Bridging academia and industry

Team: 13

Team members: Lotte Beernaert, Alesio Descamps, Laurent Lust

Coach: Jan Leyssens, jan@switchrs.com + UGent (Francesca)

• Process

• End results

Challenge: Because closing loops infinitely is technically impossible, the circular economy will inevitably evolve towards renewable and therefore bio-based materials. Unfortunately a lot of the research and innovation on these materials rarely find their translation from academia into industry, and vice versa the existing industrial technologies are not yet implemented by academia. Some of the most common challenging aspects are scale, speed, space, consistency in quality,... but a big challenge also lies in awareness in the industry, and showcasing applications that go beyond concept art or one-of examples. To be specific:

• how can we trigger new (industrial) cultures that accept bio-based circular materials?

• how can we trigger new (design) cultures that accept bio-based circular materials?

• how can we create synergies between the two "worlds"?

• how can we engage stakeholders in this process?

Starter kit includes:

1. a list of all industries already engaging with these topics, and available to share with us their materials / technologies (ask Francesca)

Infrastructure needed:

• Various techniques depending on the identified application

Specific sources:

• https://vlaanderen-circulair.be/nl/doeners-in-vlaanderen

• https://www.connectionsbyfinsa.com/best-materials-libraries-in-the-world/?lang=en

• https://ugentbe-my.sharepoint.com/:x:/g/personal/francesca_ostuzzi_ugent_be/ERjI049I9L1Ou46bKUV1unUBzC88zNo2PxTkWvnx1rzGVA?e=ouPbg7

• add