Discover rather than search: bioeconomy data along the value chain

Where can companies find information on available biomass and material flows? Which databases are useful for research and development? What options and tools are available for carrying out life cycle assessments of new products and processes, and which companies are actually active in this market?

The TransBIB collection of relevant bioeconomy databases examines such questions across the entire value chain. In this interview, we explain why this particular perspective is so fascinating – and what there is to discover in the ‘Bioeconomy Databases’ tool.

Question: “Why does the bioeconomy need yet another data collection?”

TransBIB: The point right now isn’t actually to set up yet another isolated database. The problem is rather that a great deal of valuable information already exists – but in completely different places.

Anyone working on a bioeconomy-related idea might spend today searching a research database, tomorrow looking into available biomass, and then using a completely different platform to search for technologies or potential market partners.

The TransBIB tool ‘Bioeconomy Databases’ addresses precisely this issue: it provides structured access to existing data sources and makes it clear what information can be found where. The sources included cover, amongst other things, databases on raw materials and biomass availability, technologies and processes, products and markets, as well as tools for sustainability assessment. Each source is described and linked directly to the original database.

Question: “What makes this approach special is its focus on the value chain. Why was this approach chosen?”

TransBIB: Because a bioeconomic innovation rarely consists of just one technology. For an idea to become a product, a whole range of different questions need to be answered.

Where does the raw material come from? What research has already been carried out? How can the process be implemented and scaled up from a technical point of view? And will there be companies, products or markets in the future that our own development can tie into?

This is precisely why we do not view the data in isolation, but rather within the context of a potential bioeconomy value chain. At European level, too, the bioeconomy is increasingly understood as the interplay between biomass supply, research and innovation, industrial processing, scaling up and market development. The current European bioeconomy strategy places a greater emphasis on industrial implementation, scale-up and the development of markets for bio-based products.

Question: “Let’s start at the beginning: what can I find in the ‘Development’ section?”

TransBIB: This is primarily about research, development and technological orientation. Anyone wishing to develop a new bio-based solution must first find out: What approaches already exist? Where is research being carried out into similar issues? Which projects or technologies might be relevant to their own project?

The tool therefore refers to data sources that can help to identify research activities, projects and technological developments. This may be of interest both to companies entering the bioeconomy sector for the first time and to research institutions seeking opportunities to link up their own developments or new projects. It is also possible to use the TransBiB Bioeconomy Database to publicise your own and new projects. We are open to including relevant projects in the database, which enables us to ensure that the information remains up to date.

Question: “The next step is procurement. Why is biomass, in particular, such an important data issue?”

TransBIB: Because the question of raw materials is fundamental to many bioeconomy business models. A technology may function perfectly well from a technical point of view – but if there is not enough suitable biomass available, if its quality fluctuates, or if transport costs become uneconomical, this can quickly become a problem for implementation.

In the Procurement section, we have therefore compiled databases that provide information on, for example, biomass, raw material availability and material flows.

This allows a key question to be asked much earlier: Is the raw material on which my idea is based even available in the required form and quantity? We can at least offer some assistance here with our tool – though the availability of raw materials will certainly remain a key challenge for the bioeconomy.

Question: “And then there’s production – presumably one of the most exciting areas for businesses?”

TransBIB: Absolutely. Because at some point, a laboratory-scale process has to become a reproducible industrial process. For this area, the tool contains data sources on processes and technologies. At the same time, another TransBIB service comes into play here: the database on scaling infrastructures.

It lists test, pilot and demonstration facilities across Germany that can be used for the further development of bio-based processes. Information on around 60 facilities is currently available there – including capacities, potential applications, access conditions and direct contact details. A geographical overview also shows where such facilities are located in Germany.

It is precisely this step that is crucial. The European Commission continues to highlight significant funding and infrastructure hurdles in the transition from research to demonstration and industrialisation – often referred to as the ‘valleys of death’ between technology development and market launch.

Question: “A technology may work – but ultimately, someone has to buy the product. How does the collection reflect marketing and sales?”

TransBIB: In the field of marketing and sales, the focus is more on existing companies, products and markets. Such data can help to gain an understanding of which bio-based solutions are already on offer, which players are active in specific sectors, or where potential opportunities for one’s own development might lie.

This is particularly interesting when a technology is already at a more advanced stage. In that case, the question changes: it is no longer simply ‘Can I manufacture this?’, but increasingly also: Where might my product fit into an existing value chain?

Question: “So do I need to know exactly which database I’m looking for?”

TransBIB: No – and that is precisely what we want to avoid. The overview is explicitly designed to encourage browsing and discovery. Perhaps someone starts by searching for ‘biomass’ and comes across a data source on relevant technologies. Or a company is looking into a production process and subsequently discovers information on products and market players.

The idea behind it is: to take a holistic approach to value creation. The tool is not only intended to provide individual answers, but also to help identify links between the various stages of a bioeconomic project.

Question: “What if I don’t know where to start?”

TransBIB: You can now simply ask the question. The TransBIB chatbot accesses the content and data sources of the one-stop shop. For example, users can ask for data, scaling facilities, experts or further information using natural language, without first having to click through various sections.

The chatbot can consolidate information and link relevant content from the one-stop shop. As a result, a traditional data collection is increasingly becoming a knowledge base that can also be accessed via specific queries. Furthermore, AI will continue to be utilised within the project context: the bioeconomy database is set to be equipped with AI tools in future to ensure that the data remains consistently up to date.