1. FRAMEWORK: uP_running partners have performed from an early stage of the project a bottom-up work by meeting multiple actors in regional and national workshops (more than 30 in 7 countries) as well as through bilateral meetings. The results are:
• 4 Regional action plans in the so-called demo countries (ES, IT, GR and UA)
• 7 National strategic Plans (ES, IT, GR, UA, PT, FR, HR) and an aggregated version foe Europe
• Based on the strategic plans, 1 EU Roadmap and policy recommendations, revised under consensus of a group of relevant national and European players
The vision gained and the alliances created by uP_running partners have prepared the ground for an ambitious advocating action including more than 70 meetings with lobbying organisations and policy makers, 7 national policy workshops, plus 2 at EU level. A relevant effect has been caused,among principal achievements:
• National ministries (agri. / rural develop) of 7 countries reached and well aligned with uP_running vision
• National and EU agricultural, rural development and bioenergy organisations have contributed in project events and vision; more realistic and normalised vision on the APPR features
• DG AGRI has expressed interest in uP_running; uP_running utilised as an example of good initiative
• Co-organisation of policy workshop on APPR with 2 relevant MEPs (Members of European Parliament) on agriculture (attended by multiple influencing organisations and actors and 5 MEPs).
2. ENTREPRENEURSHIP: actions orientated to support stakeholders in their path to entrepreneurship, so called “initiators” or “prime movers-PrMov”, respectively having a limited knowledge and vision, or a more mature perception of the potential new value chain. 2 partners by country (an agricultural organisation and a technology centre) have carried out the work to complement the respective competences and visions.
• 20 PrMov assisted (finding and engaging the necessary actors, selecting technologies, test the value chain at pilot scale, assess economics and CO2 balances, and posing the exploitable business model)
• 4 PrMov object of a final support for reaching market status
• more than 60 companies involved in the value chain demo tests
• 46 initiators supported with consultancy
The effect is reflected in next figures:
• 5 new value chains triggered (mobilising >30.000 t APPR biomass/yr)
• 10 new APPR near investment (awaiting funding or final decision making)
• 18 new regional-national-European promotion projects / initiatives triggered
• relevant participation of SMEs in the promotion of new APPR value chains: 55-60% of PrMov and initiators, and 75% of consultants.
3. KEYS FOR REPLICATION: the legacy of uP_running beyond of the project, well scoped and edited materials, available in English + 7 EU languages (PT, ES, FR, IT, HR, GR, UA), to be available online till end 2024:
• D2.3 Policy recommendations and brochure
• D3.3 lessons learned in organising new APPR value chains
• D3.4 lessons learned through accompaniments (advises for consultants)
• D4.1 Training materials for consultants
• D4.2 Consultancy handbook
• D6.3 & D6.4 Report on 10 APPR flagship cases
• 4 videos on APPR value chain demonstrations
• 4 videos on 4 new APPR supported value chains
• Monograph 1 – Insight on how to organising a new APPR value chain
• Monograph 2 – solving the APPR dilemma: use as energy feedstock or as input to soils
• Monograph 3 – Keys for success of existing APPR value chains
• APPR Observatory: google maps tool providing info of (currently, June 2019) with 410 data points on APPR productivity (t/ha),67 registry of APPR harvesting / treating (t/h or ha/h) and 42 existing value chains (10 of them object of in depth reporting - “flagship cases”)
4. TRANSFER and MULTIPLICATION: multiple actions along the project performed in purpose of reshape the vision and transfer knowledge, leading to:
• Organisation of: 23 regional workshops, 10 national workshops, 1 EU workshop
• 14 national and 1 EU ad-hoc project events
• At least 156 project presentations at national and European level
• Publication of 369 short news and 39 technical or scientific articles.
• At least 25 National and European fairs attended to develop synergies and create network.
Knowledge transfer has included actions for extending vision and knowledge to other actors and organisation inside and outside the project geography,leading to:
• >170 attendants to trainings for consultants
• 27 consultants accompanied when carrying their first consultancies
• Involvement and activation of interest of 10 EU national organisations from Bosnia&Herzegovina, Austria, Slovenia, Serbia, Poland, Cyprus, Slovak, Hungary, Romania, Georgia
In terms of figures the achievements are:
• Circa 7,000 target actors directly met during networking and project events.
• A potential audience of 400,000 people addressed by the dissemination tools, YouTube channels and the uP_running project website, observatory and national websites