“The secret of getting ahead is getting started.” – Mark Twain
With an increasing need for sustainable solutions, transforming agricultural, livestock, and forestry byproducts into bioenergy, bioproducts, and biomaterials offers a viable path forward in Europe’s circular economy. However, embracing this shift requires innovative approaches to managing organic byproducts, moving beyond conventional practices that can be resource-intensive and environmentally taxing.
For many innovators in the circular bioeconomy space, the journey from idea to business is rarely straightforward. Often, it involves an intensive initial phase of unpaid work to develop a prototype, run pilot tests, and work with emerging technologies that are not yet fully scaled. This path may also require navigating uncertain investments, identifying new markets, and persuading users to adopt the novel product or service—an experience familiar to many entrepreneurs but especially challenging for small and rural businesses that may lack resources and easy access to expert knowledge.
Supporting Circular Bioeconomy Startups: The Role of BioRural
Recognising these challenges, BioRural is actively working to facilitate the dissemination of biobased innovations while also offering targeted support for grassroots innovators across Europe. Through the European Challenge on Circular Bioeconomy, BioRural partners are collecting and fostering ideas from creative startups, research teams, and micro-enterprises. These emerging innovators are encouraged to apply for coaching and guidance to help propel their ideas to the next level.
In this spirit, BioRural is organising an e-Training Webinar on 15 November titled “Innovation in Circular Bioeconomy: From Idea to Business.” Hosted online, this event will feature successful case studies, expert insights, and roundtable discussions from experienced professionals in the field. Participants will hear firsthand how innovators from 🇪🇸 Spain, 🇵🇹 Portugal, and 🇮🇹 Italy navigated their paths to market success, offering actionable advice on overcoming common obstacles and taking sustainable solutions to scale.
Webinar Highlights: Practical Guidance and Real-World Stories
The webinar will include two main roundtable discussions, where successful entrepreneurs and innovation experts will share insights and practical advice for those in the early stages of their bioeconomy ventures. Here’s a preview of what’s in store:
Roundtable 1: Success Cases
- José Antonio La Cal – Bioliza Biomass Strategies (Spain), olive cake gasification for energy an biochar
- Eduardo Costa – Sciven (Portugal), Advanced cost-efficient biomass based technology
- Yuriy Budyk – Calpech (Spain), Obtaining high added value iron nanoparticles from olive pomace
- Success case (Italy) – to be confirmed
Roundtable 2: Innovation Experts
- Carmen Avilés (Spain), TreeInnova iHub / UFIL Urban Forest Innovation Lab
- Roberto Touza (Spain), Startups.st
- Alexandre Almeida (Portugal), Instituto Pedro Nunes Incubator Coimbra
- Alessia Rotolo (Italy) – Agenzia Per la Promozione della Ricerca Europea
Building the Bioeconomy Through Collaboration and Shared Knowledge
Learning from the experiences of others, connecting with like-minded innovators, and forming strategic alliances can make all the difference in overcoming the challenges unique to the circular bioeconomy. By fostering a culture of shared knowledge and collaboration, BioRural aims to support early-stage innovators in transforming the European rural bioeconomy through innovative, sustainable solutions.
Event Details
- Date: 15 November
- Time: 9:00 – 11:00 CET
- Location: Online
- Register here
Join us to gain insights, connect with peers, and contribute to the future of Europe’s sustainable bioeconomy. Let’s take the first step together toward a circular, resilient, and innovative rural economy.