GasFermTEC, Enterprise Estonia’s Programme for applied research (EAS) and Metrosert’s Applied Research Division jointly organised the international event „Three Pillars of Circular Bioeconomy: Talent, R&D, and Technologies“ on the 12-13th of February 2024 in the Öpik Conference Centre in Tallinn, Estonia (see program below). The event started with the international conference “Sustainable feedstocks and technologies for circular bioeconomy” on the first day while the second day included the seminar “Educating, training, and recruiting talents for circular bioeconomy” and the workshop session “Commercialise and advance your R&D for circular bioeconomy”.
The conference focused on sustainable feedstocks and technologies in light of the ambitions of the Green Deal and activities in Estonia in establishing an applied research centre and supporting DeepTech innovations. Leading local and international expert scientists and industry representatives in biosustainability presented cutting-edge technologies and shared their experiences in developing technologies for circular bioeconomy within the three conference sessions “Bioprocessing and biomanufacturing using biomass feedstocks”, “Biomanufacturing from CO2”, and “Foods, materials, and beyond”. The seminar focused on another crucial aspect of circular bioeconomy – talents – and covered various aspects of current and future talents: educating and preparing talents through curricula, scientific projects, and industry doctorates; talent attraction strategies; start-up support environments; and need for talents for applied research centres. The workshop session aimed to advance the knowledge and skills of both starting and senior entrepreneurs, scientists, and policy makers in circular bioeconomy within the four workshops that focused on deep-tech commercialisation, sustainability reporting and management, innovation management, and novel food and food-contact material regulations in the EU.
Video recordings of conference presentations:
Opening address by Mart Loog
Professor, University of Tartu
Timo Kikas
Professor of Biosystems Engineering; Estonian University of Life Sciences
Pekka Simell
Senior Advisor; VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland
Siim Salmar
Associate Professor in Organic Chemistry; University of Tartu
Petri-Jaan Lahtvee
Co-founder and Co-CEO, ÄIO; Associate Professor, TALTECH
Michael Lienemann
Senior Scientist; VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland
Birgit Lewandowski
Director Development; Electrochaea, Germany
Liina Joller-Vahter
Co-founder, Power Algae; Guest Researcher, University of Tartu
Mart Toots
Development Manager; Estonian Innovation Agency
Rajeev Bhat
Professor; Estonian University of Life Sciences
Ene Viiard
Innovation Director; AS TFTAK
Priit Jõers
Chief Scientific Officer; BiotaTec
Arvi Jõers
Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer; Gearbox Biosciences
Mari-Ann Meigo Fonseca
Co-founder and Chief Operating Officer; Gelatex
Video recordings of seminar presentations:
Opening address by Mart Loog
Professor, University of Tartu
Ilona Faustova & Priit Jõers
Associate Professor, University of Tartu (IF); Chief Scientific Officer, BiotaTec (PJ)
Indrek Tulp
Head of Applied Research Center & Board member; Metrosert
Pontus Sjöström
Senior Specialist; VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland
Johanna Roostalu
Director, Innovation; BioInnovation Institute, Denmark