Villach, October 15, 2025 – Carinthia University of Applied Sciences (CUAS) hosted a successful Capacity Building Workshop in Villach as part of the Interreg Italy–Austria project BeSoGreat. The BeSoGreat initiative aims to transform brewers’ spent grain, a by-product of the brewing process, into a sustainable raw material for biodegradable plastic products—bridging the gap between waste valorization and circular materials innovation.
The workshop focused on knowledge transfer and future collaboration opportunities, bringing together regional stakeholders from research, industry, and policy. Participants received insights into the project’s recent results in material development, 3D printing, and injection molding, followed by interactive sessions designed to identify local applications and cooperation opportunities.
Key discussion topics included:
- Value creation and applications: Exploring concrete opportunities for brewers’ spent grain biocomposites in Carinthia, such as in construction, furniture, packaging, and design.
- Collaboration: Identifying potential company and organizational partners for follow-up projects.
- Challenges: Addressing technical, economic, and regulatory barriers to implementation.
- Next steps: Defining meaningful measures for regional development, including pilot production, training programs, and cluster initiatives.
The event combined technical demonstrations, project presentations, and interactive discussions, fostering an open exchange of ideas. Participants also contributed valuable input toward establishing a regional network for biocomposites and the circular economy.
“The strong engagement and creativity shown by all participants demonstrate the region’s commitment to developing innovative and circular material solutions,” said the CUAS BeSoGreat project team.
CUAS extends its gratitude to all participants for their active involvement and contributions. Together, the BeSoGreat community is driving forward sustainable, biobased innovations for a more circular and resource-efficient future.