New life for research infrastructure

In 2025, a total of 25 proposals were submitted to the UiB Idé call. Four research projects and three student projects were selected, including a project led by Lydia Boyle. This project was awarded funding in the student project category and is named TREco (Technology Reuse Ecosystem). 

A technology sharing platform

Across academia and healthcare institutions, researchers spend an exorbitant amount of time and resources sourcing expensive, specialized technologies that are often used briefly and then stored away unused and untracked. These inefficiencies result in silos of unused assets, high procurement costs, and significant environmental waste.

TREco addresses this problem head-on by offering a digital platform that enables transparent, interdisciplinary sharing (buy/sell, borrow, donate) of research technologies across academic, healthcare, and industry institutions—locally, nationally, and globally. This platform extends the lifecycle of costly technologies, reduces e-waste, supports climate goals, and introduces a circular model for research infrastructure. TREco empowers users to reduce costs, gain insights into best practices, generate project income, and track measurable sustainability impacts.

Collaboration partners in the project are UiB, Haukeland University Hospital, Haraldsplass Deaconess Hospital, and Neuro-SysMed (The Western Norway Regional Health Authorities).

See also this news story from UiB:

Seven innovative projects receive UiB Idé funding

Innovation Day

Make a note of September 19, when the university invites to the UiB Innovation Day! The event will highlight research and innovation across all UiB faculties, showcasing some of the most exciting projects at the university. See the Innovation Day program here.