This webinar, run by the Enterprise Europe Network and supported by Cork Chamber’s Sustainable Cork Programme is targeted at SMEs who wish to learn more about the shift towards bioeconomy and potential opportunities to participate in the bioeconomy value chain. SMEs will gain an improved understanding of where they can find their place in this emerging set of business opportunities.

The bioeconomy’s cross-cutting nature offers a unique opportunity to address inter-connected challenges in a resource limited world, pushing industries and people to seek new ways of producing and consuming. This can be in part be achieved by using the production of renewable biological resources (agriculture, forestry, fisheries and aquaculture) and the conversion of these resources and waste streams into value added products, such as food, feed, biobased products as well as bioenergy.
 
Speakers will share the benefits of bio-based products across the value chain for producers, distributors, users, consumers, NGOs and public authorities. Companies who need to service these new value chains such as engineering, transport and packaging will be better informed on how to find their place through discussion on:

• Current national and EU developments
• Opportunities across multiple sectors (agrifood, pharma, marine, health) and how SMEs can integrate their own value and supply chain considerations.
• Examples of bio-economy solutions for SMEs which drive competitive advantage and consumer demand
• How to get involved in Enterprise Europe Network initiatives, including international networking, B2B meetings and partnership requests.

Contributing speakers will include: 
Dr. Helena McMahon, Institute of Technology Tralee
Claus Gunge E. Mortensen, Food & Bio Cluster Denmark
Liz Gavin, Eur Digital Village 
Filippo Giancarlo Martinelli, Irish Bioeconomy Foundation
Cliodhna Dowling, Nutramara

Enterprise Europe Network (EEN) provides support for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises with international ambitions. EEN Ireland consortium is led by Enterprise Ireland with Cork Chamber, Dublin Chamber and Leo Enterprise Offices. The programme is co-funded by the European Union’s COSME and Horizon 2020 programmes, the Network’s aim is to help businesses innovate and grow internationally.

The Sustainable Cork Programme is rooted in the Chamber’s commitment to the UN SDGs and the vision for Cork. The circular bioeconomy can bring opportunities to achieve the SDGs, if managed sustainably. 

Original article appeared on the Cork Chamber, website.