THE COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL LANDSCAPE OF BIOTECHNOLOGY - 2026/7

Module Overview

The module is directed to the discussion and analysis of the technical aspects of industrial cases and their administrative, legal, and regulatory characteristics.

Module provider

School of Biosciences

Module Leader

AVIGNONE ROSSA Claudio (Biosciences)

Number of Credits: 30

ECTS Credits: 15

Framework: FHEQ Level 7

Module cap (Maximum number of students): N/A

Module Availability

Semester 1

Prerequisites / Co-requisites

None

Module content

Indicative content includes two main parts:
Commercial and Industrial Landscape of Biotechnology
4i. Biotechnological Industries
Specialist talks by invited speakers from industry to discuss current processes and future prospects of the biotech industry.
 

• Antibiotics: From screening to industrial production.

• Biotechnology for agriculture: Production of biopesticides and biofertilizers.

• Microbial processes for Agricultural Biotechnology

• Plant and Crop Biotechnology.

• Industrial Fermentations for antibody and other proteins.

• Lab-grown meat (and other artificial products)/

• Artificial cacao and other artificial flavours.

• Algal Biotech.

• Biotech and Bioprocess development.

• Beer production.

• Wastewater treatment
   

4ii. Planning, Managing and Leading

• Ethics and Public Understanding.

• Biotechnology Business and Commercialization.

• Legal and Regulatory aspects.

• Management and Intellectual Property.

• Governmental Approval: Clinical trials, food safety, environmental protection.

• Sustainability.

• Research Park.

• Bioprocess analysis and techno-economical evaluation and Public and Social Acceptance of Biotech products.

• Bioprocess design and Development in the pharmaceutical industry.

• Biofoundries: Practical, legal and ethical issues.

• Business development and deal.making for Biotech and Pharma Patent and licensing in Biotech.

• Practical, legal & ethical issues.

• Forensic Biotechnology & Biosecurity.

Assessment pattern

Alternative Assessment

None

Assessment Strategy

The assessment strategy for this module is designed to give the students the opportunity to demonstrate their understanding and analytical skills by the preparation of two essays.
The summative assessment for this module consists of:

• One essay discussing the main steps involved in a bioprocess, including limitations and difficulties and how these can be overcome.

• One essay directed to the analysis of a real process chosen by the students.

Formative assessment and feedback: Tutorials and seminars discussing the subjects from the lectures to facilitate the analysis of the different aspects under study. Written feedback will be given to the students on the draft versions, and verbally during the tutorials.

Module aims

• Provide specialised study on the principles involved involved in the development and operation of biological processes, and the problems specific to the use of biological agents.
• Present a wide ranging view of the legal and regulatory requirements for the development of a novel compound with potential application in health or environment.
• Introduce working knowledge of IP protection and patenting.
• Introduce concepts of business development and management.
• Discuss ethical issues, controversies and public understanding of the development of biological processes with potential effect on the environment and health.

Learning outcomes

Methods of Teaching / Learning

This module is based on a series of lectures given by local lecturers and external speakers, all of them leading experts in their respective fields. The industries they represent range from large multinational companies producing commodities to start-ups and spin-offs producing novel products and processes. The module will allow the students to immerse in the real world of biotechnology via lectures and discussions led by the speakers and the teaching staff.
Similar to the other modules, the learning and teaching methods include a combination of approaches: In this case, the lectures will provide a framework for discussion and analysis of the advantages presented by the biotech industry, and the wide range of issues and hurdles it faces.
The lectures will be accompanied by tutorials and journal-club activities and problem-based exercises to allow the students elaborate and reflect on the information received, and expand the understanding of the subjects discussed in the module.

Indicated Lecture Hours (which may also include seminars, tutorials, workshops and other contact time) are approximate and may include in-class tests where one or more of these are an assessment on the module. In-class tests are scheduled/organised separately to taught content and will be published on to student personal timetables, where they apply to taken modules, as soon as they are finalised by central administration. This will usually be after the initial publication of the teaching timetable for the relevant semester.

Reading list

https://readinglists.surrey.ac.uk
Upon accessing the reading list, please search for the module using the module code: BMSM047

Other information

The contribution of the module to the 5 pillars can be described as follows
Digital capabilities: This module will offer the students the possibility of using state-of-the-art software for scientific literature search and for preparation of systematic review articles. The students will be introduced to software for techno-economical analysis and life-cycle analysis.
Sustainability: The module will familiarize the students with the approaches followed in industry to generate and maintain sustainable bioprocesses contributing to net-zero emissions, as biotech processes help to reduce demand for fossil fuels and release of greenhouse gases.
Resourcefulness and resilience: The students will be asked to search, describe and analyse different bioprocesses and the industrial strategies used in their development. They will dedicate effort to collect and digest relevant information in order to prepare the final piece of assessment. This will have a positive impact in their organization and planning skills.
Global and cultural capabilities: The lecturers in this module come from very different academic and professional environments and will offer their points of view and experience. This will prepare our students to navigate the different cultural landscapes they will face in their professional career and give them flexibility to understand the problems and hurdles suffered by industry in different parts of the world.
Employability: The students will have access to first-hand information about the current situation of the biotech industry at different levels, from academic spin-offs to start-up companies to large biopharmaceutical industries, presented and discussed by national and international leaders in the field. This information will facilitate their introduction to a future career.

Please note that the information detailed within this record is accurate at the time of publishing and may be subject to change. This record contains information for the most up to date version of the programme / module for the 2026/7 academic year.