Report
Teaser, summary, work performed and final results
Periodic Reporting for period 1 - KETBIO (KETBIO: A novel cluster model to bring KEY ENABLING BIOTECHNOLOGY research closer to markets and society)
Teaser
Biotechnology and the development of bio-based products and processes are important in order to help solve some of the world’s grand challenges, such as mitigating climate change, alternatives to fossil fuel, and new materials and products as alternatives to plastics for...
Summary
Biotechnology and the development of bio-based products and processes are important in order to help solve some of the world’s grand challenges, such as mitigating climate change, alternatives to fossil fuel, and new materials and products as alternatives to plastics for example.
A substantial amount of EU funding has already been leveraged by both academia and industry for research in the area of biotechnology and the development of bio-based products and processes.
It has been recognised that more could be done to help commercialise the excellent science and speed up time to market. KETBIO was funded to help address this market uptake.
The overall objective of KETBIO is to speed up the process of industrial exploitation and uptake of EU-funded KET Biotechnology project results by establishing a novel KET biotechnology cluster and delivering an innovative impact acceleration programme with and for the cluster, thus maximizing:
1) access to existing technology and its transfer activities and new cooperation partners throughout Europe for biotechnology projects,
2) exploitation of synergies and sharing of best practice beyond the original biotechnology projects scope, and
3) streamlining of activities of common interest relevant to biotechnology projects.
Work performed
The project consists of seven work packages:
Work Package 1 covers all aspects of project management, from the coordination of the project activities and communication with the Commission to the day-to-day operations within the consortium. On all levels, rules and tools were introduced to ensure a timely and effective communication which was readily understood and accepted by all partners. The project consortium as a whole as well as the contributors to the individual work packages are in regular contact by phone conferences and very frequent email exchanges.
Work package 2 is focussed on the identification and review of suitable biotech projects from FP7 and H2020 programmes. A systematic and consistent approach was used to ensure impartiality across different reviewers and project types. Projects were evaluated qualitatively and quantitatively using set criteria to draw out those projects that appear to have potential for industrial exploitation. In total, up to end of September 2019, 303 projects were identified and roughly evaluated. 135 of those were found to be relevant, i.e. in line with the methodology for screening and evaluation. Out of these 135 projects 79 interviews have been held. The first 27 projects were evaluated with technology transfer and commercial perspective and additional market evaluations.
Under KETBIO work package 3, the KETBIO Cluster as a focal point for EU biotechnology projects and stakeholders was established. The first cohorts of expert groups (online working groups) were recruited to establish the e-Academy within the KETBIO Cluster as a vehicle to drive knowledge exchange and sharing of best practice. The dedicated online hub for the KETBIO Cluster as enabler for viable and interactive communication in the EU biotech research and innovation area was created and tested.
Based on the technical platform of the KETBIO Online Cluster Hub, a number of interactive offerings are organized and managed by the KETBIO consortium in work package 4. This includes the establishment of a network and broad biotech cluster within Europe and beyond, the promotion and sharing of best practices, partnering events (both online and onsite), and an e-Academy that includes the organisation of webinars that are recorded and made available as a lecture database. All these activities have been successfully launched and will be continued and expanded during the remaining part of the project. All partners have been involved in the set-up and testing of the partnering platform and the organisation of webinars.
Work package 5 will prepare reports on current and future market trends for bio-based products and processes and point out the opportunities for growth, using insights from the project evaluation as well as from interactions via the other KETBIO activities. Examples of new organisations, technologies and products that have been launched will be used as case studies to look for best practice and what works well. Evaluation of the trends will give a view on where the sweet spots and best markets are for future investment from both the public purse and private funding to drive growth in Europe.
Work package 6 has developed a dedicated and target group related strategy for dissemination and exploitation including the monitoring of project results, together with a communication and dissemination plan that serves as an action plan to put the strategy into practice. All activities are focussed on overcoming the barriers to better commercialisation of biotechnology research results by communicating key developments; by increasing the visibility of biotech projects and promoting their results via a cascade of communication channels. Networking and syndication opportunities with other platforms and stakeholders have been enhanced to foster the knowledge and technology transfer activities. To meet these goals a wide range of communication materials have been produced and disseminated (online & print); social media campa
Final results
All activities carried out already and those planned will contribute to delivery of the 5 identified key impact areas:
Impact 1: Speeding up industrial exploitation and uptake of results of KET Biotechnology and other
Biotechnology projects.
Impact 2: Stimulating network and alliance formation for further RTD and industrial innovation based on
KET Biotechnology achievements, including development and practical application of a clustering model.
Impact 3: Added value beyond the original scope of the KET Biotechnology projects by exploiting synergies
and sharing best practice. Increased public, policy and non-specialist awareness of the activities in this area
by targeted communication activities.
Impact 4: More effective execution of activities of common value, such as IPR management, standardisation
and policymaking.
Impact 5 – Increasing connectivity of projects and stakeholders along and across value chains.
As an example, thanks to the KETBIO biotechnology cluster established under WP3, an online cluster hub, an e-Academy delivering a series of thematic and horizontal webinars, virtual and physical partnering events, significant progress towards KETBIO impact no.2 was made.
This is also true of impact 3 where targeted and extensive publicity and engagement strategies have been developed and implemented.
Website & more info
More info: https://ketbio.eu/.