A peer review organised by the BIOEASTsUP project presented three case studies from Greece, Ireland, and Slovenia in an on-line webinar on 8th December.
Representatives of Citrion, an entrepreneurial non-profit, PhytoTowel, a bioeconomy-oriented start-up, and ACIES BIO, a biotechnology contract research organization shared their experience in business development, discussed the difficulties they had to face and provided suggested solutions in an intense discussion with peers from the BIOEASTsUP project. Topics such as: the direct involvement of universities as co-owner of new start-ups, the support of the technology transfer centres, initial financing challenges, and participating in the BISC-E student competition, were among the topics discussed as elements toward successful transfer of technology, to name a few. Case study owners stressed the need for a business-oriented approach when implementing the results of research and development, in order to bring their solutions to the market. The case studies showed, in practical terms, the advantages of utilizing shared resources rather than outright ownership, and also highlighted the potential added value within communal (bio)waste.
This last peer review is in response to the recommendation provided by the reviewers of BIOEASTsUP project to attract more entrepreneurs and encourage their participation in bioeconomy. This peer review was followed by policy-makers, who play a key role to support technology transfer and the cooperation between research organisations and entrepreneurs, therefore, they are key stakeholders who can enhance the implementation of bioeconomy initiatives.