The €7 million BioConnect Innovation Centre at Knockaconny, near Monaghan Town, welcomed its first visitors on Thursday, 22 October, the Anglo-Celt reports. About 50 delegates from the Global Bioeconomy Summit came from EU member states, East Africa, the USA and Japan. The summit was held at the Dublin Convention Centre as part of Ireland's EU Presidency.
The group was welcomed by Monaghan Mushrooms founder Ronnie Wilson, who came up with the idea for the centre.
What the centre does
BioConnect is a research and development hub for the agri-food and bioeconomy sectors. Its website lists:
- fermentation and bioprocessing, from bench scale to a 100-litre pilot
- applied microbiology and strain development
- analytical testing and process validation, including HPLC and GC
- a pay-per-module service where clients decide at each stage whether to go further
Firms presenting on the day included Connolly's Eggs from Carrickroe, SomaTech Ltd of Ballybay, whose CEO Tony Callaghan works on solid-state fermentation, and Rockstone Engineering. Education partners include the Co-Centre for Sustainable Food Systems (UCD, Queen's University Belfast and Sheffield), Monaghan Institute, DkIT and Southern Regional College.
The team
CEO Dr Jennifer Savage said the aim is "speeding the journey from idea to market". Industry Innovation Manager Dr Charlene Connolly said: "I am a Monaghan person and I have deep faith" in the project. The team also includes Bioprocess Manager David Lipscomb.
The project began in 2019 as an Enterprise Ireland initiative, with support from Monaghan County Council, Enterprising Monaghan and LEADER. The official opening is planned for January 2027. Until then, its research services are running in laboratories at Monaghan Mushrooms donated by Ronnie Wilson. Lab and office space at the new building will be available to lease.
