Working Group Leaders

Representatives of Brussels-based offices leading the work of Bioeconomy Working Group.

Angèle Liaigre
Angèle Liaigre

Cities Northen Netherlands

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Randi Johanne Hoseth
Randi Johanne Hoseth

Oslo Region European Office

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Simon Fredholm
Simon Fredholm

Region Värmland European Office

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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.

Last Working Group Meetings

Previous Related ERRIN Working Group Meetings

Mission Soil: lessons learned and upcoming opportunities

Mission Soil: lessons learned and upcoming opportunities

Gianpiero Petruzziello

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

Policy & Smart Specialisation WGs meeting: Widening in FP10 and impact on cohesion policy post-2027

Ewa Chomicz

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

Policy WG meeting: Role of EU Missions in FP10

Ewa Chomicz

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

WG Related Events

Bioeconomy and ICT WG meeting: Bioeconomy meets data

The Bioeconomy and ICT WGs are organising an online meeting on how data and digital tools are used within different sectors of the bioeconomy, taking place on 23 November between 10:00-11:30 CET. Projects and initiatives from ERRIN member regions will be presented alongside a presentation by the European Commission on the use of digital tools in R&I activities to enable the transition of industrial circular bio-based systems in the EU.

Horizon4Poland '22 Matchmaking Event

Horizon4Poland ’22 matchmaking event organised by the Industry Contact Points of the Lukasiewicz Research Network takes place on 22 November 2022 between 09:30 and 17:15 in Warsaw. The purpose of the event is to build cooperation, match partners and support the creation of consortia to obtain funding for research and innovation projects under Horizon Europe Programme in six focus areas.

CONFERENCE ON INNOVATIONS TO REDUCE AND REMEDIATE FARM SOIL POLLUTION. A CONTRIBUTION TO THE EU SOIL STRATEGY.

A Conference on Innovations to reduce and remediate farm soil pollution – a contribution to the EU Soil Strategy’, to be held on 21 November, 15:00 – 18:00, at the EU Committee of the Regions. Three EU projects, with over 40 participants from EU member states and beyond, have teamed up to offer their contribution to the EU Soil Strategy objectives based on their project developments and results with different perspectives: environment, soil, agriculture, chemicals or food safety. The aim of this event is to share relevant information from the project results and encourage an open debate…

European Partnership Stakeholder Forum - One-year review of European Partnership Initiatives in Horizon Europe

On 15 and 16 November 2022, the European Commission will launch its first European Partnership Stakeholder Forum. The Forum focuses on reviewing the first year of partnerships and, in particular, how they can contribute to the twin green and digital transitions, and increase Europe’s resilience. Participation is possible online or in person in Brussels.

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.

WG Documents

WG Documents

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

WG Related Content

Horizon Europe strategic plan 2025-2027 is out

On 20 March, the Commission adopted the second Horizon Europe strategic plan. The plan sets out three key strategic orientations for the EU's research and innovation funding for the last three years of the programme (2025-2027). Find out what novelties the new strategic plan brings.

Express your interest in the 3rd Interreg Europe call via the ERRIN Project Development Tool

Interreg Europe's 3rd call for proposals, launched on 20 March, supports interregional cooperation projects addressing common regional development challenges. Organisations can use the ERRIN Project Development tool to express interest and find partners. The call is open until 7 June 2024.

Systems to quantify nitrogen fluxes and uncertainties in European landscapes

Call for Partner interest under the Mission Soil calls, focusing on Systems to quantify nitrogen fluxes and uncertainties in European landscapes.

Marching towards FP10 – ERRIN activity update

As we enter March and approach the European R&I Days, several ERRIN activities planned for 2024 with a link to FP10 have already taken place, and more are on their way. Have a look at an update with the outcomes of our recent work on the next European Framework Programme for R&I, next steps and opportunities to get involved.

OECD Survey: The Circular Economy in Cities and Regions in the European Union

As part of the European Commission’s Circular Cities and Regions Initiative (CCRI), in which ERRIN is involved, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) is investigating on how to further support cities and regions in their transition to a circular economy. To this end, they are inviting cities and regions to take a survey to identify ways to accelerate the circular economy transition in the context of the European Green Deal and the Circular Economy Action Plan. Survey participants are encouraged to complete the survey by 25 March.

The first call of the Agroecology Partnership is now open

The Agroecology Partnership has officially launched its first call for proposals to fund transdisciplinary research and innovation (R&I) projects that address agroecological transition of conventional and organic agricultural systems. The deadline for pre-proposal is 26 April 2024, 14:00 CET.

Latest Updates

  • By Anonymous

Searching for project partners participating in EU-call CE-FNR-17-2020

This call requires a project consortium of different cities or clusters of cities considering a geographical spread around Europe. Based on this requirement we are looking for further project partners who are willing to establish a European network of bio-based cities with innovative biowaste/waste water treatment technologies or comparable approaches. During our current research about potential partners and cities we figured out increasing efforts in sustainable handling of human waste matter.

  • By Gaia Ialisa Marotta

Project on Smart Rural Areas in Europe

Metropolitan City of Turin (MCT) is a local authority located in Nothwest of Italy, bordering with South-East France. It is one of the largest metropolitan areas in terms of size and population and with a more than 50% rural territory, with a quite big urban pole at the centre: the Turin city. MCT is composed by 312 Municipalities that are mostly small and very small towns: 80% of the municipalities has less than 5,000 inhabitants.

  • By Ilaria d'Auria

Are you interested in developing innovative approaches to regional development via cultural tourism?

ERRIN is pooling the interest of Pilot / Mirror Regions for a Horizon 2020 project on cultural tourism.

  • By Gaia Ialisa Marotta

Are you interested in participating in a project on urban food systems?

ERRIN is looking at working in a Horizon2020 project in the field of urban food systems. The project will develop innovative solutions to enable urban food system transformation across Europe through empowering cities and their inhabitants as agents of change.

  • By Hilary Webb

Bio-based Industries Consortium - bioeconomy platform for regions

Deadline extended to 20 December. 

  • By Agnieszka Wieczorek Jetha

Call for an updated and stronger EU Forest Strategy

Acknowledging the report from the European Commission on progress in the implementation of the Forest Strategy the undersigned organizations, representing forest owners, managers, contractors and the forest-based industry, call on the European Commission, Parliament and Council to update the EU Forest Strategy with an aim to strengthen its role as a key reference for sustainable forest management.