The Circular Bioeconomy Education Centre (CBEC) is offering a free Bio-based Product Innovation course designed to respond to identified skills needs within Ireland's emerging circular bioeconomy.
The course is particularly relevant to industry practitioners and professionals looking to:
- Upskill in circular bioeconomy approaches.
- Explore bio-based innovation opportunities.
- Identify value from biological resources and waste streams.
- Develop new bio-based product concepts.
- Better understand the connection between bio-based products and viable markets.
Over the 12-week programme, participants will work with researchers and industry experts on real-world challenges and develop their own bio-based product concept.
WHAT THE COURSE COVERS
Participants will explore the journey from biological resources to commercially relevant products.
The course focuses on how to:
Identify Resources
Understand available biological resources and biomass, including opportunities associated with waste streams.
Transform Resources
Explore how biological materials can be processed or transformed into useful products.
Design Bio-based Products
Develop concepts for products based on biological resources and circular approaches.
Connect Products to Markets
Consider how bio-based innovations can be linked to viable markets and commercial opportunities.
This makes the programme particularly useful for professionals who want to connect science, resource availability, product development and commercial thinking.
WHO SHOULD APPLY?
The course is particularly suited to:
- Industry practitioners
- Professionals
- People working in sustainability.
- Product-development professionals.
- Professionals exploring bio-based innovation.
- Individuals looking to develop circular bioeconomy skills.
The organisers specifically identify potential relevance for people working across:
- Food
- Agriculture
- Forestry
- Marine
- Waste
- Bioprocessing
- Manufacturing
- Sustainability
- Product development
It is also relevant to professionals who see opportunities to introduce bio-based thinking into their organisations.
WHAT PARTICIPANTS WILL DEVELOP
The programme is not simply a theoretical introduction to the bioeconomy.
Participants will work towards developing their own:
Bio-based Product Concept
This provides an opportunity to apply the learning to a practical product-development challenge.
PROGRAMME EXPERTISE
Participants will work with:
- Experienced researchers
- Industry experts
This provides exposure to both technical and industry perspectives while participants develop their concepts.
CIRCULAR BIOECONOMY SKILLS FRAMEWORK
CBEC has also developed a Taxonomy of Circular Bioeconomy Skills, which maps skills across seven sectors.
The seven sectors identified are:
- Agriculture
- Forestry
- Fisheries & Aquaculture
- Food & Beverage
- Wood Industry
- Textile Industry
- Construction Industry
The framework is intended to support:
- Workforce development.
- Training design.
- Skills planning.
- Policy action supporting the transition to a circular bioeconomy.
BROADER CBEC OBJECTIVES
The course sits within the wider work of the Circular Bioeconomy Education Centre, which is working to build a national bioeconomy education, training and skills network in Ireland.
CBEC's broader objectives include:
National Skills Network
Establishing a coordinated bio-based education, training and skills network.
Education & Upskilling
Developing learning and upskilling opportunities across the bioeconomy.
Skills Gaps
Identifying current education and skills gaps and how these can be addressed.
National Roadmap
Developing an education and upskilling roadmap for the bioeconomy.
Policy
Engaging policymakers and providing policy recommendations related to bioeconomy skills development.
Click HERE to apply.
Click HERE to visit the official website.