Knowledge and innovation bolster the cork industry

The CorkBridge initiative, organised by CTCOR – the Cork Technology Centre and co-funded by COMPETE 2030, aims to help SMEs in the sector apply scientific and technological knowledge to their processes and strategies.

A bridge between research and business

Over 99 per cent of companies in the cork sector are SMEs. For many of them, keeping pace with technological developments and integrating sustainable practices requires access to specialist knowledge and opportunities for collaboration. It is these needs that CorkBridge seeks to address.

“CorkBridge is a project that emerged from one of the most important pillars of the CTCOR’s (Cork Technology Centre) operational strategy: actively promoting the convergence of scientific and technological knowledge with the current and future needs of companies in the cork sector,” explains José Coelho, Director-General of CTCOR.

The initiative focuses on knowledge transfer and the economic exploitation of research and development outcomes. The work is organised around digitalisation and Industry 4.0, sustainability and environmental, social and governance (ESG) principles, the circular economy and capacity-building for businesses.

Skills to meet new challenges

According to José Coelho, “To meet the challenges of today’s increasingly dynamic, demanding and innovative markets, the project aims to promote skills development and knowledge transfer to businesses in three areas that are fundamental to their competitiveness – Industry 4.0, ESG and the circular economy.”

On the digital front, seminars and workshops are planned on automation, the Internet of Things, artificial intelligence and data analysis. The initiative seeks to provide companies with the foundations to assess how these technologies can help improve processes, products and decision-making.

In the area of sustainability, CorkBridge will address the integration of ESG principles and double materiality analysis, which considers both companies’ impacts on the environment and society and the effects of these factors on their operations. The circular economy will be addressed through initiatives linked to recycling, reuse, remanufacturing and the more efficient use of resources.

José Coelho describes how these areas will be introduced to businesses: “In this context, CorkBridge promotes a range of initiatives, including training programmes, demonstration activities, sessions for sharing experiences and case studies, as well as collaborative activities between businesses and scientific and technological organisations. The main objective is to create the necessary conditions to strengthen the skills of SMEs’ workforce, equipping them with new knowledge and a greater ability to identify, understand and adopt the most appropriate solutions in each of the areas mentioned.”

Cooperation to capitalise on R&D outcomes

The operational plan also includes the development of pilot projects and circular business models, the sharing of best practice, and the creation of a digital platform providing access to resources and case studies. Collaboration between companies, universities and scientific and technological bodies should facilitate the application of knowledge to the sector’s specific needs.

Regarding co-funding, José Coelho states: “Support from COMPETE2030 is essential for the practical and coordinated implementation of the various initiatives envisaged in the project, enabling CTCOR to promote an intervention focused on the sector’s modernisation challenges and on the economic exploitation of R&D results.”

The Director-General of CTCOR summarises the expectations for the project: “Our ambition is for this project to help SMEs in the cork sector become better equipped to innovate, to use resources more efficiently and to respond to market demands, whilst always basing their competitiveness on knowledge.”