Bio-based strategies and roadmaps for enhanced rural and regional development in the EU

Duration: October 2019 - 2022 ● Client: European Commission (H2020) ● WIP Role: Research and Innovation ● https://be-rural.eu/

The BE-Rural project, funded by the EU’s Horizon2020 programme, supports the establishment of regional and local bio-based economies by involving relevant actors in the development of bioeconomy strategies and roadmaps. The target regions of BE-Rural are in Eastern and Southeastern Europe: Stara Zagora (Bulgaria), Szczecin Lagoon and Vistuala Lagoon (Poland), Strumica (North Macedonia), Covasna (Romania) as well as Vidzeme and Kurzeme (Latvia). The characteristics of the selected regions are analyzed, best practices identified, and business models defined and analyzed. This analysis will help to assess the 'bioeconomy potential' of each selected region. Based on that, a series of regional Open Innovation Platforms will be implemented to kick-start the co-creation process, bringing together key stakeholders from academia, policy, business and civil society to develop ideas and capitalize on their bioeconomy potential. These activities will include research & innovation capacity building workshops, educational seminars and webinars, summer schools and bio-based Pop-up stores. A knowledge network will be established to share knowledge, lessons learned and best practices from the Open Innovation Platforms at an inter-regional level, to close the information gap on issues related to sustainability and to increase capacities of regional authorities and stakeholders.