Periodic Reporting for period 2 - COOPID (COOPeration of bioeconomy clusters for bio-based knowledge transfer via Innovative Dissemination techniques in the primary production sector)
Reporting period: 2022-01-01 to 2023-06-30
WHAT THE PROJECT DOES
COOPID proposes an innovative and effective strategy to inspire primary producers and stimulate the uptake of inclusive and sustainable bio-based business models in the European primary production sector, considering regional & sectorial particularities. Currently, bioeconomy starts on the fields, yet meaningful participation of the primary sector is currently challenged: this is an issue COOPID is meant to address. To do so, COOPID envisions the development of an ad-hoc created network of “Bioeconomy Clusters” from 10 European countries, involving a wide range of stakeholders: primary producers - cooperatives or associations within agriculture, forestry & aquaculture-, industry, public sector, research & academia.
COOPID´S STRATEGY
The COOPID Knowledge Transfer Strategy creates a multiplier effect where a group of selected primary producers share the knowledge gathered by the project with their peers through "visit showcase events" and workshops (levels 1 and 2 of the COOPID Knowledge Transfer Strategy). Then, this knowledge is to be further disseminated through dissemination and communication activities (levels 3 and 4 of the strategy) to wider audiences. In summary, the 4 levels of the strategy are:
-Selection of success stories.
-Organisation of workshops and activities between selected cluster representatives (COOPID ambassadors).
-Interactive dissemination.
-Communication to broader audiences. These actions will foster connections among the primary sector in Europe. At the same time, its results will also be the base for a series of practical recommendations for primary producers, policymakers, industry, and academia.
Altogether, the project strategy will support the development of stronger bioeconomy business models within the European primary sector.
THE CHALLENGES
The COOPID project will address the main challenges the primary sector encounters when taking part in the “bioeconomy”, namely, poor cooperation and knowledge transfer between relevant stakeholders, and limited support to invest in R&D to establish new value chains.
OVERALL OBJECTIVE
In this context, the overall objective of the COOPID project is to mobilise EU primary producers to stimulate the wide uptake of inclusive and sustainable bio-based business models in the European primary production sector & increase its competitivity.
COOPID proposes an innovative and effective strategy to inspire primary producers and stimulate the uptake of inclusive and sustainable bio-based business models in the European primary production sector, considering regional & sectorial particularities. Currently, bioeconomy starts on the fields, yet meaningful participation of the primary sector is currently challenged: this is an issue COOPID is meant to address. To do so, COOPID envisions the development of an ad-hoc created network of “Bioeconomy Clusters” from 10 European countries, involving a wide range of stakeholders: primary producers - cooperatives or associations within agriculture, forestry & aquaculture-, industry, public sector, research & academia.
COOPID´S STRATEGY
The COOPID Knowledge Transfer Strategy creates a multiplier effect where a group of selected primary producers share the knowledge gathered by the project with their peers through "visit showcase events" and workshops (levels 1 and 2 of the COOPID Knowledge Transfer Strategy). Then, this knowledge is to be further disseminated through dissemination and communication activities (levels 3 and 4 of the strategy) to wider audiences. In summary, the 4 levels of the strategy are:
-Selection of success stories.
-Organisation of workshops and activities between selected cluster representatives (COOPID ambassadors).
-Interactive dissemination.
-Communication to broader audiences. These actions will foster connections among the primary sector in Europe. At the same time, its results will also be the base for a series of practical recommendations for primary producers, policymakers, industry, and academia.
Altogether, the project strategy will support the development of stronger bioeconomy business models within the European primary sector.
THE CHALLENGES
The COOPID project will address the main challenges the primary sector encounters when taking part in the “bioeconomy”, namely, poor cooperation and knowledge transfer between relevant stakeholders, and limited support to invest in R&D to establish new value chains.
OVERALL OBJECTIVE
In this context, the overall objective of the COOPID project is to mobilise EU primary producers to stimulate the wide uptake of inclusive and sustainable bio-based business models in the European primary production sector & increase its competitivity.
The COOPID activities have been implemented in total throughout 30 months, from the first of January 2021 to the end of June 2023. Originally, the project was meant to last 24 months, however, a 6-month project extension due to the COVID-19 pandemic was necessary to deliver on the project objectives and KPIs. Ultimately, the project delivered successfully on the goals set at the beginning. The project implementation was divided into three stages, extended in time due to the pandemic, but their purpose remained the same:
(1) A preparatory stage (about 6 months, developed in 2021): the COOPID Bioeconomy Clusters (CBCs) formed at the proposal stage were consolidated, formally starting the cooperation. The project’s framework and work structure for the next stage was set.
(2) A showcasing stage (about 15 months, started in June 2021 with the first online visit to Oleícola El Tejar, and concluded in May 2023, when the last workshop by “COOPID ambassadors” was organised). This stage developed the 11 visits to the selected Success Story Showcases (7 online and 4 in person, with 511 total participants, 239 of them primary producers), the COOPID ambassador programme (with 142 participants throughout the project implementation), and the organisation of workshops for primary producers by the COOPID ambassadors (in total, 86 workshops, involving 3,271 participants of which at least 1,350 primary producers).
This stage also covered activities meant for wider dissemination to broader audiences (interactive dissemination through digital maps and forums, portfolios, videos, surveys…; and broader communication). These actions made use of different platforms, translation of resources and active collaboration from all partners, reaching about 60,000 impacts in total.
(3)Conclusion stage (about 6 months, especially active in the first semester of 2023). During this stage, a group of expert partners in the project prepared and delivered project recommendations for primary producers, policymakers and academia. The recommendations were presented during the COOPID Bioeconomy Conference in Brussels (COOPID final event and EU Green Week 2023 Partner event) in May 2023 and sent directly to the 124 participants registered. Additionally, recommendations are also available on the project webpage in its public deliverable format as well as in a visual presentation format. By September 2023, COOPID recommendations had been downloaded 198 times.
(1) A preparatory stage (about 6 months, developed in 2021): the COOPID Bioeconomy Clusters (CBCs) formed at the proposal stage were consolidated, formally starting the cooperation. The project’s framework and work structure for the next stage was set.
(2) A showcasing stage (about 15 months, started in June 2021 with the first online visit to Oleícola El Tejar, and concluded in May 2023, when the last workshop by “COOPID ambassadors” was organised). This stage developed the 11 visits to the selected Success Story Showcases (7 online and 4 in person, with 511 total participants, 239 of them primary producers), the COOPID ambassador programme (with 142 participants throughout the project implementation), and the organisation of workshops for primary producers by the COOPID ambassadors (in total, 86 workshops, involving 3,271 participants of which at least 1,350 primary producers).
This stage also covered activities meant for wider dissemination to broader audiences (interactive dissemination through digital maps and forums, portfolios, videos, surveys…; and broader communication). These actions made use of different platforms, translation of resources and active collaboration from all partners, reaching about 60,000 impacts in total.
(3)Conclusion stage (about 6 months, especially active in the first semester of 2023). During this stage, a group of expert partners in the project prepared and delivered project recommendations for primary producers, policymakers and academia. The recommendations were presented during the COOPID Bioeconomy Conference in Brussels (COOPID final event and EU Green Week 2023 Partner event) in May 2023 and sent directly to the 124 participants registered. Additionally, recommendations are also available on the project webpage in its public deliverable format as well as in a visual presentation format. By September 2023, COOPID recommendations had been downloaded 198 times.
The COOPID project has, directly and indirectly, impacted the five objectives of the EU Bioeconomy strategy.
In relation to short/medium-term impact, levels 1 and 2 of the COOPID Knowledge transfer have contributed to the identification and selection of a diverse set of successful business cases in the bioeconomy within the COOPID Bioeconomy Clusters. The multidisciplinary composition of these clusters, both in terms of the nature of the agents involved and the sectors to which they belong, has allowed for an active implication of bioeconomy actors (511 visits participants, including 142 ambassadors, discovering new business models).
As a result of the selection and analysis of the business cases, the organisation of visits, the post-visit workshops and the wider dissemination activities, the understanding and awareness of new bioeconomic business models has widened: inspiring primary producers to ‘go home’ and do similar activities, supporting a medium-term diversification of the businesses of the actors involved. Moreover, the recommendations to primary producers, policymakers and academia produced by the COOPID project also have the potential to support further debate and new business model development in the short-medium term.
Ultimately, the COOPID knowledge transfer approach, conveying the message about the bioeconomy in primary production, has addressed a broad number of stakeholders in the bio-based sector. COOPID has reached close to 70,000 impacts across primary producers (4,240), policymakers (369), academia (3,251) other and advisory (2,527) and the general public (57,952), surpassing the original expectation of 9,420 impacts.
Regarding long-term impact, COOPID results are expected to contribute to the bioeconomy as an emerging sector expected to grow, supporting local value creation, circularity, environmental sustainability & carbon neutrality, the use the bioresources in the most efficient and optimal way and the creation of new skilled jobs and education opportunities. Overall, the COOPID ad-hoc strategy has set the framework for a dynamic deployment of sustainable and inclusive bio-based business models in the European primary production sector. As a specific example, COOPID has contributed to the creation of the “Rural Bioeconomy Alliance”, a network of EU projects active in the EU bioeconomy that will live beyond the end of the COOPID project, supporting further dissemination and development of its results.
Finally, COOPID has also contributed to the SDGs as well as to European policies and commitments, such as the CAP post-2020, the Circular Economy Package and the European Green Deal.
In relation to short/medium-term impact, levels 1 and 2 of the COOPID Knowledge transfer have contributed to the identification and selection of a diverse set of successful business cases in the bioeconomy within the COOPID Bioeconomy Clusters. The multidisciplinary composition of these clusters, both in terms of the nature of the agents involved and the sectors to which they belong, has allowed for an active implication of bioeconomy actors (511 visits participants, including 142 ambassadors, discovering new business models).
As a result of the selection and analysis of the business cases, the organisation of visits, the post-visit workshops and the wider dissemination activities, the understanding and awareness of new bioeconomic business models has widened: inspiring primary producers to ‘go home’ and do similar activities, supporting a medium-term diversification of the businesses of the actors involved. Moreover, the recommendations to primary producers, policymakers and academia produced by the COOPID project also have the potential to support further debate and new business model development in the short-medium term.
Ultimately, the COOPID knowledge transfer approach, conveying the message about the bioeconomy in primary production, has addressed a broad number of stakeholders in the bio-based sector. COOPID has reached close to 70,000 impacts across primary producers (4,240), policymakers (369), academia (3,251) other and advisory (2,527) and the general public (57,952), surpassing the original expectation of 9,420 impacts.
Regarding long-term impact, COOPID results are expected to contribute to the bioeconomy as an emerging sector expected to grow, supporting local value creation, circularity, environmental sustainability & carbon neutrality, the use the bioresources in the most efficient and optimal way and the creation of new skilled jobs and education opportunities. Overall, the COOPID ad-hoc strategy has set the framework for a dynamic deployment of sustainable and inclusive bio-based business models in the European primary production sector. As a specific example, COOPID has contributed to the creation of the “Rural Bioeconomy Alliance”, a network of EU projects active in the EU bioeconomy that will live beyond the end of the COOPID project, supporting further dissemination and development of its results.
Finally, COOPID has also contributed to the SDGs as well as to European policies and commitments, such as the CAP post-2020, the Circular Economy Package and the European Green Deal.