Millions of tons of brewers' spent grain (BSG) are released annually as a co-product of beer production across Europe. Traditionally, BSG is used as animal feed or, in some cases, burned for green energy production. Valorizing co-products like these is the core focus of Duynie, a market leader in this field and part of Royal Cosun. Duynie has developed a breakthrough technology to separate BSG into high-quality proteins and fibers in dry, shelf-stable forms. While the protein fraction serves the food, pet food and feed industries, the fiber fraction offers untapped opportunities for innovative, high-value applications. We're seeking innovative entrepreneurs who can transform these widely available and sustainable dry fibers into highly valuable commercial applications.
Do you have innovative ideas for utilizing this fraction of separated BSG fibers? Whether you're developing sustainable composites, food applications, or entirely new product categories. Duynie offers industrial-scale supply with continuous availability and has the capacity to support innovative startups in developing and scaling their solutions. Submit your pitch and join us in creating the next generation of circular economy solutions!
The challenge
When the carbohydrates from the barley are converted into beer, the brewing industry generates massive amounts of spent grain as a byproduct from this production, containing all the protein and fiber components. After the newly developed separation process, the proteins find their way into the food, pet food and feed markets. The fiber fraction can be used for green energy production but we believe there is much more potential in it and we should transform this into higher-value applications.
Duynie has pioneered a groundbreaking separation technology that efficiently isolates BSG proteins and fibers into dry, shelf-stable formats with virtually unlimited storage life. This innovation opens unprecedented opportunities for fiber valorization, which was not possible before this separation process was developed and introduced into the brewing industry.
With Europe's growing focus on circular economy principles and sustainable manufacturing, there's significant market potential for companies that can transform these premium fibers into innovative applications. From reactive composites to food applications and beyond, the possibilities are extensive for entrepreneurs willing to think creatively about sustainable materials, and the volumes are there to build supply chains with larger industries. The consistent availability of these fibers supports the development of supply chains for larger industries.
What are we looking for?
We're seeking innovative applications for the BSG fiber fraction across multiple sectors. The following categories are examples of solution directions we've identified, but we're eager to be surprised by creative solutions we haven't yet considered:
- Food Applications: Functional ingredients or dietary fiber supplements, that leverage the nutritional and functional properties of BSG fibers.
- Composite Materials: Reactive composites, bio-based construction materials, sustainable packaging alternatives, or advanced materials that utilize the structural properties of our processed fibers.
What are we not looking for?
- Traditional animal feed applications (already well-established).
- Simple energy generating solutions, such as burning for energy or biogas production.
What do we offer?
We believe in customized partnerships that create mutual value. Our flexible approach means we can adapt our offering to match your specific needs and development stage. Including:
- Technical support: Collaboration with Duynie's experienced team and processing expertise
- Continuous supply: Access to industrial scale volumes (thousands of ton) of high-quality BSG fiber annually with guaranteed consistency and supply
- Exclusivity options: Temporary exclusivity agreements for promising applications during development phases
- Scaling potential: From startup-friendly quantities to full industrial-scale supply as your business grows
- Partnership opportunities: Revenue sharing, licensing agreements, and long-term contracts with established market leader
Your submission
- Description of the solution:
Provide the most concrete description possible of your solution. - Description of the pilot:
Provide a brief description of what is needed to develop and/or set up a pilot for your solution and what you need from us. Address the support needs, necessary access/materials/data, and the financial proposal for the pilot and, if successful, for the long term. - Team description:
Provide a brief description of the company and team that will implement the pilot.
Submission requirements
- In English or Dutch
- Maximum 6 pages / 18 slides
- PDF format (landscape or portrait A4, max 30MB)
- Optional: Video demonstrations, sample websites, or prototype examples as links
Intellectual Property
You remain the owner of the intellectual rights, concept, or solution in your submission until we, by mutual agreement, decide otherwise. Be aware that the submission (and the concepts and ideas in it) will be viewed and shared with (internal) stakeholders. Keep IP-sensitive unique (technical) details out of the submission, save it as a secret that can be shared later.
Timeline
- Thursday, January 22, 2026, 12:00 CET: Challenge launch
- Thursday, February 12, 2026: Online Q&A session from 13:00 to 14:00 CET (optional)
- Thursday, March 19, 2026, 17:00 CET: Submission deadline
- By Friday, April 3, 2026: Selection announcement
- Q2 2026: Live pitches/meetings with selected participants
About Duynie
Duynie is Europe's leading processor of co-products, handling 6 million tons annually with operations across the European continent. As pioneers in BSG protein and fiber separation technology, we're uniquely positioned to provide consistent, high quality materials for innovative applications. Our flexible partnership approach and extensive industry network make us the ideal collaborator for entrepreneurs seeking to scale sustainable fiber innovations while contributing to the circular economy.