Category: Bioeconomy Education

ReTREEaSURE project

ReTREEaSURE project

Posted on by Selenia Marinelli
This project ends on: 31/08/2030

RECOVERY OF TREE RESOURCES FOR SUSTAINABLE USE IN RENEWABLE CHEMISTRY

Forests cover nearly 40% of the EU’s land and generate around 80.7 million tonnes of forestry residues each year, yet only 3% of these resources are currently utilised. ReTREEaSURE aims to unlock the value of underutilised forestry residues by developing a sustainable framework that combines ecological assessment, mobile collection and pre-processing systems, and machine learning-based decision support tools.

The project will establish sustainable residue removal thresholds, optimise local logistics, and guide biomass valorisation and reforestation strategies. Through innovative biorefinery processes, forestry residues will be converted into a range of high-value bio-based products, including PHB/PHBV biopolymers, bio leather, bio pigments, bioactive compounds, lignin-based chemicals and epoxy, biodegradable packaging, cloth hangers, and substrates for mushroom cultivation.

ReTREEaSURE will also develop and validate five business models with industry partners and engage stakeholders through regional hubs and multi-actor collaboration activities. By integrating ecological, technological, and market-driven solutions, the project supports sustainable forest management, climate resilience, and the transition towards a circular bioeconomy in Europe.

Contacts:

Thamilinian Muruganandam: dissemination@holoss.com

website: https://retreeasure-project.eu/

PACE project

PACE project

Posted on by Selenia Marinelli
This project ends on: 30/04/2030

Potato Juice to Fatty Acids for New Bio-Based Value-Chains in Europe

Circular bioeconomy is crucial for achieving Europe’s competitive economy and climate targets, but it still faces technical and logistical barriers, and does not use waste resources to their full potential. The modernisation and integration of biorefineries, particularly through the use of local waste and sidestreams, offers sustainable solutions to boost domestic production, diversify the offer of bio-based products, and reduce environmental impact.
PACE will demonstrate a first-of-its-kind full-scale biorefinery by retrofitting part of Avebe’s existing facility and realising a plant based on ChainCraft’s proprietary technology for conversion of organic residues to biobased chemicals. This plant will use advanced fermentation and microbial chain elongation to convert potato juice into valuable bio-based medium-chain fatty acids (MFCAs), supporting zero-waste operations and new circular value chains in the chemical industry.
The project will provide sustainable, bio-based alternatives to conventional MCFAs, which are often derived from crude oil or unsustainable palm oil. By involving a range of stakeholders through a collaborative approach, it will boost demand and acceptance of bio-based MCFAs, transforming the market.

Contact:

Konstantina Koutrouveli: info@pace-project.eu

website: https://pace-project.eu/

BIOSPARK project

BIOSPARK project

Posted on by Selenia Marinelli
This project ends on: 31/03/2029

Skills Promotion and Awareness for Regenerative Knowledge

The bioeconomy is a key driver of sustainable growth in Europe. Despite progress in technological development, education and training in the sector are not keeping up with the industry needs. New skills and a mindset shift across the stakeholder community are required. There is also a need to actively implement the lessons learned, apply policy and educational recommendations, and prepare for future advancements in bioeconomy systems.

BIOSPARK will address these challenges by developing and validating demand-driven curricula for the education, training, and reskilling of students and professionals. A network of bio-based educational centres across the 27 EU member states will support mutual learning and knowledge exchange. The project will dedicate strong effort to involving the so-called widening countries, less R&I advanced EU member states, associated countries and outermost regions.

It will also strengthen the European bioeconomy by fostering strong collaborations between universities, research and technology organisations, and industry.

Contact:

Merve Atasoy: merve.atasoy@uef.fi

website: https://biosparkproject.eu/

FLEXIZYME project

FLEXIZYME project

Posted on by Selenia Marinelli
This project ends on: 31/05/2028

Construction of a FLEXIble and adaptable enZYMatic biotechnological platform for sustainablE industrial production of bio-based fatty amines from side stream materials

FLEXIZYME project aims to develop a sustainable, scalable biotechnological platform to produce fatty amines from renewable biorefinery side streams. Through the integration of enzyme engineering, biocatalysis, and AI tools, the project will contribute to replacing traditional fossil-based production methods with sustainable and resource-efficient alternatives.

Contact:

Annabel Serpico, PhD: annabel.serpico@itene.com

website: https://www.flexizyme.eu/

 FoodCoP project

 FoodCoP project

Posted on by Selenia Marinelli
Project concluded

Fuelling Startup Villages with Circular Bioeconomy Strategies

FoodCoP is an innovative venture to enhance interregional collaboration among Startup Villages, aligning stakeholder interests to catalyse sustainable growth through circular bioeconomy principles. It builds a collaborative framework, fosters food system transformation, and strengthens knowledge exchange among rural innovators across three Startup Village territories.

Contact:

Rita Barros: info@foodcop.eu

website: https://foodcop.eu; https://www.platform-foodcop.eu/

Bio2PEs project

Bio2PEs project

Posted on by Louis Ferrini
This project ends on: 30/09/2029

Creating Sustainable Solutions for a Circular Future

Bio2PEs is an EU-funded project developing bio-based and biodegradable polyethylene (PE) and polyester from biomass waste to support Europe’s shift toward a circular plastics economy. Traditional plastics create long-lasting pollution, and Bio2PEs aims to tackle this by introducing scalable, sustainable alternatives aligned with the European Circular Economy Action Plan.

The project will design packaging prototypes in different sizes and assess their full lifecycle, including biodegradability in various European climates. To improve circularity, Bio2PEs integrates innovative features such as self-repairing coatings that extend product lifespan and fluorescence technology that makes products easier to sort and recycle.

Working closely with other EU initiatives, BIO2PEs also promotes consumer adoption of biodegradable materials through interactive labelling and contributes real-world data to an AI-driven tool that recommends the most sustainable material options.

Contact:

Debolina Paul, Digiotouch: debolina@digiotouch.com

website: https://www.bio2pes-project.eu/

MAGICBIOMAT project

MAGICBIOMAT project

Posted on by Louis Ferrini
This project ends on: 31/12/2028

Manufacturing Guiding Tool for Circular and Programmed Biodegradable Materials under Open Environment Conditions

MAGICBIOMAT aims to develop a portfolio of circular bio-based materials with programmed biodegradability, demonstrated through two applications with high littering rates: mulching films and paper-based packaging. The materials will be tested under different open-environment conditions, including soil, freshwater and marine environments, and across different European climates. The project will also develop a trustworthy AI-powered software tool to guide the design and manufacturing of novel bio-based materials according to application requirements and end-of-life conditions. Circularity is addressed through durability, reuse, remanufacturing and mechanical recycling, while behavioural studies and interactive labelling strategies will support consumer acceptance and appropriate use and disposal of biodegradable materials.

Contact:

Evi Stavrou: digital@isotech.com.cy

website: https://www.magicbiomat.eu/

ENABLS project

ENABLS project

Posted on by Louis Ferrini
This project ends on: 31/12/2026

ENABLS – education and Nature-Based Solutions: enable Society to bend the curve for biodiversity

ENABLS will set the basis of networking and collaboration to promote, embed and unfold Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) concepts and approaches within universities and vocational school, the professional sphere and society at large through transdisciplinary dialogue. ENABLS envisions the creation of 7 Living Labs (DE, NL, FI, AT, LT, EL, CZ), incorporating all ‘voices’ and leaving no one behind. The goal is to enable society to bend the curve for biodiversity in higher education and Technical and Vocational Education & Training (TVET). The ultimate objective is for ENABLS to contribute more

Contact:

Ann-Catrin Fender: anncatrin.fender@uni-hohenheim.de

website: https://enabls.eu

NEBA Alliance project

NEBA Alliance project

Posted on by Louis Ferrini
This project ends on: 31/12/2026

New European Bauhaus Academy Alliance

The NEBA Alliance laid the foundation of the NEB Academy. Bringing together researchers and practitioners from 11 Member States, the Alliance mapped skills gaps and training opportunities in the European construction ecosystem and established the first five regional NEB Academy Hubs. The Hubs have piloted training models on bio-based materials, timber engineering, building design, circular economy, cultural heritage, digitalisation, and more. The NEB Academy’s initial collection of open trainings can be consulted in the online catalogue of courses.

Contact:

Uwe Kies, EU Outreach HUB Leader: Uwe.kies@innovawood.eu

https://neb.academy/ (website)

https://nebacademy.eu/ (educational platform)

https://www.linkedin.com/company/neb-academy/ (LinkedIn)

 

BIOPYRANIA project

BIOPYRANIA project

Posted on by Louis Ferrini
This project ends on: 30/09/2028

BIOBASED MONOMERS FROM SECOND GENERATION BIOMASS FOR HIGH PERFORMANCE POLYMERS, COPOLYMERS AND BLENDS

Advanced polymers play a vital role in strategic European industries, particularly electric mobility and green hydrogen. Yet most high-performance polyamides and polybenzimidazoles are still made from fossil-based raw materials through energy-intensive processes. This increases greenhouse gas emissions and leaves Europe heavily dependent on imported petrochemical feedstocks.
Bio-based alternatives already exist, but many still struggle to meet the requirements of demanding industrial markets. As a result, there is still a clear gap between the availability of renewable resources and the development of advanced materials that can compete with established fossil-based products.
BIOPYRANIA was created to address this gap: the project is developing new circular value chains for the production of high-performance aromatic polymers from European waste wood and forestry residues. These renewable resources will be converted into sustainable molecular building blocks and, ultimately, into advanced polymer materials designed to replace fossil-based alternatives. In doing so, BIOPYRANIA will help reduce dependence on petrochemical resources, make better use of European biomass and strengthen Europe’s strategic autonomy in advanced materials.
The project focuses on two key markets: electric mobility and green hydrogen. For the automotive sector, BIOPYRANIA will develop lightweight, durable and recyclable bio-based polyamides for use in electric vehicle components. For hydrogen technologies, it will develop innovative materials for anion exchange membranes used in electrolysers and fuel cells. These materials will be designed to meet demanding requirements for mechanical strength, thermal and chemical stability, durability and processability.
Rather than treating recycling as an issue to be addressed at the end, BIOPYRANIA considers material design, production, use and end-of-life together from the outset. The aim is to avoid downcycling and make it possible to recover valuable materials from complex, high-performance polymer products.
Overall, the project aims to reduce the use of fossil feedstocks, cut waste generation and CO₂ emissions, and improve the circularity of advanced polymer materials. At the same time, it will support the development of stronger and more competitive European value chains in strategic industrial sectors.
BIOPYRANIA brings together 13 partners from academia, research organisations, SMEs and industry, covering the expertise needed to develop, scale up, validate and assess the proposed solutions.

Contact:

Katrien Bernaerts: katrien.bernaerts@maastrichtuniversity.nl

website: https://biopyraniaproject.eu/