The Industrial Biotechnology Innovation Catalyst (IBIC) is a £5 million EPSRC place-based initiative that brings together north-west England's industrial biotechnology community to accelerate knowledge exchange, skills development, and innovation. It will galvanise links between the region's science, research, innovation, and teaching sectors to create real-world impact. The IBIC is led by The University of Manchester's Institute of Biotechnology and co-created with the Universities of Liverpool, Salford, and Manchester Metropolitan, and civic and business partners including the Innovation District Manchester project. We are united by a culture of ethics, diversity, and openness and offer our partners access to cutting-edge R&D knowledge, capabilities, talent and facilities. We support our community with skills training, finance, and business advice so they can realise success.