
70 years of excellence in microbiology
NCIMB Ltd was established as a company in 1982,
but our history goes back much further.
We are proud of our heritage and strive to deliver products
and services that meet our customers’ high expectations.
1950's

1950
National Collection of Industrial Bacteria announced in Nature

1958
National Collection of Marine Bacteria announced in Nature

1959
The National Collections of Industrial and Marine Bacteria are co-located in Aberdeen
1980's

1981
The National Collections of Industrial and Marine Bacteria are transferred from the UK Civil Service to Aberdeen University Research Services (AURIS)

1982
The collections become NCIMB Ltd, created as a wholly owned subsidiary of AURIS

1983
NCIMB Ltd acquires the status of International Depository Authority under the Budapest Treaty
1990's

1993
The National Collection of Food Bacteria is moved to NCIMB

1997
Sanger sequencing service offered
2000's

2000
NCIMB spun out from AURIS

2006
MARA ecotox testing service launch
2010 to today

2017
NCIMB invested in next generation sequencing capability

2022
Moved to new purpose-built facility