BioDirect

Open innovation is key to unlocking circular and bioeconomy opportunities and accelerate solutions to core challenges industries are dealing with on all-Island basis.

BioDirect, an All-Island initiative, funded by InterTradeIreland’s Synergy Programme aims to accelerate the adoption of circular bio-based products and technologies across the Agriculture, Construction, Packaging and Textiles sectors and foster cross-border collaboration. The project is led by Circular Bioeconomy Cluster along with our partners Ulster University, Irish Nutrient Sustainability Platform at Queen’s University, ATIM Cluster and AgriTech Ireland Cluster.

Our goals are to accelerate the pace of innovation through a curated challenge and networking process.

• Roundtables: Connecting the sectoral All-Island ecosystem to discuss common challenges and network.
• Challenges: Connecting industry with solution providers to solve core challenges.
• Final Event September 4th 2024: Connecting the All-Island ecosystem to learn about solutions and enable cross sectoral discussions and collaboration. Register HERE. 

Earlier this year, we worked with our partners and engaged with 77 companies and 30 public sector stakeholders across the island to discuss and identify key challenges in Agriculture, Construction, Packaging and Textiles sectors, that require circular and bio-based solutions to help reach broader sustainability and climate targets. More information about the roundtables in our blog.

10 Challenges across the four sectors, will be launched this June. The challenges are open to the innovation community (start-ups, SMEs, researchers) to share their solutions, whether that be products or technologies.

In the section below, each challenge will detail the level of requirement, such as Technology Readiness Level.