Bioeconomy: Management, Assessment and Intellectual Property

This course aims to familiarize students to different facets of the bioeconomy: its economic and technological determinants, the status of the biotechnology revolution and the role of innovation, the growth of biobusiness and the contribution of intellectual property, the sustainability paradigms associated with the bioeconomy and the methodologies for environmental impact assessment and innovation analysis on countries and regions. The course will also address the general framework of international cooperation projects and learn a common base for all EU Programs.

Due to the interdisciplinary approach of the course, students are encouraged to think critically, they have known the necessary tools and methods to develop and execute diverse activities and projects within a bio-based economy. In particular: a) coordinate the production of bio-based products; b) evaluate using the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) approach the environmental impact of bio-products and bio-refinery processes; d) collaborate to the development of IP strategies and understand what a patent looks like and its requirements at international and national level; e) coordinate the cooperation between different stakeholders in the development of bio-based value chains; f) contribute to EU project management and access to European funds with a special focus on the bioeconomy issue.