BioInnovation Wales

Name

BioInnovation Wales

Legal name

IBERS Distance Learning

Website

https://bioinnovationwales.org.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

BioInnovation Wales (IBERS Distance Learning) is an academic unit at Aberystwyth University that delivers online, stackable postgraduate distance-learning programs and individual modules for agrifood professionals, with tuition subsidised through Welsh government programmes such as Farming Connect and Research Wales Innovation Funding.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Aberystwyth

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Course Tuition Fees: Revenue generated from tuition fees for online modules, short courses, workshop modules, and degree programs. Fees vary by qualification level and module type. Some courses receive partial funding through Welsh government programs like Farming Connect and Research Wales Innovation Funding.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

BioInnovation Wales (IBERS Distance Learning) delivers online postgraduate and professional development education for agrifood professionals. The offering comprises stackable qualifications ranging from individual online modules and short introductory courses through postgraduate certificates, diplomas, master's degrees (MSc and MRes), and professional doctorates (Doctor of Agriculture, Professional Doctorate BioInnovation). Courses are delivered via distance learning with September, January, and May intakes.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Online Modules (Distance Learning) Individual online course modules covering topics such as Biomass to Products, Food Innovation, Sustainable Forage Systems, Horticultural Science, Life Cycle Assessment, Livestock Health and Welfare, Programming for Agritech, Soil Science, and Sustainable Supply Systems, delivered to agrifood professionals seeking flexible study.
• Short Intro Courses Short introductory online courses aligned with the Welsh Sustainable Farming Scheme, providing subsidized entry-level training for Welsh farmers and agrifood professionals.
• Workshop Modules Workshop-style online modules offering hands-on learning experiences for agrifood professionals on selected topics.
• Work-Based Research Projects Research project modules that enable agrifood professionals to conduct research embedded in their existing work, contributing credit toward advanced qualifications.
• Bespoke Training Customized training programs designed to the specific needs of organizations or industry partners in the agrifood sector.
• Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Continuing professional development courses that allow agrifood professionals to maintain and enhance their skills, contributing modules toward larger stackable qualifications.
• Postgraduate Certificates (PGCert) Postgraduate certificate qualifications, including Livestock Science PGCert, that form part of the stackable pathway toward diplomas and higher degrees.
• Nuffield Scholarship PGCert Specialized postgraduate certificate pathway for Nuffield Farming Scholars to earn academic credit for their industry research projects.
• Postgraduate Diplomas Postgraduate diploma qualifications that can be accumulated through completed modules and credited toward higher awards in the stackable qualifications pathway.
• MSc Sustainable Agriculture Master of Science degree focused on sustainable and efficient food production, delivered online for agrifood professionals.
• MSc Agrifood Innovation Master of Science degree specializing in agrifood innovation, delivered online through the IBERS Distance Learning stackable pathway.
• Research Masters Agriculture (MRes Agriculture) Research-focused Master of Research degree in agriculture aimed at agrifood researchers pursuing advanced study alongside professional work.
• Research Masters Agrifood Innovation (MRes Agrifood Innovation) Research-focused Master of Research degree specializing in agrifood innovation, delivered online through IBERS Distance Learning.
• Doctor of Agriculture (DAg) Research doctorate in agriculture delivered online as a multi-year program for working agrifood researchers and professionals.
• Professional Doctorate BioInnovation Professional doctorate program focused on BioInnovation, delivered online to agrifood professionals through the stackable qualifications pathway.

Quantifiable outcome

• Helping professionals balance profitability with sustainability since 2012

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Farming ConnectcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFarming Connect provides 80% funding for Sustainable Farming Scheme linked 6-hour online courses offered by IBERS Distance Learning. This partnership enables Welsh farmers to access subsidized training aligned with new sustainable farming requirements. Farming Connect serves as the primary funding and referral channel for agricultural training in Wales.
• Aberystwyth UniversitycoreOthersIBERS Distance Learning is a division of IBERS (Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences) within Aberystwyth University. The university provides academic accreditation, faculty, research oversight, and institutional infrastructure for all programs offered.
• Nuffield Farming ScholarshipsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpecialized pathway for Nuffield Farming Scholars to earn academic credit (PGCert) through structured research project modules. Includes dedicated courses: Nuffield Scholarship Project Design, Nuffield Project Data Analysis and Presentation, and Nuffield Scholarship Project Extended Report.

Scale indicators1 record

Broad incumbents

• edX: Global MOOC platform offering university-credentialed online courses in agriculture, sustainability, and food systems. Competes for the same postgraduate and CPD agrifood learner, though as part of a much broader catalog rather than a focused niche.
• FutureLearn: UK-based online learning platform with a broad catalog including agricultural, sustainability, and food courses from multiple universities. Comparable as a distribution and online-learning channel competing for the same agrifood CPD audience, though it is a generalist platform rather than a niche provider.
• Coursera: Global MOOC platform hosting agricultural and food-system courses from leading universities worldwide. Comparable as a competing online education channel for agrifood professionals seeking flexible, credentialed learning, but operating at much larger scale and broader scope.
• Open University: UK's largest distance-learning university offering a wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate programs including environment, sustainability, and science modules. Comparable as a UK distance-learning competitor for working professionals, though it is a generalist institution rather than agrifood-specialist.

Direct peers

• Royal Agricultural University: UK agricultural university providing online postgraduate and CPD programs in agriculture, food, and land management. Comparable to BioInnovation Wales on target audience (working agrifood professionals), qualification ladder (CPD through master's), and UK-focused distance-learning delivery.
• Wageningen University & Research: Global agricultural sciences university offering online master's, professional courses, and MOOCs in sustainable agriculture, food innovation, and life sciences. Highly comparable on subject specialization (agrifood, sustainability) and online postgraduate delivery model, even though it is a broader and more international player.
• SRUC (Scotland's Rural College): Scotland's specialist agricultural education and research institution offering postgraduate and continuing education programs in agriculture and rural science. Comparable because it serves a similar UK agrifood-professional audience with applied, sustainability-aligned curriculum and online delivery.
• Harper Adams University: UK specialist agricultural university offering postgraduate distance learning and short courses for agrifood professionals. Direct peer because it competes for the same UK agrifood continuing-education audience, with overlapping subject matter (livestock, agronomy, agri-tech) and a similar university-anchored online model.
• Plumpton College: UK land-based college offering higher education and CPD courses in agriculture, horticulture, and land management. Comparable on audience (UK agrifood professionals seeking flexible and vocational qualifications) and on overlap in subject matter (livestock, horticulture, sustainable land use).

Regional players

• Massey University: New Zealand university with strong agricultural and veterinary programs, including distance learning for working professionals. Comparable on agrifood subject focus and distance-learning model, but serves a different geographic market (NZ/Asia-Pacific vs Wales/UK).

Market position

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/IBERS_DL

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about BioInnovation Wales