Microbiome Innovation Centre (MIC)
Sector focus: Health and well-being, animal and human life sciences, agriculture, and sustainability
Established in 2020, the MIC builds on the University of Liverpool’s strategic partnership with Unilever, using advanced genomics, computational biology and multidisciplinary expertise to drive world-leading microbiome innovation.
Building on this foundation, MIC launched the Microbiome: Accelerating Innovation and Development Hub (MAID), a Liverpool City Region Life Sciences Innovation Zone project. Backed by government investment, it translates world-leading microbiome research into real-world health, wellbeing and commercial impact, supporting businesses to develop and scale microbiome-based solutions.
Delivering impact
- Translates cutting-edge microbiome research into therapies, products and commercial opportunity
- Anchors the strategic University–Unilever partnership driving global microbiome innovation
- Strengthens the Liverpool City Region Life Sciences Innovation Zone
- Attracts and scales innovative businesses
- Contributes to UK microbiome leadership through national programmes such as the BBSRC-funded Microbiome-Net, translating research into therapies and solutions with both local and global benefits.
Who it is for
- Global industry partners and R&D collaborators
- Life sciences and biotech companies developing microbiome solutions
- Start-ups and SMEs needing lab access, regulatory and commercial guidance
- Researchers and translational innovators
- Policymakers, government, investors, and partners driving regulation, strategy, and innovation.
What’s next
- Establishing a £30 million national Microbiome Centre of Excellence
- Expanding advanced multi-omics, data science and GMP manufacturing capability
- Launching a commercial concierge service to accelerate regulation, fundraising and market access.
