research

Enabling Actions

Connecting research, industry, and communities to turn bioeconomy knowledge into real-world impact.
0
decrease in food waste by 2030
0
recycling rate of plastics by 2030
0
Key Challenges
0
Researchers
Our Mission

Empowering the Circular Bioeconomy

At BiOrbic, we’re enabling the research and innovation needed to build a sustainable circular bioeconomy in Ireland. This pillar focuses on providing the tools, training, and frameworks that help researchers, communities, and businesses translate knowledge into practical action.

By supporting collaboration, scaling of technologies, and public engagement, we aim to make the bioeconomy more inclusive, resilient, and impactful for society and the environment.

Research Programmes

What Research is BiOrbic Doing?

The Enabling Actions pillar ensures all challenges have access to critical services and expertise. Each challenge is supported with frameworks, tools, and guidance to integrate life cycle thinking, public engagement, training, and scale-up of bioeconomy innovations.

Economic, Social & Policy Aspects Education & Public Engagement Sustainability Assessment Scaling the Bioeconomy Developing Future Leaders
Enabling Actions

Economic, Social & Policy Aspects

This challenge explores how knowledge, innovation, and policy can support a sustainable circular bioeconomy in Ireland. Researchers are developing frameworks to translate research into practical strategies that benefit businesses, communities, and the environment.

key research areas

Develop sustainable bioeconomy value chains and business models.

Support governance, policy coherence, and stakeholder engagement.

Assess economic, social, and environmental impacts of new technologies.

active Projects
Enabling Actions

Education & Public Engagement

This challenge focuses on engaging citizens and communities in bioeconomy research. Researchers develop frameworks, tools, and strategies to embed participatory approaches, including co-design, citizen science, and cultural narratives, especially in rural areas.

key research areas

Develop blueprints for citizen engagement.

Connect rural communities to the bioeconomy.

Promote co-design and living labs.

active Projects
Enabling Actions

Sustainability Assessment

This challenge ensures all bioeconomy research incorporates life cycle thinking. Researchers provide expertise to quantify environmental and social impacts, share learning across challenges, and integrate consistent data and methods.

key research areas

Coordinate sustainability assessment activities across challenges.

Capture social and environmental impacts.

Upscale sustainability assessment methods across the centre.

Enabling Actions

Scaling the Bioeconomy

Energy drives every stage of the bioeconomy. This challenge ensures that bio-based systems use renewable, carbon-neutral power and that energy is managed efficiently across all sectors.

key research areas

Create fossil-free energy systems for the bioeconomy

Integrate renewable energy forecasting and flexible technologies

Develop carbon-negative fuels and energy recovery methods

Enabling Actions

Developing Future Leaders

This challenge builds skills and capacity for the next generation of bioeconomy researchers. Training across all platforms maximizes researcher potential and strengthens the delivery of research goals.

key research areas

Integrated, cross-platform training programs.

Mentor and support early-career researchers.

Foster leadership in bioeconomy innovation.

active Projects
Systems biology investigations into the development of new, valuable materials from waste generated by biopharmaceutical drug processes.
PI: David O’Connell, Gerard Cagney, Staff: Laura Murphy
Synthesis of Novel Axially Chiral P,N-Ligands and their Applications in Asymmetric Catalysis
PI: Pat Guiry, Staff: Aoibhinn Downes
Synthesis and Semi-synthesis of Cyclic Antifungal Lipopeptides and Fluorinated Analogues for Structure-activity Relationship Studies.
PI: Marina Rubini, Cormac Murphy, Staff: Periklis Karamanis
Synthesis and Semi-synthesis of Cyclic Antifungal Lipopeptides and Fluorinated Analogues for Structure-activity Relationship Studies.
PI: Marina Rubini , Cormac Murphy, Staff: Periklis Karamanis
Synthesis and Application of Chiral Oxazoline Ligands in Asymmetric Catalysis
PI: Pat Guiry, Staff: Ava Rogers
Surface Display of Enzymes on Bacterial Storage Granules.
PI: Ger Cagney, Tanja Narancic, Staff: Jia-Lynn Tham
Post-Translational Modifications of Human Interferon Gamma for Improved Therapeutics
PI: Marina Rubini, Staff: Celine Erkey
MSCA-Sappi
PI: Bert Largrain, Staff: Khaled Al Shwafy
Merging flow synthesis with biocatalysis for the sustainable synthesis of bioactive entities
PI: Marcus Baumann, Elaine O’Reilly, Staff: Ruiari Crawford
Life cycle assessment of new generation sustainable thermoelectric materials and devices
PI: Nick Holden, Staff: Unza Jamil
Investigating the glycosylating properties of thioglycosides
PI: Xiangming Zhu, Staff: Zoe Beato
Haloaminocyclizations for the Stereoselective Synthesis of Saturated Nitrogen Heterocycles
PI: Paul Evans, Staff: Matthew Kiernan
EU-Tirlan
PI: Jim Kinsella, Maeve Henchion, Staff: Natália Silvério
EU-Italbiotec-Molecular mechanism of biofilm regulation in the biotechnologically-important fungus Cunninghamella
PI: Matty Janssen, Staff: Maria Ciotti
EU-Fribourg
PI: Viola Vogler, Staff: Praveen Kumar
EU-EnzyPep
PI: Marco Fraaije, Staff: Darren Issacs
EU-Corbion
PI: Lars Blank, Staff: Lorenzo Garica Tejada
EU-Corbion
PI: Richard Van Kranenburg, Staff: Panagiotis Kopsiaftis
EU-Carbery
PI: Recep Kaan Deralli, Eoin Casey, Staff: Oscar Ceron
EU-Bionet
PI: Eoin Casey, Staff: Ana Del Hierro
impact

Why This Research Matters

A strong enabling framework accelerates the transition to a sustainable bioeconomy. Our work empowers researchers, connects communities, and supports industry, creating knowledge that translates into real-world impact.

Maximise Research Potential

Equip researchers with tools, training, and frameworks to deliver ambitious projects.

Engage Communities

Connect citizens to the bioeconomy, incorporating culture, heritage, and inclusive participation.

Scale Innovation

Help novel technologies grow from lab to market efficiently and sustainably.

Integrate Life Cycle Thinking

Ensure all projects account for environmental and social impacts.

Strategic Alignment

Aligned with BiOrbic Targets

This pillar supports translation of knowledge into practical solutions, enabling industry collaboration, scaling bioeconomy technologies, and fostering open science, inclusive participation, and the next generation of bioeconomy leaders.

Translation of knowledge generated within BiOrbic into practice to support a transition to a climate neutral circular bioeconomy
  • Education & Public Engagement
  • Demo farms
  • Scale up of technology
  • Collaboration with industry
  • License technology to industry
  • Policy development