Working Group Leaders
Representatives of Brussels-based offices leading the work of Bioeconomy Working Group.
Bioeconomy
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 Contact
Future Related ERRIN Working Group Meetings
EU Design Day 2024
The 12th edition of EU Design Day will happen in Brussels on 17 September 2024, gathering key stakeholders from the design and creativity sectors for a networking opportunity with familiar and new
Previous Related ERRIN Working Group Meetings
Mission Soil: lessons learned and upcoming opportunities
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-
Policy & Smart Specialisation WGs meeting: Widening in FP10 and impact on cohesion policy post-2027
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-
Policy WG meeting: Role of EU Missions in FP10
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
WG Related Events
Changemakers and Pioneers
The Changemakers and Pioneers event, hosted by Glasgow Caledonian University and the University of the West of Scotland at Scotland House, Brussels is a unique opportunity to showcase projects, hear of others’ experiences and broker new partnerships. There will also be a specific session updating on the UK's association to Horizon Europe/Plan B as well as the latest funding opportunities.
Brussels Talks: How to be an innovative region in Europe?
As part of the event series Brussels Talks, NCBR – Business & Science Poland are organising the online event 'How to be an innovative region in Europe?', with ERRIN director Pirita Lindholm as the main speaker. The event will discuss regional innovations ecosystems, how to support R&I capacities at local and regional level and how to reduce the innovation divide. Furthermore, the support offered by current EU funded programmes and initiatives will be explored.
Translating EU Missions into regional policy
The TRAMI project and ERRIN are organising a mutual learning event on 18 October. The event will aim to showcase a successful translation of the EU Missions approach into concrete policies and tools on the regional level and to foster the discussion on challenges and opportunities with its implementation.
Sustainable Resource Use - From Coring to Coding
The event 'Sustainable Resource Use - From Coring to Coding', held in-person and online on 17 October, will present two perspectives on sustainable resource use; the first addresses the need for environmental resources in the development and use of AI with the ethical issues associated, for example, environmental and intergenerational justice. The second perspective will look at Europe’s own natural resources and the difficulties in turning these natural deposits into mines that can address European needs.
Food 2030: Regions as Agents of Change for Sustainable Food Systems and Bio-Based Solutions
ERRIN is supporting a Participatory Lab organised by the European Commission within the frame of the European Week of Regions and Cities. This interactive event, which will take place on 12 October, will include presentations by ERRIN members and discussions on food systems and bio-based solutions.
The Bioeconomy - Enabling the European Green Deal in Challenging Times
The European Commission is organising the conference ‘The Bioeconomy - Enabling the European Green Deal in Challenging Times’ on 6 - 7 October in Brussels. This hybrid conference will provide an opportunity to present the findings of the EU Bioeconomy Strategy Progress Report, as well as a series of bioeconomy success stories from EU research and innovation.
WG Documents
The pivotal role of regions and industry for a thriving bioeconomy: ERRIN - BIC joint position paper
ERRIN, through its Bioeconomy WG, and the Bio-based Industries Consortium (BIC) have jointly released a position paper outlining a proposal for the most pressing actions for the European bioeconomy to be tackled during the upcoming European Commission mandate period.
The pivotal role of regions and the industry to make bioeconomy real
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.
ERRIN Year in review 2022
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.
Handbook on implementation and adoption barriers of urban living labs developing nature-based solutions
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 input paper on a future EU Algae Strategy
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.
ERRIN input to the future EU Algae Strategy - Draft
A drafting group has prepared a first version of the ERRIN input to the future EU Algae Strategy.
WG Related Content
Driving the transition towards healthy soils in Europe: SOILL - Support Structure for SOIL Living Labs
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.
Join the Mission ‘A Soil Deal for Europe’: Sign the Manifesto!
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.
Survey on Research & Innovation Gaps in Circular Economy
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.
HORIZON EUROPE - euBIOGROWTH project / The CTNC – Technology Centre for Canning and Food Industry (Region of Murcia, Spain)
The CTNC – Technology Centre for Canning and Food Industry (Region of Murcia, Spain) is looking for partners interested to participate in a Horizon Europe project proposal idea under the call: HORIZON-CL6-2023-FARM2FORK-01-7: Innovations in plant protection: alternatives to reduce the use of pesticides focusing on candidates for substitution.
Toulouse Métropole is looking for partners on urban greening and renaturing (HORIZON-MISS-2023-CLIMA-CITIES-01-01) for urban regeneration, resilience and climate neutrality
Toulouse Métropole (France, 800 000 inhabitants) is looking for a Consortium Coordinator for the joint call of Adaptation to Climate Change and Cities Missions: Urban greening and renaturing for urban regeneration, resilience and climate neutrality (HORIZON-MISS-2023-CLIMA-CITIES-01-01).
Adaptation Mission Charter numbers over 300
The final list of the EU Mission on Adaptation Charter signatories and Friends has been published. Over 300 entities are now part of the community of practice on adaptation to climate change launched on 26 January 2023 in Brussels. The launch of the Mission Implementation Platform MIP4Adapt is planned for April.
Latest Updates
- By Heidi Johansson
Call for questions on the Circular Bio-based Europe partnership
The Bioeconomy Working Group leaders will together with the ERRIN Secretariat have an informal exchange with representatives of the Bio-based Industries Joint Undertaking to discuss the transition from BBI JU to the Circular Bio-based Europe JU. Bioeconomy WG members are now invited to submit questions which they would like the leaders to bring up in this discussion.
- By Hilary Webb
Action Plan to boost organic production
The Commission has presented an Action Plan for the development of organic production. Its aim is to boost the production and consumption of organic products in the EU, raise agricultural land under organic farming to 25% by 2030 and increase organic aquaculture.
- By Anonymous
Spanish-Polish consortium is looking for a leader of the project under the LIFE + programme
A Spanish-Polish consortium is looking for a leader of the project, within the LIFE program, related to priority: “Climate change mitigation and adaptation” possibly a municipality, located in the south of Europe (Spain, France, Italy, Germany) interested in developing innovative spatial green infrastructure. Project objectives: comparison of the micro-climatic functionality of the PMS structures for both locations where they will be built, i.e. under conditions of cool Central European climate and warm Southern European climate in the context of cooling of the “heat islands” in the city centers, as well as comparison of the functioning of these structures in a different urban contexts in social, cultural and economic terms.
- By Hilary Webb
Join the C-VoUCHER Calibration Programme to boost regional circular economy
The C-VoUCHER project has created a Calibration Programme to share its strategies and tools for developing regional circular economy programmes.
- By Viktor Kovacic
Search for ERWC partners
For the organisation of the EWRC 2021 workshop, SBRA is going to apply as a lead partner (in the name of one of our members: Municipality of Grosuplje, Slovenia) and we are searching for partners. The chosen theme is “Green transition: for a sustainable and green recovery”. Please send your replies ASAP.
- By Heidi Johansson
Call for a leader for the Bioeconomy Working Group
Due to changes in the leadership, the Bioeconomy Working Group is looking for a new WG leader to co-lead the group together with the current leaders from Navarra, Småland Blekinge Halland South Sweden and Pays de la Loire. The deadline for sending your expression of interest is 31 March.