The National Centre for Research and Development

Cosmetics made from spent coffee grounds, healthy snacks produced from food industry side streams, advanced catalysts for efficient hydrogen production from ammonia, and a technology for manufacturing synthetic fuels using solar energy. These are just a few examples of innovative solutions supporting the circular economy that are being developed through international Polish-Swiss applied research projects carried out under the auspices of the National Centre for Research and Development (NCBR) and Innosuisse, the Swiss Innovation Agency based in Bern.

The Research and Innovation Programme, Applied Research, under the Swiss-Polish Cooperation Programme (Swiss Funds, SPPW), is designed to foster sustainable development and long-term economic growth through research-based knowledge creation. Two open-topic calls for proposals were launched under the programme. As a result, 32 research and development projects were recommended for funding, involving 47 enterprises and 53 research organisations. The total value of the projects exceeds PLN 150 million, with nearly PLN 133 million in funding awarded (PLN 87 million to Polish entities and approximately PLN 46 million to Swiss entities).

All projects contribute to sustainable development goals in various ways. In particular, the calls attracted significant interest from applicants implementing projects focused on the circular economy.

Working Together to Address Future Challenges

Progress in implementing these and other international initiatives was showcased during the Polish-Swiss Innovation Day, held on 1 October in Warsaw under the theme “Rethinking Life Cycles. Circular and Regenerative Pathways to Future-Proof Industries.” The event was organised by the Polish-Swiss Chamber of Commerce and the Embassy of Switzerland in Poland.

“Strengthening cooperation in higher education, scientific research and innovation is one of the priorities in relations between our countries, as reflected in the Memorandum of Understanding signed in 2025. Through Polish-Swiss Innovation Day, one of our Embassy’s flagship initiatives, we create a platform for exchanging experiences and learning from one another,” says H.E. Olaf Kjelsen, Ambassador of Switzerland to Poland.

“We observe that cooperation between science and business in addressing environmental challenges has considerable future potential. Polish research organisations and companies, together with their Swiss partners, see the circular economy not only as a response to environmental challenges but also as an opportunity to drive innovation and build competitive advantage,” says Prof. Jerzy Małachowski, Director of the National Centre for Research and Development.

As the Programme Operator for the Applied Research component of the Research and Innovation Programme, NCBR works closely with Innosuisse, whose expertise and experience provide valuable support in programme implementation.

“I am convinced that this partnership will generate long-term benefits for science, entrepreneurs and the economy as a whole,” adds the Director of NCBR.

“Projects implementing circular economy principles play an integral role within the Swiss-Polish Cooperation Programme. While circularity is applied in different ways, the projects share a strong overall focus on sustainability”, says Raphaela Kübler of Innosuisse, Project Manager of the Polish-Swiss Applied Research Cooperation initiative.

“Looking more closely at the individual project objectives, almost every project includes a circular economy dimension. Some projects aim to develop fully circular value chains, while others integrate circular principles into specific components or stages of their activities. These approaches may include considering recycling within the value chain, replacing materials or components with more environmentally friendly alternatives, improving the sustainable sourcing of inputs, reducing waste and residuals, or enhancing the sustainability of the final product,” she explains.

Innovations Benefiting People and the Environment

A particularly important aspect of Polish-Swiss projects is their positive environmental impact. The solutions under development help reduce the use of virgin raw materials, lower the environmental footprint of production processes and decrease the volume of waste released into the environment. Through these concrete actions, scientific and industrial consortia from both countries support the transition towards a low-carbon, resource-efficient economy while generating tangible benefits for businesses and society.

“Despite its limited natural resources, Switzerland is widely recognised for its strength in innovation, and Swiss industry has a long-standing commitment to sustainable development and environmental responsibility. The circular economy is gaining strategic importance: according to a recent representative survey, over a quarter of Swiss companies have anchored it in their business models, while around one in ten is already implementing it on a broad scale", says Luca Laloli, Head of the Economic, Financial, Scientific and European Union Affairs Section at the Embassy of Switzerland in Poland.

As he notes, Switzerland and Poland, both with strong industrial bases and growing innovation ecosystems, are well positioned to exchange knowledge and develop scalable solutions that combine sustainability with economic resilience. Poland views the circular economy as a strategic tool to strengthen industrial competitiveness, reduce dependence on imported raw materials, and support the green transformation of the economy.

“The Swiss-Polish cooperation among research institutions and business actors effectively combines our individual strengths and expertise to develop innovative solutions and products that exemplify concrete approaches to how resources can be reused, managed efficiently, or developed with their longest life in mind – be it through bio-based cosmetics from food waste or smart city energy grids”, emphasises Cliff Hammer, Director of the Swiss-Polish Cooperation Programme Office at the Embassy of Switzerland in Poland.

Swiss commitment to circular economy goes beyond the national level. According to Director Hammer, it encompasses both local initiatives and international cooperation.

The calls for proposals launched by NCBR were open to all research areas, provided the projects focused on civilian applications. Among the 32 projects recommended for funding in fields such as healthcare, technology and energy, those aligned with circular economy principles occupy a special place. By promoting sustainability and innovation, they are actively shaping the future.

Through the development of technologies for raw material recovery, waste reduction, eco-design and circular business models, these projects help increase business competitiveness while mitigating the environmental impact of industry. Their distinguishing feature is a systemic approach to resource management that simultaneously delivers scientific, economic and environmental benefits.

“Thanks to support from the Swiss Contribution, we can fund projects that demonstrate how innovation can drive the transition to a circular economy. By turning food industry by-products, surplus food and organic waste into valuable resources, these projects show that developing new technologies can go hand in hand with creating economic value and strengthening competitiveness. At the same time, they highlight how innovation can help make better use of existing resources. They are a clear example of how international cooperation delivers tangible benefits for the environment, science and industry," says Agnieszka Ratajczak, Director of the International Cooperation Department at NCBR.

BEAN2CELL: Cosmetics from Coffee Grounds and Cellulose

Polish-Swiss circular economy projects that combine scientific expertise with entrepreneurial experience are already attracting considerable attention.

One of them is BEAN2CELL (“Circular innovation in rinse-off cosmetics: functional ingredients from spent coffee grounds and microbial cellulose”). The project aims to transform coffee grounds and organic waste into ingredients for modern biodegradable cosmetics. Launched in March, it stands out for its direct application of circular principles, strong commercialisation potential and practical conversion of waste into valuable raw materials.

The average Pole consumes approximately 2.5-3 kg of coffee beans per year. Instead of discarding spent coffee grounds, innovators use them to extract oils and cosmetic ingredients with high functional value. This is a textbook example of a circular economy approach in which waste becomes a valuable resource.

“Participation in the project allows us to replace synthetic ingredients traditionally used in cleansing cosmetics with more environmentally friendly materials derived from waste streams. In doing so, we reduce biomass waste such as coffee grounds and other organic residues while simultaneously making use of valuable natural compounds obtained from these materials. Based on these resources, our consortium will develop and test a natural base for eco-friendly cleansing cosmetics,” says Patrycja Adamczuk, R&D Lead at EcoBean Sp. z o.o.

The project also utilises bacterial cellulose derived from organic waste, which serves as a stabiliser and carrier of active ingredients. BEAN2CELL demonstrates how different waste biomass streams can be combined within a single circular solution.

The project’s total value is nearly PLN 5.2 million. Industrial research and experimental development activities, supported by almost PLN 4 million in Swiss Funds, will continue until the end of November 2028.

The consortium brings together three partners from industry and academia: Polish company EcoBean Sp. z o.o., Swiss company Treeless Ltd., and the Łukasiewicz Research Network – Institute of Industrial Chemistry. Together they aim to create solutions that are both valuable to consumers and economically viable for the cosmetics industry.

“Each partner contributes specialised expertise, enabling comprehensive and efficient implementation of every project stage. EcoBean processes coffee waste into oils, surfactants and other cosmetic ingredients. Treeless is responsible for obtaining and modifying bacterial cellulose derived from organic waste and testing product formulations. The Łukasiewicz Research Network – Institute of Industrial Chemistry provides scientific support, conducts application-oriented research and evaluates the safety of the solutions being developed,” explains Patrycja Adamczuk.

According to the project team, BEAN2CELL combines green chemistry, bioengineering and formulation science to create a complete circular economy model, from waste recovery and processing through to the development of entirely new products. Rather than merely recycling waste, the project embraces upcycling by increasing the value of discarded materials while reducing waste volumes and promoting sustainable alternatives to petrochemical-based ingredients used in cosmetics.

“The project implements circular economy principles by transforming coffee grounds and organic waste into high-value-added raw materials. Instead of entering the waste stream, biomass becomes a fully-fledged component of cosmetic products. This model reduces the consumption of primary resources and lowers environmental pressures,” says the EcoBean representative.

The knowledge generated through the R&D work may find applications beyond cosmetics, including household chemicals and textile care products. Potential beneficiaries include cosmetics manufacturers, raw material distributors, producers of environmentally friendly chemical products and consumers seeking formulations based on natural ingredients.

Development work is progressing in stages, from laboratory research to implementation readiness. The premix being developed is expected to provide an efficient base for rinse-off cosmetics, including shampoos, shower gels and cleansing products enriched with ingredients derived from coffee grounds. Its market potential will be verified through pilot trials conducted under production conditions.

SWEETReclaim: Snacks for the Future

Environmental, scientific, and economic benefits are also expected from the SWEETReclaim project (“SWEETReclaim: Functional Snacks from Revalorised Food Side Streams - A Swiss-Polish Initiative for Sustainable Functional Sweets”), which was launched in March this year.

The project combines scientific research, technology development, and industrial needs. Its objective is to develop a new generation of healthy snacks that can be manufactured on an industrial scale, support the gut microbiota, and help regulate satiety.

The project is being carried out by the Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, the HES-SO Valais-Wallis Institute of Life Sciences (Sion, Switzerland), the Swiss company ProSeed Ingredients SA, and the Polish company Laro sp. z o.o. sp.k. from Kamieniec Ząbkowicki. The total project value amounts to PLN 4,572,325.74, including PLN 4,310,283.69 in funding from the Swiss Contribution. The completion of R&D activities is planned for February 2029.

The project will deliver industrially deployable prototypes of “clean label” snacks rich in plant protein and dietary fibre. The work will cover the entire technology development process, from laboratory-scale research to demonstration in conditions close to the market environment (Technology Readiness Levels 2 to 7). A key premise is the use of stabilised food-industry side streams in powdered form, resources that have thus far remained underutilised. This represents a practical implementation of circular economy principles.

As emphasized by Professor Anna Michalska-Ciechanowska, from the Faculty of Biotechnology and Food Sciences at the Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences and the project coordinator, the goal is to demonstrate that by-products can become valuable ingredients in modern snack foods. The team will investigate not only the properties of individual ingredients but also the impact of the final products on the gut microbiome and satiety regulation. At the same time, ensuring attractive taste characteristics and industrial-scale manufacturability remains a key priority.

SWEETReclaim is an interesting example of applying circular economy principles in the food sector. It demonstrates a shift away from the traditional “produce-use-dispose” model toward an environmentally responsible approach in which by-products become valuable raw materials for manufacturing new food products. Beyond technological innovation, the project also supports social and environmental objectives. It addresses growing demand for convenient foods with potential functional benefits while contributing to the European Union’s efforts to reduce food waste.

“We reduce losses and make better use of available resources. This directly aligns with both the concept of the circular economy and the EU’s ‘Farm to Fork’ strategy, which promotes a more sustainable, efficient, and responsible food system,” notes the researcher from Wrocław.

In addition to its environmental focus, the project team is also developing a viable business model. Accordingly, the partners’ roles have been clearly defined. Researchers from both universities will develop and characterise ingredients that support the gut microbiota, while also working to improve flavour profiles and consumer acceptance. ProSeed and Laro will be responsible for sourcing raw materials, technology development, and pre-commercialisation testing.

“In our consortium, science and business meet at the same table. We want to complete the entire journey, from technologies for valorising by-products to a market-ready snack. Our Swiss partner, ProSeed, has technology for processing by-product raw materials that can later be offered to other companies and applied in various future applications. Naturally, the technology is adapted to the type of raw material. Based on this, food technologists at the Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences will develop snack formulations, while HES-SO in Switzerland will verify their impact on the microbiome. The final stage will involve transferring the solution into practice and manufacturing the product through the Polish company Laro. In this way, the project combines technology, science, and market implementation,” explains the project leader.

The use of food-industry side streams will help reduce resource waste, increase the value of materials that remain outside mainstream production processes supporting the development of the bioeconomy. The project represents another example of upcycling, whereby a by-product gains greater economic value than it originally had.

“The outcomes of our work may appeal to consumers seeking convenient, high-quality snacks that fit modern lifestyles and health expectations. Product flavours will be developed together with consumers to ensure that the new snacks can compete with existing market offerings. The project may also be of interest to food companies that recognise the potential of by-products but are still exploring how best to utilise them,” notes Professor Anna Michalska-Ciechanowska.

Among the projects supported under the Swiss-Polish Cooperation Programme, SWEETReclaim stands out through its direct application of circularity principles, its strong commercialisation potential, and the ease with which its environmental and social benefits can be communicated.

Among the projects supported under the Swiss-Polish Cooperation Programme, SWEETReclaim stands out through its direct application of circularity principles, its strong commercialisation potential, and the ease with which its environmental and social benefits can be communicated.

Other projects under the Research and Innovation Programme, Applied Research of the Swiss-Polish Cooperation Programme that strongly contribute to circular economy objectives include: Enhanced Hydrogen Production from Ammonia using Advanced Catalysts Anchored on Ceramic 3D Printed Lattices and Microbeads (HydroProCera), Development of Innovative Probiotic and Postbiotic Beverage Formulations from Surplus Bread within a Circular Economy Framework (BreadBiotic); Modular system based on Molten Carbonate Electrolysis supported by solar energy designed for synthetic fuels generation (MOLCAR). These projects share a commitment to sustainable development through multiple pathways: using waste or by-products as resources, creating new value chains from existing materials, reducing waste generation, balancing environmental and business objectives, and directly supporting the principles of the circular economy and the “Farm to Fork strategy”.