Institution seeks partnerships for open innovation Thirty-four new products and processes at intermediate stages of development, with applications not only for the segment of the bioenergy, but also for chemical, biotechnological and animal nutrition industries that wish to expand their portfolio of products based on renewable raw materials. That is the content of Embrapa Agroenergy's Technology Showcase, available on the Unit's website. With the publicization of such innovation assets, the research center seeks partners for their next stages of development, so that the technologies reach the market faster. According to Embrapa Agroenergy's deputy head of Research and Development, Bruno Brazil, the Unit's previous experiences had shown that, by working jointly with the production sector at the initial and intermediate stages of technological development, results can be obtained and innovation can be promoted more quickly. Moreover, the risks and costs of technological development - which generally are rather high at initial stages - are shared between the private initiative and Embrapa. About 10 of the institution's technologies have already been transferred to chemical and agricultural companies through open innovation in co-development projects. The technological products and processes displayed in the showcase are grouped into four axes: Biomass for industrial purposes, Industrial biotechnology, Chemistry of renewable resources, and Renewable materials. The first axis features novelties for the production of sugarcane, microalgae and jatropha. The second one comprises microorganisms and enzymes to be applied in biomass desconstruction, generation of chemical products, treatment of effluents, and biogas production . The axis "Chemistry of renewable resources" is basically composed by chemical processes or products obtained through chemical processes, using biomass or biomass residue as raw material. These are technologies to treat biomass, dry macaw palm fruit and refine its oil, reform biogas, microencapsulate betacarotene and biopesticides. Finally, in the axis "Renewable materials", Embrapa Agroenergy has technologies for the production of cellulose nanofiber and obtain reinforced natural rubber. Since its inception, Embrapa Agroenergy has been dedicated not only to the development of raw materials, inputs and processes for the production of biofuels, but also to searching technologies to transform the waste from some production chains into products with market value. “The assets displayed in our showcase, which today are matters for negotiation, are the result of investments in the Unit in recent years”, observes the deputy-head of Technology Transfer, Alexander Alonso. Readiness levels In the showcase, Embrapa Agroenergy indicates the level of technological readiness of each asset in a scale from 1 to 9 based on the methodology created and used by the American National Space Agency (NASA), adapted to agricultural and biotechnological research. Embrapa Agroenergy's work can go until level 6 or 7, since the last stages correspond to commercial production, which is not part of the scope of the research center. “Our business model is focused on the generation of technological solutions for the innovation market, and not in finished products for direct trading”, Alonso explains. Thus the products and processes presented in the Showcase are between stages 3 and 5. “Continuing the work jointly with a company is essential to shape product and process characteristics into those that will effectively be able to gain the market”, Alonso stresses. At the stages most assets are found, one given product or process can meet the needs of different business segments, adopting different development routes. That is the case of some enzymes that can be customized for the textile or beverage industries, or for cellulosic ethanol plants. “This showcase offers half-finished products, that is, technologies that are under development. Hence we can obtain several products from each of those assets. That gives the showcase a much broader range than what the numbers show,” Alonso asserts. The research center also counts on the incubation of technologicaly-based companies, such as startups and spin-offs, for the next stages to development and trade. Brasília's Technology Park - Biotic, created by law in January, has biotechnology as one of its priority areas. “We have here a challenge and an opportunity to build new business models with Embrapa's technologies”, states Alonso. Embrapa Agroenergy's Technology Showcase can be accessed here. Companies and people who are interested can contact the institution through the website or the telephone number +55 61 3448-1581. In August there will be a business roundtable at the headquarters of the institution, in Brasilia.