NACO initiative a success as Shannon ABC winds up the project
Shannon ABC is bringing another successful project to an end this year with the Natural Future of Cosmetics (NACO) project finishing this month. The NACO project saw SABC facilitate knowledge sharing specific to the cosmetic industry with Irish SMEs in the cosmetic sector. This project was instrumental in assisting Irish cosmetic SMEs with issues concerning product development, ingredient selection and screening, and access to R&D funding.

The NACO project also offered cosmetic companies the opportunity to take part in networking events, training programs, and innovation support activities. These events focused on areas such as research and development, funding opportunities, formulation, and regulation. Furthermore, the companies were also offered the opportunity to access facilities and expertise at the University of Oulu, Finland in addition to the available expertise and equipment at Shannon ABC in MTU Kerry. The network events’ major highlights included online presentations by industrial specialists in the cosmetics sector. The industrial specialists presented various topical and strategic issues affecting the cosmetic sector. Some of the topical issues covered included the formulation of cosmetic products, cosmetics manufacturing, R&D funding opportunities for cosmetic SMEs, digital marketing for cosmetic companies, and European Union cosmetics regulations. Karen Twomey of Communications Hub, Dr. Brian O’Rourke from Design in the Institute of Technology, Carlow (now SETU Carlow), and Patricia Alamo and Paolo Camattari both from Lynoslife were some of the guest speakers.

This project was a success as Shannon ABC researchers and industry specialists in their network used their cosmetic sector expertise to address common challenges faced by Irish cosmetic SMEs. The collaborations with industry specialists and other research institutions were central to the success of this project. To ensure that stakeholders who could not attend these sessions also benefit, Shannon ABC uploaded all the sessions on the SABC YouTube channel. Cosmetics SMEs and other interested stakeholders can access these various sessions at www.youtube.com/@shannonabc2242.