Case Study: IBioIC / C-Sum
Turning a medical device concept into software ready for clinical trials
The Challenge
The Industrial Biotechnology Innovation Centre (IBioIC) recognised that the biotechnology industry faces a difficult challenge: How to quantify and reduce carbon emissions generated by complex biotech processes. To encourage wider adoption of eco-friendly biotech processes, it was crucial to provide industries with a tool that could reliably predict and showcase the environmental benefits of biotechnology-based manufacturing methods. The challenge was clear: For IBiolC to develop a robust carbon accounting tool that could quantitatively demonstrate the superior environment
The Solution
- Developed a user-friendly and accessible tool that bridges the gap by offering a more intuitive interface, for a wider range of users.
- Devised a tool capable of leveraging process modelling to calculate carbon footprints, innovatively enhancing the accuracy and flexibility of carbon accounting in biotech processes.
- Seamlessly integrated C-SUM with existing data sets, aiding comprehensive analysis of carbon emissions across various stages of biotechnology processes.
- Enhanced C-SUM’s technological capabilities by rebuilding the tool, using a more advanced tech stack, for better performance and scalability.
- Enabled users to compare different variants of a biotech process, empowering them to choose the most environmentally sustainable options, tailored to their specific needs.
About IBioIC
IBioIC is a networking and support organisation that connects industry, academia and government to bring biotechnology processes and products to the global market. We do this by offering scale-up facilities, talent development, funding provision, and promotion of Scotland’s unique assets.
“An effective, flexible and easily accessible carbon accounting tool is essential for demonstrating the power of biotechnology to improve environmental performance and support industrial decarbonisation. The Industrial Biotechnology Innovation Centre (IBioIC) is engaged in an ongoing collaboration with Firefinch Software to develop C-SUM – a cutting edge carbon accounting tool for biotechnology processes. The team at Firefinch have been outstanding partners on this project. Their ability to engage with a diverse mix of industrial, academic and technical stakeholders, coupled with their unparalleled grasp of key software solutions has been critical to the development of C-SUM. We look forward to embarking on the next stage of the project with them.”
