Dr Pedro Fernandez, who works for Northern Engineering Solutions, was chosen by Bionow to sit alongside other leading experts at the inaugural BioIgnite Conference on Thursday, 16 October 2025. Hosted at Sci-Tech Daresbury in Cheshire, the conference aims to unite industry and academia to hear about the latest innovations, sector initiatives, and funding rounds.
The panel session will be led by Aline Miller, Director of the Industrial Biotechnology Innovation Catalyst, with the other participants including Allister Theobald, Principal Scientist at Lubrizol Home Care; Adeel Aslam, Deputy Managing Director at Bouygues; and Damian Kelly, Vice President – Innovation and Technology Development at Croda.
Speaking about the event and the panel discussion, Geoff Davison, CEO of Bionow, said: “We are excited to launch BioIgnite, with an agenda packed with engaging sessions, including expert panels and presentations on industry trends, funding landscapes, and the latest advancements in healthcare.
“We welcome Dr Fernandez and the rest of the panellists as they share their expert opinions on the industrial biotech landscape, the future of this innovative sector and what sustainable scalability could look like in the next 12 months and beyond.”
Since joining Northern Engineering Solutions over 18 months ago, Dr Fernandez has led on several projects designed to scale biotechnology solutions from the lab to industrial application. Projects have included pioneering research into the use of microalgae for treating mine water, as well as the design and build of a 1000-litre fermenter to enable the transition toward bio-derived chemicals. The fermenter forms part of a proprietary innovation by C3 Biotech - a spinout from the Manchester Institute of Biotechnology (MIB), which is redefining how commodity chemicals and fuels are produced using generative biology and non-sterile fermentation.
He also played an integral role in a research and development project supporting the RAF’s journey to net zero, using bacteria to treat waste aviation fuel and capture carbon dioxide in a solid form that can be repurposed.
Dr Fernandez added: “I am honoured to join this panel alongside such distinguished colleagues to discuss the practical realities of scaling biotech innovation. At Northern Engineering Solutions, we see firsthand how critical it is to bridge the gap between laboratory research and industrial application. Forums like BioIgnite are vital for accelerating collaboration across academia and industry, and I look forward to sharing insights from our recent projects that demonstrate how engineering can unlock biotechnology’s full potential.”
Based in North Shields, Northern Engineering Solutions specialises in mechanical, electrical and process engineering (MEP) solutions, with expertise in 3D process engineering design, high- and ultra-high-purity process pipework, cleanrooms, and effluent treatment systems. Clients include Pragmatic, CPI, Sterling Pharma, and De La Rue.
