Strengthening and connecting bioeconomy networks

There is a need to strengthen a Europe - wide network for the bioeconomy to exchange knowledge and to stimulate mutual learning of bioeconomy initiatives and solutions, on the transition to a sustainable and circular bioeconomy, and on its governance – in view of the review of the current EU bioeconomy strategy. Although some platforms for networking and cooperation on the bioeconomy exist, more can be done to strengthen relationship building across European sectors, stakeholder groups, generations, languages, levels of governance, or professions and advance the cross-cutting insights that drive bioeconomy solutions and improved governance. Barriers including insufficient understanding of the bioeconomy concept and its potential, language, limited capacities to engage in knowledge exchange, unsuitable engagement formats, or a lack of mutual understanding are some of the factors that contribute to this situation.

Efforts to strengthen and connect bioeconomy networks across Member States and Associated Countries will foster interconnectedness amongst stakeholders, across sectors, regions and disciplines, to strengthen policy coherence and implementation. It will accelerate relation building and transfer of knowledge on bioeconomy, help the development and implementation of the EU bioeconomy strategy in Europe, and contribute to scale-up place-based solutions that address EU challenges in different regional contexts.

Successful proposals are expected to:

• establish and develop an EU-wide platform (one-stop shop, multilingual) for networking and engagement on the bioeconomy, that brings together EU practitioners, researchers, investors, policy makers and education providers,
• support of international research and innovation bioeconomy networks and initiatives (e.g. International Bioeconomy Forum or International Advisory Council on Global Bioeconomy) to foster international research collaboration and Science-to-Policy interfaces for bioeconomy;
• develop communication strategies and tools, and organise events to inform EU, national and regional actors and stakeholders about bioeconomy deployment, successful bioeconomy initiatives and solutions (i.e. open access to industrial demonstrations sites), including from relevant EU-funded R&I projects, and other EU programmes (i.e. Interreg: European Territorial Co-operation);
• stimulate dialogue on bioeconomy solutions and initiatives, to build relations, exchange knowledge and support mutual learning, across European sectors, stakeholder groups, generations, languages, levels of governance, or professions; align these activities with needs under the EU bioeconomy strategy and related policies including on climate and biodiversity;
• implement lean business models to manage the platform (e.g. secretariat, operations, events) and its activities in a sustainable manner beyond the end of the project using public and private funding;
• liaise and collaborate with bioeconomy education institutes for improved skills development initiatives and networks to develop and deploy innovative interactive bioeconomy education material in support of both the informal and formal education at all levels;
• engage and train investors on the European bioeconomy to foster investment in bioeconomy sectors.

Proposals are encouraged to work together with relevant initiatives including those of the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (Knowledge Centre on Bioeconomy, Bioeconomy Monitoring System), the Circular Biobased Europe Joint Undertaking, the European Circular Economy Stakeholder Platform, and BIOEAST. Proposals are expected to build on results from EU R&I projects including BioVoices and ShapingBio.