Periodic Reporting for period 2 - SCALE-UP (Concepts, tools and applications for community-driven bioeconomy development in European rural areas)
Reporting period: 2024-03-01 to 2025-08-31
The overall goal of SCALE-UP was to support regional stakeholders in identifying and scaling up innovative and sustainable bio-based value chains based on regional resources. SCALE-UP implemented and evaluated tools to help regional actors overcome bottlenecks to exploiting bioeconomy potentials in their regions. A four-phase methodology was designed to: i) establish existing knowledge and create six regional platforms with local stakeholders; ii) facilitate cross-regional knowledge transfer and capacity building, and support multi-actor partnerships in market assessments and business model design; iii) create an International MetaCluster of Social and Ecological Innovation in the Bioeconomy to foster collaboration and knowledge exchange across European regions and beyond; and iv) disseminate and exploit project results in collaboration with key stakeholders.With an emphasis on co-creation, transparency, and open innovation, the project provided advisory support through Task Forces in SCALE-UP’s regions: Northern Sweden, Mazovia, the French Atlantic Arc, Upper Austria, Strumica, and Andalusia. These Task Forces supported innovators in assessing market conditions, elaborating business plans, and identifying funding sources for 12 bio-based solutions. The solutions addressed included forestry residues for natural rubber and high-value chemicals; agri-food residues for a “bio-circular farm” and apple pomace uses; fibrous plants for insulation and building materials; valorisation of spent brewery grains and bakery waste; compost from agri-food residues; and reuse of waste from olive oil production.
Social sciences and humanities played a central role in SCALE-UP by guiding co-creation processes, stakeholder engagement, governance design, and the analysis of social innovation dynamics across regions.
Social sciences and humanities played a central role in SCALE-UP by guiding co-creation processes, stakeholder engagement, governance design, and the analysis of social innovation dynamics across regions.
SCALE-UP developed six regional information packages to build a solid knowledge base for project activities. These packages compiled information on EU and local policies, relevant EU projects, scientific and technical data, biomass availability, and nutrient resources, providing a reference framework for regional stakeholders.
SCALE-UP carried out a comprehensive assessment of biomass potential and nutrient recycling opportunities within the six regions. This work was complemented by sustainability screening exercises, providing insights into ecological boundaries and guiding the sustainable use of local biomass resources.
SCALE-UP established six regional platforms that provided targeted innovation support services to multi-actor partnerships during and beyond the project’s lifetime. Overall, the platforms brought together over 500 stakeholders, empowering producers, SMEs, researchers, and local authorities to co-create sustainable bio-based solutions.
To promote promising bio-based products and services, SCALE-UP launched a call for Expressions of Interest, through which twelve solutions were selected to receive dedicated innovation support. These services accelerated the development and market readiness of innovative business models across all regions.
The SCALE-UP training programme consisted of seven thematic work streams to strengthen capacities for developing and promoting small-scale bio-based solutions in rural areas. In total, 21 cross-regional sessions were held, reaching more than 1,300 participations from 32 countries.
Finally, SCALE-UP explored the role of social innovation in rural bioeconomies. Results from a literature review were compiled in a Handbook of Social Innovation in Rural Bioeconomies, offering tailored solutions such as cooperation platforms, circular economy trainings, educational campaigns, and sustainable tourism initiatives.
SCALE-UP carried out a comprehensive assessment of biomass potential and nutrient recycling opportunities within the six regions. This work was complemented by sustainability screening exercises, providing insights into ecological boundaries and guiding the sustainable use of local biomass resources.
SCALE-UP established six regional platforms that provided targeted innovation support services to multi-actor partnerships during and beyond the project’s lifetime. Overall, the platforms brought together over 500 stakeholders, empowering producers, SMEs, researchers, and local authorities to co-create sustainable bio-based solutions.
To promote promising bio-based products and services, SCALE-UP launched a call for Expressions of Interest, through which twelve solutions were selected to receive dedicated innovation support. These services accelerated the development and market readiness of innovative business models across all regions.
The SCALE-UP training programme consisted of seven thematic work streams to strengthen capacities for developing and promoting small-scale bio-based solutions in rural areas. In total, 21 cross-regional sessions were held, reaching more than 1,300 participations from 32 countries.
Finally, SCALE-UP explored the role of social innovation in rural bioeconomies. Results from a literature review were compiled in a Handbook of Social Innovation in Rural Bioeconomies, offering tailored solutions such as cooperation platforms, circular economy trainings, educational campaigns, and sustainable tourism initiatives.
In most of the regions covered by SCALE-UP, structures for the promotion of small-scale bio-based solutions were only partly developed. With the establishment of six regional platforms, SCALE-UP has created new, dedicated spaces for stakeholders to discuss and elaborate alternative bio-based development pathways for their respective regions.
The project team has compiled six regional information packages (D2.2) which contain valuable information on EU and local policies, EU projects and on biomass availability, technical solutions and nutrient recycling possibilities. In this complied form, the packages form an important knowledge base for the regional platforms that have been established in the project's six focal regions. This new knowledge will inform stakeholder discussions within the six regional platforms.
Large quantities of biomass resources are available in the six regions that participate in SCALE-UP. The large quantities have formed a fertile soil for the development of a range of ideas for using the resources for bio-based products. SCALE-UP has performed detailed biomass assessments (D2.1) with an analysis of the ecological boundaries and possibilities for nutrient recycling. This new knowledge will inform stakeholder discussions within the six regional platforms.
The role of social innovation in rural bioeconomies has so far received little attention among researchers; existing research has focused on specific environments or sectors, e.g. forestry (Ludvig et al. 2019). With its “Handbook of social innovation in rural bioeconomies” (D5.1) SCALE-UP contributes new knowledge to the scientific discourse and, at the same time, provides practical information for interested stakeholders in rural areas.
Overview of other main results:
Evaluation and synthesis report of capacity-building activities (D3.2)
Overview of regionally suitable bio-based solutions (D4.1)
Report on 12 small-scale business models explored in the SCALE-UP regions (D4.2)
Evidence-based guidance framework for designing, implementing and monitoring small-scale bio-based solutions in rural areas (D5.3)
Policy Paper: Sustainable and inclusive bio-based solutions for rural areas in the EU (D6.4)
The project team has compiled six regional information packages (D2.2) which contain valuable information on EU and local policies, EU projects and on biomass availability, technical solutions and nutrient recycling possibilities. In this complied form, the packages form an important knowledge base for the regional platforms that have been established in the project's six focal regions. This new knowledge will inform stakeholder discussions within the six regional platforms.
Large quantities of biomass resources are available in the six regions that participate in SCALE-UP. The large quantities have formed a fertile soil for the development of a range of ideas for using the resources for bio-based products. SCALE-UP has performed detailed biomass assessments (D2.1) with an analysis of the ecological boundaries and possibilities for nutrient recycling. This new knowledge will inform stakeholder discussions within the six regional platforms.
The role of social innovation in rural bioeconomies has so far received little attention among researchers; existing research has focused on specific environments or sectors, e.g. forestry (Ludvig et al. 2019). With its “Handbook of social innovation in rural bioeconomies” (D5.1) SCALE-UP contributes new knowledge to the scientific discourse and, at the same time, provides practical information for interested stakeholders in rural areas.
Overview of other main results:
Evaluation and synthesis report of capacity-building activities (D3.2)
Overview of regionally suitable bio-based solutions (D4.1)
Report on 12 small-scale business models explored in the SCALE-UP regions (D4.2)
Evidence-based guidance framework for designing, implementing and monitoring small-scale bio-based solutions in rural areas (D5.3)
Policy Paper: Sustainable and inclusive bio-based solutions for rural areas in the EU (D6.4)