AINIA has presented at the ftalks Food Summit Valencia 2023, the START-BEC program for technological support to emerging companies in the field of bioeconomy. The aim is to promote innovative value chains linked to the agri-food sector, which contributes to boost the innovation ecosystem and generate new business opportunities, within the framework of the Bioeconomy Strategy Horizon 2030.

The START-BEC program is a mentoring and support program that provides selected start-ups with the necessary resources to support the creation, development and maturity of innovative projects in the field of the bioeconomy.

According to data from the European Commission, the bioeconomy is a macro sector that provides employment for 17.4M people in the EU, and contributes 657 billion euros to the European economy. It is also estimated that, by 2035, the bioeconomy-based industry will have generated some 400,000 new jobs in Europe, in both urban and rural environments.

Production and conversion of biological resources into value-added products

The bioeconomy is based on the production of renewable biological resources and the conversion of these resources, their by-products and waste streams into valuable products such as food, feed, bioproducts and bioenergy. As AINIA‘s Director of Innovation, Andrés Pascual, explained: “In the bioeconomy, waste and by-products from the entire chain are raw materials with which to obtain products”.

In this regard, Andrés Pascual cited some examples of new businesses based on the bioeconomy such as: the cultivation of microalgae; the production of Lemna or insects; obtaining food ingredients from dehydrated and powdered vegetable by-products; obtaining biodegradable and compostable materials from vegetable waste; the manufacture of fabrics from juice production by-products; the development of natural coatings to extend the shelf life of fresh produce; applications that manage the sale of fruit directly from the farmer to the consumer or surplus food products, among other opportunities.

“There is a huge field to develop business on new bioproducts in an emerging market that is growing steadily in Europe and the rest of the world. The Bioeconomy can contribute to economic development in many areas of activity, taking advantage of public-private collaboration to transform knowledge into innovation” explained Andrés Pascual.

Technological support for emerging companies

Through the START-BEC program, AINIA will identify challenges and opportunities for technological innovation in the field of the bioeconomy, will look for entrepreneurs and startups to respond to them and will provide them, through an accompaniment program, with the necessary support so that they can optimize their technological solutions.

In addition, AINIA will offer the selected startups technological services, technological training, specialized training and networking and promotion to customers, funders and other stakeholders.

Collaborative digital platform

Within the framework of this agreement, AINIA will also develop a platform that will serve as a meeting point with startups that develop their activity in the field of bioeconomy. In addition, it will be used as a support to share with them reports on technology watch and funding opportunities for startups and R&D&I, as well as collaborative events and meetings to boost the growth of startups.

START-BEC companies

The companies that can apply to the AINIA-MAPA START-BEC program are startups working in areas of the bioeconomy such as: sustainable production of new biomass sources; sustainable use of agri-food waste and by-products (upcycling); obtaining and use of biopolymers or bioplastics for sustainable packaging; biofuels and biobased products, among others. From today until December 1st, startups can submit their projects at startbec.com

Throughout the six months of the program, AINIA will provide the knowledge and experience of its team of experts and specialists in innovation management and knowledge of the bioeconomy to respond to their needs.

Collaboration between MAPA and AINIA

The START-BEC program is the result of a collaboration agreement that the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and AINIA signed last June to develop actions in the field of bioeconomy during the period 2023-2024. To this end, it has a budget of 300,000 €, of which the Ministry will provide 250,000 €.

Original article: AINIA y el MAPA impulsan el desarrollo de startups en bioeconomía agroalimentaria, AINIA (17/10/2023).