Kevin O’Connor, Professor

Kevin O Connor is a Full professor of Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology at UCD and Director of BiOrbic Research Ireland bioeconomy research centre, headquartered at University College Dublin, Ireland. 

His research interests are bioplastics, plastics recycling, sustainable production and consumption, integrated biorefining, and biobased products. Professor O Connor has published over 130 international peer review articles and made of over 200 contributions at national and international conferences. 

He has filed 8 patents and successfully licensed 3 technologies resulting from his research work.  He is the founder of two spin out companies - Bioplastech a technology development company for biodegradable polymers and Nova Mentis which produces a novel antioxidant with health promoting properties.

Professor O Connor is chairperson of the Irish Bioeconomy foundation, a not for profit, promoting the development and deployment of the bioeconomy in Ireland including pilot and demonstration scale biotechnology and biomanufacturing facilities at Lisheen Co. Tipperary.

He is chairperson of the scientific committee for the European public private partnership Circular Biobased Europe Joint Undertaking (CBE JU) which focuses on the scale up of biobased technologies to accelerate their market uptake.