Category: Stakeholders engagment and co-creation

RootLinks project

RootLinks project

Posted on by Louis Ferrini
This project ends on: 31/03/2029

Primary Sector Working Group Support Project

Despite their crucial role in the circular bioeconomy, primary producers across Europe struggle with participation in the bio-based sector’s research and innovation projects due to limited access to information, low awareness about bio-based solutions, and complex financial and regulatory environment. The RootLinks project addresses these challenges by enhancing capacity-building, training and collaboration across agriculture, forestry and the blue economy. The project helps primary producers engage in research and innovation funding programmes, adopt innovative business models, benefit from them, and contribute to energy and nutrient recycling, rural regeneration and generational renewal. Through knowledge exchange and partnerships, RootLinks aims to empower primary producers, and strengthen their role in the bio-based value chains.RootLinks will support the CBE JU working group on primary producers tasked to address the challenges and use the opportunities of the sector.

Contact:

Elena Reger: e.reger@fnr.de

website: https://rootlinks.eu/

HarWASTing project

HarWASTing project

Posted on by Louis Ferrini
This project ends on: 28/02/2029

VALORISATION OF HARVESTED AGROFORESTRY BIOMASS WASTE AS FEEDSTOCK FOR VALUE-ADDED BIO-BASED SOLUTIONS AS A GREEN DEVELOPMENT PATHWAY

HarWASTing aims to develop innovative business models based on circular economy (CE) principles to promote bioeconomy in rural areas, by implementing a set of scalable and replicable technological solutions to efficiently exploit underutilised biomass from forestry and agriculture to develop innovative and high-value products. These models will support sustainable management practices and will promote an efficient use of natural resources, reducing overall waste generation and post-harvest losses by implementing valorisation processes and fostering CE principles.
To this end, a methodology will be implemented to collect, treat and revalorize biomass from forest and agricultural harvest, pruning waste and bioethanol process side-streams, respecting the cascade principle for biomass use. A one-fits all technology, Hydrothermal Carbonization, for a higher energy efficient treatment of lignocellulosic biomass residues will be combined with Pressurized Hot Water Extraction and innovative post-treatment technologies, to develop high value added products and avoid any non-valorised side-stream. The whole concept will be demonstrated at small-scale pilot, built-upon existing wood, food and bioenergy value chains to further strengthen their economic and environmental sustainability through synergistic interlinkages between them. Mediterranean, Boreal and Continental bioregions will be studied.
The holistic concept is based on the central valorisation route of Hydrothermal Carbonization and its solid product, hydrochar, that is converted into hybrid wood-hydrochar panels with less than 10% of bio-adhesive for special applications such as fire protection or electromagnetic shielding. A novel support AI-based digital tool for forecasting agroforest feedstock availability will be developed. Innovative digital passports will help to commercialize the panels and bio-adhesives. The hydrochar will be offered on a new digital platform which also serves for networking and for publishing of best-practices.

Contact:

Irene Beleña: ibelena@aidimme.es

website: https://harwasting.eu/

BOOST4BIOEAST project

BOOST4BIOEAST project

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

BOOSTing the bioeconomy transformation FOR (4) the BIOEAST region

The BOOST4BIOEAST project was developed to support the BIOEAST Initiative and aims to empower national stakeholders in the Central Eastern European and Baltic countries for the development of national bioeconomy action plans and to build long-lasting structures and spaces of dialogue for national and macro-regional cooperation.
The project follows the footsteps of its predecessor, the BIOEASTsUP H2020 project, building upon its outcomes that laid the foundation for macro-regional networking among bioeconomy experts and policymakers through the development of its Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda (BIOEAST SRIA) and 11 Bioeconomy Concept Papers of 2022.

Contact:

Korinna Varga (Project Coordinator): korinna.varga@biokutatas.hu

website: https://bioeast.eu/

BIOECONOMY GIANTS project

BIOECONOMY GIANTS project

Posted on by Louis Ferrini
This project ends on: 31/12/2027

FosterinG collaboratIon among primAry producers and beyoNd to promoTe Sustainable growth

BIOECONOMY GIANTS aims to enhance collaboration between primary producers, rural actors and bio-based industries to accelerate Europe’s transition to a sustainable bioeconomy. Through a multi-actor approach, it promotes cooperative and circular bio-based business models (CCBBMs) that turn agricultural, forestry and agri-food by-products into new value. The project supports over 80 primary producers with tailored capacity-building, direct financial support via two Open Calls, and dedicated decision-making tools (Impact Shift and Coompy), aiming to deliver 30+ new bio-based products, cut life-cycle impacts by up to 20%, create over 130 jobs and generate more than €44M in annual sales.

Contact:

Carlos Pérez Montero (FOOD+i, Project Coordinator): cperez@clusterfoodmasi.es

website: https://bioeconomygiants.com

SYMBA project

SYMBA project

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

Securing local supplY chains via the development of new Methods to assess the circularity and symbiosis of the Bio-bAsed industrial ecosystem enhancing the EU competitiveness and resource independence.

Within the EU bio-based sector, disjointed information systems perpetuate inefficiencies, resulting in suboptimal value chains and an uneven distribution of economic benefits. This lack of cohesion hampers progress towards a circular economy and sustainable practices. In this context, the EU-funded SYMBA project aims to reshape the narrative by introducing an innovative industrial symbiosis methodology, backed by a user-friendly AI database. Specifically, the project will create a circular economy blueprint for the bio-based sector. Its innovative approach encompasses a user-friendly AI database and aims to enhance local supply chains, benefit stakeholders and elevate the economic value of final products.
The SYMBA project aims at creating a new and innovative IS method to be replicated within EU according to the local/regional bio-based industrial ecosystem. SYMBA will implement a user-friendly and accessible AI database suggesting regional IS innovative processes to create zero-waste value chains, ensuring more local supply chains; a better distribution of economic and social benefits among the stakeholders and an increase in the economic value of final products.
SYMBA solution, aligned with the EU Bioeconomy Strategy, is based on a threefold approach: i) Creation and validation of new IS methodology for the bio-based sector, starting from existing knowledge and lessons earned from SYMBA consortium partners. ii) Individuation of criteria to select regional hubs. iii) AI database including Monitoring tools, waste relation matrix, networking and cooperation with ongoing EU and local networks.
The partnership has been intentionally selected by its expertise, network with key external stakeholders and geographical reach, bringing together 5 EU countries (IT, ES, BE, NL, DE) to consolidate the maximum outreach of the initiative. It consists of 9 partners with complementary competences: 4 RTD centers (CIRCE, CTB, AIMPLAS; CET); 1 large industry (NVMT); 1 pilot facility (BBEPP); 1 innovative SME (ENCO) and 2 networks (CKIC and ICLEI) with a valuable background in applying IS approach in the bio-based sector, providing services to companies and creating awareness and networking among citizens, policy makers, EU initiatives. Through the involvement of different industrial sectors: agri-food (NVMT); packaging (AIMPLAS); wastewater (CET); textile (CTB); waste valorisation (BBEPP), SYMBA will demonstrate how to shift from a linear to a circular economy contributing to deliver bio-based solutions with reduced environmental impacts on soil, water and air quality.

Contact:

Antonietta Pizza: pizza@enco-consulting.it

website: https://www.symbaproject.eu/

thERBN project

thERBN project

Posted on by Louis Ferrini
This project ends on: 31/12/2027

THEMATIC EUROPEAN RURAL BIOECONOMY NETWORK

The objective of thERBN is to put into operation an EU-wide multi-actor (MA) thematic network (TN) for knowledge sharing on innovative solutions for sustainable circular bioeconomy (CB) applicable by small farms and foresters (practitioners) at a local scale in rural areas. Such a framework will contribute to empowering practitioners (PPs) to solve the gap between available and viable CB solutions and the problems they face in their everyday lives. Starting from their most urgent needs on the management and use of biological by-products and residues, thERBN will identify existing solutions from grassroots from PPs, innovations developed by Operational Groups (OGs), and research applied results from national and EU projects, to produce practice-oriented, easily understandable materials to be shared in national and EU demo days and training and through channels most consulted by PPs. thERBN TN will assure open access to long-term digital structures like EU-Farmbook and EU-CAP Network, complemented by the thERBN platform to facilitate multilingual access and a social environment to interact among and integrate CB-interested OGs, TNs & project communities, thus enhancing the cross-border dimensions and effects of thERBN TN, and reducing the fragmentation in knowledge and innovation. The MA thERBN TN will connect with the key actors (researchers, advisors, innovation brokers) and structures (national and regional AKIS, extension services, advisors networks) necessary to encompass the transition of small rural farms and foresters towards climate neutrality and more sustainable and resilient operation. Bottom-up MA-based dialogue will yield evidence on the current PPs’ needs, the remaining gaps for CB solutions that new innovative products and services can cover, and policy briefs proposing policies or instruments to support the adoption of small-scale CB solutions by small farms.

Contact:

Edelbis López Dávila (Project Coordinator): Edelbis.LopezDavila@UGent.be
Alexandra Gkouma (Communication Manager): gkouma@qplan-intl.gr
Flavia Fusconi (Dissemination and Networking): fusconi@apre.it

website: https://therbn.eu/

Crop-MATCHING project

Crop-MATCHING project

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

A thematic network to boost small-scale sustainable farming through sustainable cropping practices.

Supporting small farms and foresters across Europe.
The EU-funded Crop-MATCHING project introduces, adopts and applies a novel agro-ecological concept that ‘matches’ farming systems by mimicking nature to support long-lasting and effective solutions. This approach enables small-scale farms to effectively implement environmentally friendly practices, thereby further supporting rural communities, agro-biodiversity, and both environmental and economic objectives. With this in mind, Crop-MATCHING is developing a holistic approach to identify underutilised knowledge and best sustainable practices, aimed at creating impartial, tailored expertise to assist small farmers and foresters in overcoming the challenges they face.

Contact:

Prof. Konstadinos Mattas: mattas@auth.gr

website: https://www.cropmatching.com/

BIO-INSPIRE project

BIO-INSPIRE project

Posted on by Louis Ferrini
This project ends on: 30/04/2028

Enhancing Bio-Based Innovation and Participation in Under-Represented Regions Through Cluster Mobilization and Collaborative Governance

Regional clusters act as powerful catalysts in the bioeconomy — connecting local enterprises, researchers, and stakeholders through their cross-sectoral reach and close links to regional ecosystems. BIO-INSPIRE mobilises this potential through an alliance of 14 transdisciplinary partners from 12 EU countries. The project engages Regional Bio-Economy Clusters in seven widening regions (Greece, Hungary, Slovakia, Lithuania, Romania, Bulgaria, and Poland), supported by research and cluster partners from Sweden and the Netherlands.

By addressing common bottlenecks in innovation, tackling systemic challenges, and introducing a robust governance framework, BIO-INSPIRE strengthens regional R&I capacity and enables ecosystems to build lasting collaborations and fully participate in Europe’s bio-based economy.

Contact:

Maria Ferentinou: m.ferentinou@greenovate-europe.eu

website: https://www.bio-inspire.eu/

ENDURE project

ENDURE project

Posted on by Louis Ferrini
This project ends on: 31/12/2029

Doctoral Network on Enabling Scaled Production of Durable Natural Fibre Components

The European moulded fibre products (MFPs) sector leads in technology and supports sustainable growth. However, the industry faces a shortage of highly-skilled knowledge personnel. With the support of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the ENDURE project will train 12 doctoral candidates in natural fibre-based materials engineering, MFP design and digital manufacturing technologies for the natural fibre industry. The training will focus on the behaviour of new natural fibre materials (NFMs) and their applications in MFPs. The project will innovate in NFM processing using agricultural waste and recycled MFPs. It will design new production equipment for MFPs, develop optimisation models with AI/ML techniques, and implement sensors and digital twins, expanding the use of fibre-based materials from 2D packaging to 3D products.

Contact:

Elias Liarte – ITA: eliarte@ita.es
Pablo Gonzalez – ITA: pablog@ita.es
Sankhya Mohanty – DTU: samoh@dtu.dk
Guido Tosello – DTU: guto@dtu.dk

website: https://endure.dtu.dk/

 B-Trust project

 B-Trust project

Posted on by Louis Ferrini
Project concluded

B-Trust aims to develop an innovative governance model, the B-Trust Co-Creation Programme, that actively engages stakeholders most affected by new biotechnologies and those driving their development and implementation (quintuple helix, 5H). The programme seeks to enable better-informed decision-making, build shared understanding and acceptance, strengthen social engagement, and support responsible biotechnological innovation in agri-food and bio-based systems.

Contact:

Gus Verhaeghe: gus.verhaeghe@flandersfood.com

website: https://btrustproject.eu/