The Working Group focuses on increasing the influence of regions and their stakeholders in shaping the European circular bioeconomy while also focusing on the Horizon Europe Mission Soil. The group covers the bioeconomy in the widest sense, tackling issues related to topics such as food systems, soil health, forestry, bioenergy, biowaste, bio-based products, among other things. Seeing the growing role of the bioeconomy in decarbonisation efforts, the group also concentrates on the ecological sustainability of these solutions (e.g. nature-based solutions, green and blue solutions for carbon capture). The group develops contacts with European policymakers to increase cooperation and projects between European regions in bioeconomy, with a particular focus on Horizon Europe and the Circular Bio-based Europe Partnership.
ERRIN Bioeconomy WG is organising an in-person meeting on 10 June 2024 from 15:00 to 17:00 to take stock of the latest developments on the Soil Mission. This meeting aims to facilitate an in-
The topic of widening gathers high attention in the discussions around the next European Framework Programme for R&I, raising questions with the potential to influence not only the Widening sub-
ERRIN has been closely involved in the design and implementation of the EU Missions since their inception. Missions remain one of the network's priorities and were one of the four main areas of focus
The 22nd edition of the European Week of Regions and Cities will take place on 7-10 October 2024. The kick-off meeting for potential partners will take place on Thursday, 22 February, from 10:00 - 11:30 at the European Committee of the Regions. It is also possible to follow this meeting online.
The European Commission is hosting a 2 day high-level conference, “Research Perspectives on the Health Impacts of Climate Change”. The event will bring together climate change and health researchers, funders and policymakers to reflect on the current challenges, priorities and needs for research and researchers in this area. The conference will take place online and in person on 19-20 February.
ERRIN Natural Resources and Food Cluster is organising its kickoff meeting on 9 February from 9:00 to 11:30. This informal coffee meeting will offer an opportunity for all members to come together to network and jointly kickoff the activities of the Bioeconomy Working Group, the Blue Economy Working Group and the Adaptation Task Force for 2024.
ERRIN and the TRAMI project are organising a Mutual Learning Event (MLE) aiming to explore synergies between European Partnerships and EU Missions. The event will take place on Wednesday 7 February from 9:00 to 12:00 (CET) at the NCBR Brussels Office, Rue Belliard 40, Brussels.
The Policy Working Group will kick off 2024 with a meeting offering the latest insights about the work at the EU level towards future R&I and cohesion policies post-2027, as some of ERRIN's priority focus areas for the coming years. The event will take place in person at the ERRIN premises on 30 January from 14:00-15:30, followed by networking coffee until 16:00.
This webinar is co-organised by the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, one of the ERRIN's member Lärosäten Syd - Universitied in South -Sweden and Nati00ns. This webinar will discuss how impacts of forestry on soils are intensified across geographical locations where soils become more susceptible to soil erosion in semi-arid and dry areas. It will also look into how to address the monitoring of soil indicators considering rotation periods, from short 20-23 years to long 50-70 years, and consider differences in forest management practices, like mixed vegetation versus monocultures.
The ERRIN Bioeconomy Working Group, in collaboration with the Bio-based Industries Consortium (BIC), is currently drafting a document that underscores the pivotal role of regions and the synergies with the private sector in driving forward the circular bioeconomy. This document aims to provide actionable recommendations to policymakers and stakeholders at both regional and EU levels.
The ERRIN Year in review 2022 is out! Read the report to see the numerous activities ERRIN and its members have been involved in throughout the year.
Developing Urban Living Labs is a relatively novel approach in urban areas, and consequently, there are many challenges and barriers that cities face during ULL adoption. This handbook, developed by the UNaLab project, aims to identify and explore some common barriers to the adoption of Urban Living Labs, and provide cities with a tool and an understanding of how to strategically address these barriers.
ERRIN's input paper on a potential EU Algae Strategy, highlighting the challenges and opportunities of such a strategy at a regional and local level.
A drafting group has prepared a first version of the ERRIN input to the future EU Algae Strategy.
The NATI00NS project introduced its Helpdesk, providing assistance to applicants for topics 01-08 and 01-09 of the EU Mission 'A Soil Deal for Europe' open calls. The Helpdesk supports applicants in different ways, including explaining Open Call rules, application procedures, eligibility criteria, proposal validation and answering technical questions related to the proposal scope.
On 19 July, the European Commission (EC) published a Communication on the assessment of the EU Missions after two years of implementation. The EC details the Missions' successes but also recognises the need to address challenges related to governance, budget, citizens and private sector engagement. The EC also proposes to add a sixth Mission on the New European Bauhaus.
The Commission is proposing new measures to enhance the circularity of the automotive sector, covering the design, production and end-of-life treatment of vehicles. The proposed regulation is expected to have substantial environmental benefits, including an annual reduction of 12.3 million tons of CO2 emissions by 2035, better valorisation of 5.4 million tons of materials, and increased recovery of critical raw materials.
The European Commission adopted a new package of measures for the sustainable use of key natural resources, which will also strengthen the resilience of EU food systems and farming. A soil monitoring law will put the EU on a pathway to healthy soils by 2050, by gathering data on the health of soils and making it available to farmers and other soil managers. The law also makes sustainable soil management the norm and addresses situations of unacceptable health and environmental risks due to soil contamination.
ERRIN’s Spring Annual General Meeting (AGM) 2023 took place on 22 June this year. As always, it brought together the large and dynamic community of member regions and cities. Following the format part with the update from the network, the main focus was the EU Missions, approached in two policy debates, on the support and implementation frameworks in Adaptation, Ocean and Waters and Soil Missions, and the governance innovation and the perspective on Cities and the Cancer Missions.
North Denmark EU Office looking to form a consortium for Mission Soil Call: Back to Earth. The project aims to increase soil literacy by bringing together multiple actors in a network through innovative, creative, and artistic means of communication. Deadline for EoI: 15 July.
ERRIN is pleased to announce its participation in the Framework Partnership 'SOILL - Support Structure for SOIL Living Labs' which is currently in the Grant Agreement Preparation stage and set to commence in January 2024. SOILL will support, organise, expand and advocate for the network of 100 Soil Mission Living Labs and Lighthouses throughout the entire implementation of the Mission Soil.
The European Commission and ERRIN recently launched the Mission Soil Manifesto. Representatives of municipalities, regions, private or public companies and organisations, NGOs and philanthropic organisations, schools and education institutions, research institutions, as well as Individuals can also sign the Manifesto and join a vibrant community of practice dedicated to soil health.
ERRIN invites its members to take part in the survey on Research and Innovations Gaps in circular economy, which is part of Circular Cities and Regions Initiative (CCRI) of the European Commission (DG Research and Innovation). Local and regional policymakers, researchers from academia and industry can share their inputs by 14 April 2023.
In anticipation of the launch of the “Implementing co-funded action plans for connected regional innovation valleys” HORIZON-EIE-2023-CONNECT-03-01 call for proposals on 17 May 2023, ERRIN opened a mapping of members’ interest in developing project proposals under this call, to facilitate consortium building. ERRIN members are encouraged to share their interest by filling in a short survey by 20 April.
ERRIN invites its members to take part in the survey on Research and Innovations Gaps in circular economy, which is part of Circular Cities and Regions Initiative (CCRI) of the European Commission (DG Research and Innovation). Local and regional policymakers, researchers from academia and industry can share their inputs by 14 April 2023.
The Bioeconomy Working Group is looking for new leaders to join the current leaders in steering the WG activities and priorities. The deadline to express your interest to join the WG co-leadership is Friday 07 April.