It is increasingly important to develop new processes and value chains that use biomass to deliver sustainable alternatives to the goods, processes and energy that form part of our daily lives in order to progress towards net zero.
The Bioeconomy Cluster Builder (BCB), in collaboration with the Scottish Natural Products Network (SNaPNet), is delivering this workshop to bring together voices from business, academia and beyond to consider challenges and opportunities in three core aspects of this evolving bioeconomy landscape:
1. Waste biomass and co-products:
Our linear, ‘take-make-dispose’ approach to production has historically viewed the by-products from our economic activity as a series of waste streams. A range of industries are increasingly seeking ways to improve their environmental and commercial performance by creating valuable new products from these materials. From primary producers through to process industries, there are opportunities for biotechnology to deliver solutions that can valorise co-products, turning them into things like bioplastics, pharmaceutical and nutraceutical products, food supplements, animal feed and biofuels.
2. Non-food crops as sustainable feedstocks for high value chemical manufacturing:
The discovery of new pathways to create the high value chemicals we rely upon to support industries ranging from pharmaceuticals to textiles will be a key part of our transition away from petrochemical feedstocks. Non-food crops, both new and established, offer great potential as sustainable, bio-based alternatives to traditional feedstocks.
3. Innovative fermentation applications: harnessing Scotland’s distilling and brewing heritage to develop new products from sustainable feedstocks:
Scotland has a long tradition of distilling and brewing. Novel applications of the biotechnology skills, knowledge and experience existing in this prominent sector offer the opportunity to develop a variety of bio-based materials, processes and energy from sustainable feedstocks.
As part of the workshop you will
hear from SNaPNet and BCB on their goals and ambitions
hear from industry challenge holders and solution providers
take part in break out rooms to discuss biomass opportunities from waste-biomass, non-food-crop and the brewing industry.
have the opportunity to connect directly with other attendees using the Meeting MoJo application (separate registration required)
To maximise opportunities for innovation and collaboration, participants are invited to showcase their business, or area of research by submitting a case study which will form part of a digital brochure to be circulated prior to the event. DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSIONS IS 1200 ON WEDNESDAY 19TH MAY. Forms for case study submissions: INDUSTRY or ACADEMIC. Guidelines for submissions can be found HERE.
Workshop Agenda
13:00 Introductions
13:05 Presentations from industry challenge holders
13:30 Question and answer session
13:40 Pitching session
14:00 Breakout rooms
14:45 Funding presentation
15:00 Close
Registration open soon.
If you have questions about the workshop, or any other aspect of this event, please contact Alison Dun (SULSA) alison.dun@glasgow.ac.uk, Dana Heldt (KTN) dana.heldt@ktn-uk.org or Kim Cameron (IBioIC) kim.cameron@ibioic.com
The Bioeconomy Cluster Builder (BCB) project is a joint enterprise between KTN, IBioIC, and Scottish Enterprise to introduce biotechnology solutions to new markets and grow the bioeconomy in Scotland.
The Scottish Natural Products Network (SNaPNet) is a Research Innovation Scotland initiative involving the Scottish Research Pools, Innovation Centres and Interface. Their steering committee includes SULSA, ScotCHEM, IBioIC, SAIC, Interface, The University of Strathclyde, Robert Gordon University, The University of Dundee, The University of Edinburgh, The University of Glasgow and the University of Aberdeen.
As this event is held in conjunction with the Bioeconomy Cluster Builder (BCB) some attendee information may be shared with partner organisations IBioIC, KTN and Scottish Enterprise as part of the ERDF reporting requirement for the project. You can find the BCB privacy policy here.