Periodic Reporting for period 1 - Engage4BIO (Better understanding, intensified engagement, training and development in regional bio-based systems)
Reporting period: 2022-10-01 to 2024-03-31
The EU-funded Engage4BIO project is strengthening circular, sustainable bioeconomy and sustainable regional development through engaging quadruple helix actors (taking into account their diversity of societal, economic and cultural perspectives) in five regional bio-based systems (hubs) in processes of design thinking, co-creation, (re)training and skills development. This is crucial for the updated European Bioeconomy strategy (2018) and its outlined need to launch actions for the deployment of local bioeconomies and new ways to govern the required societal transformation and at the same time engage citizens through awareness raising and education on sustainable production, consumption and lifestyles. The hubs focus on five major value chains, namely circular and bio-based textiles (NL), agriculture and agro-food industries (HU), wood and interior (AT), bio-based and sustainable packaging (FI) and blue bioeconomy (IT). Based on regional specificities, activities have been co-created, and will be performed and (re-) shaped ensuring inclusiveness of all actors. The inclusion of art and design will creatively enhance the ability to connect, integrate and bridge quadruple helix actors. The outcome will be captured in a bioeconomy development framework transferrable to European regions. It is fully open to the public by providing the resources as open educational resources (OER). Thus, exploitability reaches beyond the targeted audience and allows access beyond borders.
Engage4BIO began by developing a theoretical framework for the "map and gap" analysis, which included creating useful canvases for analyzing the potential for regional bioeconomy developments and identifying knowledge and innovation gaps. These canvases, available for use, focus on four different perspectives of bioeconomy value chains in the hubs: (1) technological concepts, (2) regional development and governance, (3) arts and design, and (4) learning, training, and skills. The canvases initially assess the existing situation (map) and subsequently identify missing elements (gaps) within these four perspectives. A comprehensive map and gap analysis was completed by mid-April 2023.
The results of this analysis informed a series of four co-creation workshops held in each of the five hubs. During the first workshop, hub leaders and invited participants collaboratively developed local bioeconomy visions and strategic approaches for their regional value chains (roadmaps). In the second workshop, the hubs co-created training and mentoring activities for adults. The third workshop focused on initiatives for knowledge gain, and in the fourth workshop, measures to support the governance of regional value chains were co-created.
Regular exchanges and cross-fertilisation workshops led to the creation of publicly available hands-on guidelines for organizing co-creation workshops and a catalogue of activities for training, knowledge gain, and policy development within the Engage4BIO partnership. The first project period concluded with the planning of more than 80 activities to be implemented in the second period, some of which have already started.
The results of this analysis informed a series of four co-creation workshops held in each of the five hubs. During the first workshop, hub leaders and invited participants collaboratively developed local bioeconomy visions and strategic approaches for their regional value chains (roadmaps). In the second workshop, the hubs co-created training and mentoring activities for adults. The third workshop focused on initiatives for knowledge gain, and in the fourth workshop, measures to support the governance of regional value chains were co-created.
Regular exchanges and cross-fertilisation workshops led to the creation of publicly available hands-on guidelines for organizing co-creation workshops and a catalogue of activities for training, knowledge gain, and policy development within the Engage4BIO partnership. The first project period concluded with the planning of more than 80 activities to be implemented in the second period, some of which have already started.
Engage4BIO strengthens circular, sustainable bioeconomy and sustainable regional development through engaging quadruple helix actors in five regional bio-based systems (hubs) in processes of design thinking, co-creation, (re)training and skills development. As a result of the described efforts, five bioeconomy regions are strengthened, target groups have been actively be engaged and dynamics and future perspectives have been established in the way that the network will be able to continue.
Communities and networks in the regions are gaining knowledge (i.e. on new perspectives for careers in bioeconomy) through the training activities; the embedding of arts and design will lead to better and more attractive (regional) products and solutions, bioeconomy development guidelines will be used offering skills development to further strengthen workforce and attract talents, (private) investors, etc, to their regions. The hubs will actively support the (re-) trainings co-created in the regions.
The activities with regards to policy loops will leads to improved and informed governance approaches that include social innovations that e.g. contribute to reducing resource consumption, or react to rural exodus.
Transferability to other regions is also a key factor that goes beyond state of the art; Engage4BIO puts an emphasis on this aspect by planning and implementing from the very beginning similar regions to ensure highest impact also beyond the project scope.
Communities and networks in the regions are gaining knowledge (i.e. on new perspectives for careers in bioeconomy) through the training activities; the embedding of arts and design will lead to better and more attractive (regional) products and solutions, bioeconomy development guidelines will be used offering skills development to further strengthen workforce and attract talents, (private) investors, etc, to their regions. The hubs will actively support the (re-) trainings co-created in the regions.
The activities with regards to policy loops will leads to improved and informed governance approaches that include social innovations that e.g. contribute to reducing resource consumption, or react to rural exodus.
Transferability to other regions is also a key factor that goes beyond state of the art; Engage4BIO puts an emphasis on this aspect by planning and implementing from the very beginning similar regions to ensure highest impact also beyond the project scope.