Over £20 million government award marks Midlands’ bio-economy strengths

From advanced biology to crop improvements and the science of sheep health - new government award for doctoral training partnership. A consortium of Midlands research-active universities has just been awarded research studentships worth over £20 million to build on the Midlands' already significant bio-economy and success in life sciences and agricultural research. The Midlands Integrative Biosciences Training Partnership 2020 (MIBTP2020) is led by the School of Life Sciences at the University of Warwick , in partnership with the University of Birmingham, the University of Leicester , Aston University and Harper Adams University. The funding comes from the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council arm of the Government's UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) funding organisation. This award will be matched by the universities in the partnership to fund a total of 245 doctoral students (59 per year) over the next 5 years. The Director of MIBTP2020 at the University of Birmingham, Dr Tim Knowles , said: "We are ecstatic that the BBSRC has chosen to invest in this research partnership. It is a huge boost to the Midlands economy and a clear show of faith in the excellent science conducted here.