Initial situation
The circular economy in Central Europe is characterised by underdeveloped bio-based value chains, low consumer awareness and uneven political progress along the East-West border. BIOECO-UP is concerned with the further development of the circular bioeconomy in Central Europe. In addition to the 12 cooperations mentioned above, 5 ministries are involved as associated partners: Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (PL); Ministry of Rural Affairs of the Republic of Estonia (EE); Slovenian Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Food (SI); Ministry of Investments, Regional Development and Informatization of the Slovak Republic (SK); Ministry of Agri-culture of the Czech Republic (CZ). The BIOEAST Initiative (https://bioeast.eu/), in which 11 Eastern European Ministries of Agriculture and supporting institutes are represented, will also be involved in BIOECO-UP. BIOECO-UP is implemented in "Interreg Central Europe Programme 2021-2027" and addresses the programme priority "P2 - Cooperating for a greener central Europe", specifically the priority objective "SO2.3 - Taking circular economy forward in central Europe".
Objective
BIOECO-UP aims to advance the circular bioeconomy in Central Europe by designing bioeconomic value chains and supporting changes in consumer behaviour and policy frameworks.
Planned procedure, implementation
Work package WP 1 ("Circular bioeconomy cross-sector value chains") will test, develop and scale up solutions for the design of bio-based value chains based on 7 transnational pilot studies. WP 2 ("Empowering citizens to become active in circular bioeconomy") aims to empower 600 citizens to use, produce and value bio-based products. WP 3 ("Mainstreaming of circular bioeconomy policies") will analyse Central European bioeconomy policies, develop strategy and action plans and propose effective bioeconomy measures within the Common Agricultural Policy 2023-2030 (CAP).
It is envisaged that the AOD will contribute to the following activities:
- Collection of data on the bioeconomy in Austria (collaboration in activity A 1.1)
- Preparation of educational material for citizens on the bioeconomy (collaboration in A2.1)
- Transnational webinars and study tours for citizens (cooperation in A2.4)
- Analysis of bioeconomy measures in Central Europe (coordination of A3.1)
- Recommendations for the implementation of bioeconomy measures (collaboration in A3.2)
- Round tables, transnational seminars and bioeconomy vision (collaboration in A3.4)
More detailed information on activities, outputs, deliverables and project timetable can be found in the project proposal.
Timetable
Project start: 06/2023
Project end: 03/2026
Project cooperation
Landwirtschaftsministerium - Abteilung für Agrarforschung und Agrarumweltmanagement (HU); Bay Zoltán Nonprofit LTD for Applied Research - Abteilung für Biomasseproduktion und -verwertung (HU); Alma Mater Studiorum Universität Bologna - Abteilung für industrielle Chemie Toso montanari (IT); Tschechische Universität für Lebenswissenschaften Prag - Fakultät für Forst- und Holzwissenschaften (CZ); Landwirtschaftliche Forschung, LtD Troubsko (CZ); Institute of Soil Science and Plant Cultivation Research State Institute - Department of Bioeconomy and Systems Analysis (PL); Institute for Circular Economy (HR); Institute for Sustainable Development (SI); University of Ljubljana - Biotechnical Faculty (SI); Bioeconomy Cluster (SK); Croatian Chamber of Agriculture - Department of Agricultural Policy, Innovation and International Cooperation (HR)
