Ireland’s National Bioeconomy Strategy: A BiOrbic Perspective
There has been a lot happening across the bioeconomy in recent weeks, from the launch of the integrated Green Biorefinery and Anaerobic Digestion Plant and the Shinagh Estates Open Day to BiOrbic’s latest call for industry collaboration. Amid all of this activity, BiOrbic also submitted its contribution to the public consultation on Ireland’s new National Bioeconomy Strategy. Our submission sets out what we see as the key priorities for strengthening and scaling Ireland’s already active bioeconomy. Our full submissions will be made public by the strategy team in due course.
Executive Summary:
BiOrbic welcomes the new National Bioeconomy Strategy and its ambition to establish Ireland as a leading global bioeconomy. The bioeconomy will be transformative for Ireland and will underpin the Irish economy for the next 100 years. Now is the time to be ambitious about what Ireland can achieve. Ireland has already built many of the foundations required for a globally competitive bioeconomy, including world-class research, innovation capability, industry expertise, primary producers, infrastructure, networks and engaged communities. The priority now is to connect these existing strengths and to create the pathways, infrastructure and enabling conditions needed to strengthen and scale what is already in place, while continuing to invest in the research and innovation that will underpin the bioeconomy into the future.
BiOrbic’s submission highlights five key priorities for the Strategy:
1. Match the ambition of the Strategy with the scale of delivery
The transformative ambition of the Strategy should be matched by an equally ambitious approach to implementation. Clear pathways from research and innovation through pilot, demonstration and commercial deployment will be needed to deliver the step-change required, while continuing to build the pipeline of future innovation.
2. Recognise research and innovation as a continuous national capability
Sustained investment in research and innovation will be essential to maintain the pipeline of ideas, technologies and solutions needed to underpin the bioeconomy over the long term. Research should be recognised as an ongoing capability supporting technology development, validation, de-risking, skills development and the generation of future bioeconomy opportunities, alongside deployment and scale-up.
3. Build on and connect Ireland’s existing national capabilities
Ireland has invested significantly in research, infrastructure, programmes, networks and collaborative platforms, and a functioning bioeconomy already exists across sectors and regions. Greater stability, continuity and connectivity across these capabilities will help maximise their collective impact and create stronger pathways connecting research, innovation, industry and deployment.
4. Place biodiversity and healthy ecosystems at the foundation of the bioeconomy
The bioeconomy must develop within ecological boundaries, with biodiversity, ecosystem health and sustainability recognised as foundational principles. Economic opportunity should be pursued in ways that protect and strengthen the natural systems on which the bioeconomy depends.
5. Strengthen national coordination and delivery
Successful implementation will require a stronger national coordination and delivery approach. A clear connecting function should bring together primary producers, research organisations, industry, policymakers, enterprise agencies, regional and local authorities and communities to align priorities, strengthen collaboration and support the development of the bioeconomy from research and innovation through to deployment.
The submission also highlights opportunities to strengthen the Strategy’s focus on biotechnology, bioprocessing, fermentation and biomanufacturing, public engagement and awareness, international collaboration, skills and talent, and the role of Ireland’s regions. Ireland’s opportunity lies not only in its biological resources, but in combining these resources with research and innovation capability, talent, infrastructure, enterprise and industry expertise. BiOrbic is already contributing across many of these areas. Since its establishment in 2018, BiOrbic has provided a national platform for collaboration across the bioeconomy, connecting interdisciplinary research, industry, policy, skills and public engagement. Its network of 12 university and RPO partners, national and international partnerships and engagement across the wider ecosystem provide an existing platform that can be built upon to strengthen and scale Ireland’s bioeconomy.
BiOrbic therefore sees an opportunity to build on this existing national capability and contribute to a stronger national coordination and delivery function for the bioeconomy. We would welcome the opportunity to discuss with Government how BiOrbic’s capabilities, networks and infrastructure could be leveraged to support implementation of the Strategy, working alongside Government Departments, agencies, industry, research organisations and other stakeholders.
