The EU conference “Bioeconomy – Enabling the European Green Deal in Challenging Times” took place on 6 and 7 October in Brussels. With around 1000 participants discussing the findings of the EU Bioeconomy Strategy Progress Report, the conference has set the tone for the next steps of the EU Bioeconomy Strategy!

The European Bioeconomy Network was invited by the EC to facilitate the collaboration among projects and initiatives in the dedicated EuBioNet corner where the posters with the outcomes of the “Projects2Projects” workshop were presented.

Transition2BIO played a great role during the Conference, distributing around 1000 copies of the book for kids “What’s Bioeconomy?”, in 10 different languages. The participants expressed their enthusiasm for the book that was presented also during a speech delivered by Chiara Pocaterra, coordinator of Transition2BIO and co-autor with Susanna Albertini of the book. The speech highlighted the importance of involving young generations to grow future citizens and decision-makers aware and interested on the circular bioeconomy.

In July 2022, the European Bioeconomy Network, Transition2Bio and the World Bioeconomy Forum started a collaboration in the context of the World Bioproduct Day.

The campaign engaged many stakeholders of the circular bioeconomy that shared their stories via social media by using the hashtag #bioproductday2022 and/or #bioproductday, or by submitting via email their bioproducts.

Transition2Bio and EuBioNet  selected the 5 most interesting submissions, following specific categories:

• Innovation: Fraunhofer Institute for Interfacial Engineering and Biotechnology – Biosurfactants and RoKKa projects
• Societal Impact: Stefan Keppler – Amazon Kapok
• Environmental Impact: Infinited Fiber – Textile Fibers Infinna
• Communication: Carmen Scioti – Ficus Natalensis Cloth
• Innovative Youth: Università degli Studi di Trieste – Valorisation of rice husk

To give more visibility to their circular bioeconomy stories, the video interviews to the winners were curated by Transition2Bio and the EuBioNet and they will be shared in a joint social media campaign organised with the support of the World Bioeconomy Forum!

You can access all the videos at the following link.

8 Novembre 2022 , 14:00 – 17:30

Organized by: European Research Executive Agency (REA)

On 16 January 2018, the EU adopted its European Strategy for Plastics in a Circular Economy. The strategy is part of the EU Action Plan for Circular Economy, and builds on existing measures to reduce plastic waste. The EU Plastics Strategy is a key element of Europe’s transition towards a carbon neutral and circular economy as set out in the EU Green Deal and Research&Innovation actions are paramount to ensure such transition. Since 2018, Horizon 2020 and Horizon Europe (EU’s research and innovation framework programmes) have funded projects which develop innovative solutions to boost the circular economy for plastics. The meeting wants to showcase the contribution of Horizon 2020 and Horizon Europe projects to the EU Plastics Strategy and therefore to the EU Green Deal. The meeting will see the participation of around 20 ongoing Horizon 2020 and Horizon Europe projects contributing to the EU Plastics Strategy and EU Action Plan for Circular Economy from different angles: from improving the sorting separation and recycling of multi-layers materials, to removing hazardous substances in plastics, from better understanding and monitoring the impact of plastics in the environment (including pollution) to tacking specific plastics challenges in agriculture.

The Horizon 2020 projects involved in the meeting have already taken part in other clustering events, where some cluster representatives / ambassadors have been appointed. This cluster meeting wants to be also a follow-up of previous clustering meetings, with the additional contribution of recently-signed Horizon Europe projects. Relevant project activities and solutions that have the potential to contribute to EU policy developments in the area of circular and sustainable plastics will be presented and further clustering opportunities will be identified.

Session chairs

REA representative (TBC)
Horizon 2020 and Horizon Europe cluster representatives (TBC)

Programme

14.00-14.05 Opening
Speaker from REA (TBC)

14.05-14.20 Overview of EU’s funding opportunities and relevant initiatives in support of the EU’s plastics strategy
Speaker from REA (TBC)

14.20-14.30 Green Innovation with EIC Accelerator
Speaker from EISMEA (TBC)

14.30-15.50 Short presentations of H2020 and HE projects, with a special focus on their contribution to the EU Plastics Strategy and opportunities for projects clustering 
Project representatives (TBC)

15.50-16.00 Addressing challenges to unlock bio-plastics potential: the contribution of EU-funded projects
FVA New Media Research, European Bioeconomy Network, Glaukos

16.00-16.25 Q&As, discussions and next steps for clustering
Moderator from REA (TBC)

16.25-16.30 Closing
Speaker from REA (TBC)

The online workshop “Young people for Mediterranean cooperation” will take place on the 13^th of October from 11.30 to 13.00 CEST in the framework of the European Week of Regions and Cities.

As 2022 marks the European Year of Youth, the workshop aims to showcase inspiring cooperation stories of young people from both sides of the Mediterranean – including representatives of ENI CBC Med projects – and celebrate their contribution to positive and constructive Euro-Mediterranean relations. To find out more information about the event, please visit the Programme website.

If you wish to attend the event, you can register at your earliest convenience at the following link: https://bit.ly/3SiZiNn (Workshop code – 13WS22471). You will need to create an account and then add the event to your agenda but it only takes a few minutes.

On Thursday 15 September 2022 from 9.00 to 17:00 CET, Deloitte, empirica and Fondazione Giacomo Brodolini (FGB) organised a Conference, together with the European Commission’s Directorate General for Research & Innovation (DG RTD), as part of the project on “Promoting education, training and skills across the bioeconomy”.

During the conference the results of the project and the recommendations for the development of education at higher education, VET and entrepreneurship levels,  were presented and discussed in order to empower the future workforce with the skills required in an evolving, circular and sustainable bioeconomy.

The results are now publicly available and you can download all the material at the following links:

Policy brief

https://op.europa.eu/en/publication-detail/-/publication/da7a3790-330c-11ed-975d-01aa75ed71a1/language-en/format-PDF/source-266382205

The bioeconomy, as a catalyst for systemic change, tackles the economic, social and environmental aspects of the European Green Deal, seeking new ways of producing and consuming resources while respecting our planet’s limits and moving away from a linear economy based on extensive use of fossil and mineral resources. As defined in the European Commission’s updated Bioeconomy Strategy of 2018, the bioeconomy covers “all sectors and systems that rely on biological resources (animals, plants, micro-organisms and derived biomass, including organic waste), their functions and principles. It includes and interlinks land and marine ecosystems and the services they provide; all primary production sectors that use and produce biological resources; and all economic and industrial sectors that use biological resources and processes to produce food, feed, bio-based products, energy and services.” The transition to a sustainable and circular bioeconomy will be achieved through the five goals of the EU Bioeconomy Strategy: Ensuring food and nutrition security; Managing natural resources sustainably; Reducing dependence on non-renewable, unsustainable resources; Limiting and adapting to climate change; Strengthening European competitiveness and create jobs. This transition presents opportunities for jobs and economic growth. In particular, the Bioeconomy Strategy forecasts that one million new jobs could be created by 2030, supported by the “strong and fast-growing start-up ecosystem in the biotechnology sector”.

Final report

https://op.europa.eu/en/publication-detail/-/publication/6a5f6dd4-3312-11ed-975d-01aa75ed71a1/language-en/format-PDF/source-266382552

This is the Final Report of the study on “Promoting education, training and skills across the bioeconomy” conducted by Deloitte, Empirica and Fondazione Giacomo Brodolini Srl SB (FGB), mandated by the European Commission’s DG Research & innovation (DG RTD). The study assesses the current and future (2030 and 2050) needs for professional profiles and skills, bringing together a quantitative forecast exercise and a qualitative ‘foresight’ activity, which incorporates expert insights on the future of the bioeconomy. This assessment is compared against the current education and training provision in the bioeconomy at three levels: higher education, vocational education and training, and entrepreneurship training. This comparison highlights key unmet training needs that need to be addressed to realise the opportunities that the bioeconomy can provide in the future. Recommendations are provided for each of the education levels to address these skills needs, including model curricula which draw on case studies of good practices. These recommendations cover both the content of model curricula, as well as approaches to developing and updating programmes to meet the changing needs of the bioeconomy.

Factsheets:

Higher education

https://op.europa.eu/en/publication-detail/-/publication/82c681fc-2fef-11ed-975d-01aa75ed71a1/language-en/format-PDF/source-265943753

Europe needs more professionals with dedicated skills to drive the transition to a sustainable and circular bioeconomy, a core component of the Green Deal. A study was made to support the development of educational and training content, methods, tools and structures to achieve a mainstreaming of the bioeconomy in education and training. The following recommendations aim to promote upskilling and reskilling bioeconomy professionals to meet this challenge.

Vocational education and training

https://op.europa.eu/en/publication-detail/-/publication/8898756d-2ff1-11ed-975d-01aa75ed71a1/language-en/format-PDF/source-265943548

Europe needs more people with the skills needed to drive the transition to a sustainable and circular bioeconomy, a core component of the Green Deal. A study was undertaken to support the development of educational and training content, methods, tools and structures to achieve a mainstreaming of the bioeconomy in education and training. It includes recommendations to train people to work in the bioeconomy.

Entrepreneurship education

https://op.europa.eu/en/publication-detail/-/publication/e98d595a-2fee-11ed-975d-01aa75ed71a1/language-en/format-PDF/source-search

Europe needs more professionals with dedicated entrepreneurship skills to drive the transition to a sustainable and circular bioeconomy, a core component of the Green Deal. A study was made to support the development of educational and training content, methods, tools and structures to achieve a mainstreaming of the bioeconomy in education and training. It includes recommendations that aim to promote upskilling and reskilling bioeconomy professionals to meet this challenge.