Talent4BBI












Talent4BBI is the first industry led PhD MSCA programme in Ireland, managed by BiOrbic, the Bioeconomy SFI Research Centre located in University College Dublin (UCD). The programme brings together a pan-European network
of 10 industry and 8 academic partners across 8 Member States and 1 Associated Country. Early-Stage Researchers (ESRs) will be located in Ireland, Switzerland, Spain, Sweden Netherlands and Belgium.

The primary aim of Talent4BBI is to train a cohort of 10 highly skilled industry-ready ESRs equipped to lead the future of the European bio-based industry sector.

This programme provides a unique opportunity for the ESRs to develop key skills, competencies and experience required by the bio-based industries through a targeted training programme for future bioeconomy leaders.



The ESRs commenced their 4 year programme in September 2022 with a number of ESRs based mainly at their industry partners location and others at their academic partners location. Throughout the duration of their research,
the ESRs will have the opportunity to spend some time in each of their partner locations.

In addition the summer and winter training schools will take place in the bespoke training partners location in Spain, Italy, Belgium, The Netherlands and Ireland. Three additional industry training partners will actively
participate and contribute their expertise through summer and winter school training events.

The programme structure offers a unique opportunity for graduates to thrive in both of these industrial and academic research settings while also enhancing the ESR’s career opportunities in line with the MSCA COFUND
work programme objectives.





Talent4BBI will directly impact the European Research Area by developing a highly qualified and career-driven talent pool, driving effective cooperation between industry and academia, and boosting the development of bio-based industries.








Welcome Event


Dublin, Ireland


October 2022


  • Industry Visit – Alltech (Animal feed, Yeast Biotechnology)
  • Career Talks and Planning
  • Social Event
  • Natural Capital Workshop
  • LCA Workshop
  • Team Building






Winter School


Valencia, Spain


March 2023


  • ADM Biopolis Host
  • Business Case Feasibility
  • Communication and the Media
  • All ESRs together
  • Building network








Summer School & General Assembly


Novara, Italy


June 2023


  • Hosted at Novamont
  • General Assembly
  • SO4 Markets & Future Regulation Workshop
  • Biodiversity & Biomass Resilience
  • Tour of Novamont








Winter School


Brussels, Belgium


February, 2024


  • Hosted at the Biobased industries Consortium (BIC)
  • The importance of partnerships – BBIJU and CBEJU experience
  • EU Policies impacting bio-based industries
  • Building teams
  • Skills and competencies needed
  • BIOBEC – a case study
  • Academia-Industry collaboration
  • Biobased Innovation – Ghent






MSCA Cofund Policy Event


Brussels, Belgium


June, 2024


Project Manager Cathy Quinn was invited to present Talent4BBI as a best practice co-fund focusing on industry and interdisciplinarity at an MSCA Cofund Policy Event. It was hosted at the European Commission
in Brussels in a world-cafe style with the participation of MSCA National Contact Points and members of the European Research Executive Agency (REA). In this picture, Cathy is with Yvonne Halpin,
PhD, Jane Carrigan (MSCA Dublin Office) and Isabella Sanni and Graham Wilkie (REA).






Summer School & General Assembly


Valencia, Spain


September, 2024


Hosted at ADM Biopolis, our ESRs were taken through the entire process of bringing a product to market and introduced to the legal frameworks involved in R&D projects, as well as the complexities associated
with technology transfer. Insights from ADM’s R&D team also provided a deep dive into the complexities of scale-up processes and fermentation technologies. ESRs toured the production facilities,
where they saw first-hand how probiotics and postbiotics are developed. This was followed by discussions with key team members, including Strategic Business Development Director Iryna Biliaieva. This
experience reinforced the idea that food and health are at the heart of the bioeconomy, with ADM Biopolis leading the way in shaping the future of this field.






Global Bioeconomy Summit


Nairobi, Kenya


October, 2024


Selected by the International Advisory Board of Young Global Bioeconomy Champions (IACGB), Ana took the stage as a speaker at the opening session, addressing the pivotal role of the bioeconomy in today’s
world. She also co-organized two impactful workshops, in which Khaled participated and represented Talent4BBI and KU Leuven, making valuable contributions and inputs. Both workshops were aimed at fostering
a transformative, resilient and innovative global bioeconomy. These sessions connected young change-makers and thought leaders in a collaborative effort to shape a more sustainable and inclusive future.
Ana also presented the youth communiqué at the final session of the summit.






Winter School


Gorinchem, Netherlands


February, 2025


Kicking off February, our ESRs gathered for a career development training session hosted by Corbion in Gorinchem, Netherlands, which is a company specializing in fermentation and other advanced processes
to deliver sustainable solutions for food preservation, food production, health, and environmental sustainability. Our students had the privilege of attending insightful talks by Corbion experts, gaining
valuable advice from seasoned professionals in the biotech industry. Our ESRs also presented their research and career development plans, sharing their expectations, challenges, and vision for the
year. These updates sparked insightful discussions and valuable feedback.






For more updates

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Transition to a biobased economy: prospective LCA as a tool for critical guidance in technology development.

Industry – Italbiotec

Academic – Chalmers

Country location – Sweden





Production of lactic acid by a yeast-like fungus.

Industry – Corbion

Academic – RWTH-Aachen

Country location – Netherlands





Panos Kopsiaftis


Fermentative lactate production from lignocellulosic feedstocks by a thermophilic microorganism.

Industry – Corbion

Academic – Wageningen

Country location – Netherlands





Yeast bioprocess development using systems and synthetic biology.

Industry – Alltech

Academic – UCD

Country location – Ireland





Replacing petrochemicals with sustainable bioplolymer based alternatives for photonic applications.

Industry – Adolphe Merkle Institute

Academic – Adolphe Merkle Institute

Country location – Switzerland





Development of bioprocesses for the bioeconomy using continuous manufacturing.

Industry – Bionet

Academic – UCD

Country location – Spain





Enzyme development for sustainable production of pharmaceutical ingredients.

Industry – EnzyPep

Academic – Groningen

Country location – Netherlands





Novel catalytic routes towards carbon efficient lignocellulose biorefineries.

Industry – Sappi

Academic – KU Leuven

Country location – Belgium





How to affect change on farms for the benefit of farmers, their communities and the environment through the use of emerging knowledge and tools of the modern bioeconomy.

Industry – Glanbia Ireland

Academic – Teagasc & UCD

Country location – Ireland






Increasing the efficiency of downstream processes that valorise dairy side streams.

Industry – Carbery

Academic – UCD

Country Location – Ireland




If you require further details on anything or have any other questions, please contact the Talent4BBI Project Manager, Cathy Quinn.

Email: talent4BBI@biorbic.com

Phone: +353 1 716 2900