sustainable technologies for algal biomass production, and supporting businesses in the biorenewable sector. Her role also includes the bioremediating nutrients - i.e. extracting value from waste products, such as fertiliser run off, industrial CO2 waste and anaerobic digestate. Brenda holds an MEng and a PhD in Biochemical Engineering from University College London. Brenda’s specialisms: bioprospecting, algal technologies, biorefining, fashion, design and art. |
Jonathan Gray
Board of directors:
InCrops is operated by InCrops Ltd, a not for profit company wholly owned by the University of East Anglia. Established in August 2008, the company has seven directors from a range of different backgrounds who govern and manage the strategic direction of InCrops. The work of the board is supported by the InCrops Strategy Group which has representatives from our 19 partners.
Board members
Non-Executive Chair: Marie Francis, OBE
Adapt Low Carbon Group CEO: Dr John French
UEA Directors:
Professor Trevor Davies, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research, Enterprise and Engagement
Professor David Richardson, Dean of Science
Helen Lewis, Director of Research and Enterprise Services
Mr Stephen Donaldson, Company Secretary
Industry Representatives:
John Casey, Platform Leader Bioscience, Nutrition & Health, Unilever
Barrie Griffiths, Chairman, Kore Technology Ltd
InCrops Strategy Group
The InCrops Strategy Group is advisory to the board, is made up of representatives from InCrops partners and is chaired by Liliya Serazetdinova. Emphasis is placed on discussing InCrops activities, strategic initiatives and how the project can be moved forward.