Details about the role
- About ZIROBIO
ZIROBIO OÜ is a circular economy company based in Estonia. Our mission is to promote the transformation from fossil-based materials to bio-based recycled materials.
We collect spent coffee grounds, develop new bio-based materials, and turn them into sustainable products sold across Europe and the United States.
Founded in 2024, ZIROBIO first entered the U.S. market and has since built a full business cycle covering branding, R&D, production, sales, and global logistics. Our products have successfully launched and gained international recognition.
We joined the Tallinn Business Incubator in October 2025. We are now planning to collaborate with research institutions and local manufacturers in Estonia to develop new bio-based materials that turn coffee grounds into next-generation sustainable resources.
Learn more:
www.zirobio.com
Founder’s LinkedIn:
www.linkedin.com/in/lumiaopr
- About the Role
As an R&D and Partnerships Intern at ZIROBIO, you will play a key supporting role in our international research and production projects. You will help our founders build partnerships with university laboratories, research centers, and potential B2B partners to co-develop new bio-based materials using coffee grounds.
This is a great opportunity to gain hands-on experience in sustainable innovation, research commercialization, and business collaboration within a fast-growing international startup.
Success in this role means being proactive in managing communication, organizing project documentation, and ensuring smooth coordination between research and production. You will directly contribute to ZIROBIO’s mission of transforming coffee waste into next-generation bio-based materials and sustainable products. Our next research focus is on sustainable packaging.
This internship offers a unique opportunity to experience the full process from R&D to prototyping to market launch in a circular economy startup setting.
- Key Responsibilities
• Help establish and maintain partnerships with universities and research labs, and assist in communication and documentation for research collaborations.
• Gather R&D requirements and quotations, and assist in project planning and follow-up.
• Research and summarize literature and reports on bio-based and circular materials.
• Support the transition from lab experiments to sample production, participate in material testing, and follow up on production progress and details.
• Organize project files, contracts, reports, and assist the marketing team in preparing client proposals and presentation materials.
- Work Arrangement
• Type: Paid Internship
• Location: Tallinn Business Incubator and Remote
• Working Hours: Fixed at 40 hours per month, averaging around 10 hours per week.
• Compensation: €6 per hour
• Reporting to: Founders
Expectations for the candidate
- Qualifications
• Currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Material Science, Biotechnology, Chemistry, Environmental Engineering, Industrial Design, or Sustainable Design.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English and Estonian.
• Experience in project management or production coordination is a plus.
• Highly organized, proactive, and driven, taking ownership of projects and responsibilities.
• Strong interest in circular economy, bio-based materials, sustainable innovation, and coffee culture.
Opportunities
• Contribute to reducing global carbon emissions.
• Flexible working hours and location.
• Eligible for ECTS credit recognition.
• Opportunity to participate in Tallinn Business Incubator’s startup training programs.
• Collaborate with university labs and researchers.
• Gain startup and research experience.
• Receive direct mentorship from the founders.
• Internship certificate and recommendation letter upon completion.
• Outstanding interns may be offered a full-time position.
Applying for a job
One can apply until a suitable candidate is found or until the end of the application period.