Growing the Bioeconomy

In the last quarter, the Bioeconomy Cluster Builder has facilitated around 250 interactions with individuals across events and one to one meetings with companies.

 In December, the BCB team hosted Industrial Applications of Biomass: The Biorefinery Concept. This webinar looked at opportunities to develop meaningful biorefinery capacity across the UK. Presentations included dissemination of a significant IUK KTN report looking at the commercial potential for biomass to chemical activity, examination of the UK policy landscape and an example of a biorefining success story in Ireland.

 Our next event, Building a Sustainable Seafood Sector Through Collaboration was held in conjunction with IBioIC, Seafood Scotland, Opportunity North East, Zero Waste Scotland and University of Stirling.

This in-person event brought together stakeholders from the Scottish seafood sector, biotechnology community, and academia and enjoyed a keynote presentation from Alexandra Leeper, Head of Research and Innovation at Iceland Ocean Cluster. Examples of valorisation projects in Iceland and Scotland were explored before attendees went on to an afternoon networking and workshop segment. Follow on activity will be planned for later in 2023.

The Bioeconomy Cluster Builder continues its commitment to support the valorisation of agricultural residues. Over the last quarter several meetings have taken place with Grampian Growers who, along with academic partners, are exploring the potential to commercialise extraction of high value chemicals from potato haulms. Work is currently underway to establish the feasibility of their proposal.