Bridging bioeconomy research to business

CommBeBiz is one of the projects that emerged from the Horizon 2020 calls in 2014. The project’s main aim is to set up a platform to bridge bioeconomy research with business and social innovation. Running from March 2015 to February 2018, the project involves researchers and research projects at all stages of their ideas and research development in order to enable more effective and speedier transfer of knowledge to the marketplace, to policy-players and for the public.

CommBeBiz targets five specialist bioeconomy segments: Food, Agriculture, Marine, Forestry, and Biotechnology. Through a web-platform, each of these segments has an online-forum for acquiring and sharing knowledge, networking and helping to facilitate collaborations between all stakeholders with an interest in research commercialisation and knowledge transfer across the bioeconomy in Europe.

“The CommBeBiz web platform and its five targeted segment areas, provide the ideal opportunity and space for all of you to share not only your ideas and enthusiasm but to also pose your questions and provide your perspectives.” Rhonda Smith, Coordinator of CommBeBiz.

Beside this online networking tool, CommBeBiz offers further support actions - depending on the needs and preferences of the individual user/research project partner. These include:

• Generating visibility through publications and case studies
• Training & Capacity Development in Research & Business Communication – through webinars and face-to-face sessions
• Assessment of the market and social innovation potential of the proposed ideas and research outcomes.
• Business Coaching the CommBeBiz Awards selects 15 EC funded projects per year to receive an individual action plan towards achieving investor readiness or excellence in social innovation. The closing date for the 2016 Awards is 31st May.  Winners will be invited to attend the EBN Congress from 28th - 30th September 2016 in Portugal. More information is available at www.commbebiz.eu/awards.
• Meet/Match with industry, entrepreneurs and policy-players – both at face-to-face events and online

“Our project and our mission is to support everyone either involved, interested in, or promoting the potential of the wide range of bioeconomy research currently underway. We aim at driving the development and delivery of bio-based policies and products, thus creating a more sustainable future for us all.”  Rhonda Smith.

More information can be found here. The registration and the use of the CommBeBiz platform is free and open to everyone.