BIOMAC-BP and the CoCoGel Network at Unilever

From March 30 to April 2, 2026, the BIOMAC-BP doctoral network held its fourth network-wide training event (T4) at Utrecht University, in collaboration with the CoCoGel Network. As part of the network’s structured training programme, this event was dedicated to allowing the doctoral candidate a glimpse on industrial research combining expert presentations with site visits to industrial R&D facilities.

The Utrecht training focused on equipping doctoral candidates with essential competencies that complement their scientific work and support career development across academia and industry.

The programme addressed key topics at the crossroads of research, innovation, and application, presented by industrial experts.:

• Product Life Cycle Analysis (Syensqo)
• Intellectual Property Management (Unilever)
• Innovation and Technology Transfer (slb)
• Industrial R&D: Organisation, Planning and Practices (Johnson&Johnson)
• Academia–Industry Collaboration (OnePlanet)
• Entrepreneurship and Business Strategy (InProcess-LSP, QuestPair)

Through this interdisciplinary approach, participants gained insights into how research outcomes can be evaluated, protected, and translated into practical solutions.

A key strength of the training was the insight into industrial research that participants gained through visits to the R&D facilities of. Unilever and OnePlanet  where local researchers shared their experiences in innovation processes, research management, and collaboration models.

Engaging directly with industry perspectives provided valuable context for understanding how scientific developments evolve into real-world applications and market-ready solutions.