The bioeconomy is expected to be a lever for sustainability and a solution to several ecological and social challenges, including climate change mitigation, cleaner production processes, economic growth, and new employment opportunities.
Check: Background and Mission Methodology and
Action Plan Beneficiaries

However, despite all the efforts, the transition toward a sustainable bioeconomy is progressing too slowly.

There is a need for establishing the means for exploring new paths to govern the transition process, in particular by:

  • making information and knowledge available and accessible;
  • assessing the regional needs and good practices to define targeted strategies towards fostering bioeconomy education and capacity building;
  • bringing the various stakeholders together to co-create guidelines for bioeconomy training and mentoring;
  • using arts in their different forms and applications to develop systemic thinking, encourage to pursue a career in the bioeconomy, facilitate inclusion and awareness.

BioGov.net will contribute to establishing innovative governance models in the bioeconomy by providing an inclusive training and mentoring framework in specific European regions and building a bridge between knowledge and skills in the bioeconomy, secured by effective governance.

BioGov.net is a three-year project funded by the Horizon Europe programme, composed of 10 experienced partners that will operationalise the project’s activities in 8 EU countries: Estonia, Italy, the Netherlands, Greece, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Portugal and Germany.

The project will have a role in enabling better-informed decision-making processes, improving the social engagement of all actors and increasing the uptake of sustainable innovations in the bioeconomy.

Methodology and Action Plan

BioGov.net aims to explore innovative governance models for the bioeconomy education and co-create guidelines for bioeconomy training and mentoring, through a multistakeholder approach, while integrating humanities, art, design and culture to foster the transition to an innovative and inclusive bioeconomy. With this in mind, the project has defined a sound methodology for bridging knowledge, capacity-building, and good governance in the bioeconomy, while ensuring synergies, transparency of actions and inclusiveness of all actors, including socially vulnerable groups.

The geographical scope of intervention of the BioGov.net project focuses on 8 regions from these EU countries: Estonia, Greece, Portugal, Slovakia, Italy, Czech Republic, Netherlands and Germany.

The project’s methodology comprises the following actions:

01 –  Conduct a regional assessment of bioeconomy education needs with a special focus on Vocational Training and Life-Long Learning.

02 – Identify good practices and case studies in bioeconomy education, training and capacity building.

03 – Mobilising European Communities of Practice for better governance and skills development in the bioeconomy in Estonia, Italy, Netherlands, Greece, Slovakia, Czechia, Portugal, and Germany.

04 – Identify and promote new ways to strengthen the role of arts and creativity in the bioeconomy education, aiming to inspire, engage, encourage creative thinking, and facilitate inclusion.

05 – Delivering top-notch training and mentoring guidelines tailored to the regional needs.

We will operationalise these actions through the following activities:

BioGov.net will assess the region’s specificities and needs in terms of strengths, weaknesses, barriers and opportunities, and identify good practices and case studies, aim to support advances in bioeconomy education, training and capacity building.
BioGov.net will identify and promote new ways to strengthen the role of arts and creativity in the bioeconomy education, aiming to inspire, engage, encourage creative thinking, and facilitate inclusion.
BioGov.net will bring together key actors from i) research/academia, ii) industry/businesses, iii) policy/decision makers iv) arts and creative industries and v) society into 8 regional Communities of Practice, that will operate in their region to:
  • Increase awareness about the bio-systems and their governance models
  • Define and assess key drivers for skills-building in the bioeconomy
  • Validate training and mentoring guidelines and governance models for a larger uptake
  • Spur social innovation in the current bio-system

BioGov.net’s guidelines will support permanent learning and re-training in areas related to the bioeconomy and will also ensure the inclusion of novel opportunities coming from art, culture and (eco) design inspirations with added value for the bioeconomy.

Beneficiaries

Research & Higher Education Organisations

will benefit from the BioGov.net guidelines and information to contribute to the transition to a bioeconomy in the region.

Vocational Education Organisations & Other Non-Formal Education

will utilise practical training guidelines based on skills/jobs on the demand in the bioeconomy.

Bio-Based Industries

will take advantage of the networking opportunities within the Communities of Practice and benefit from adequate information about the region, including barriers and potentials to the industry.

Bio-Based Business

will develop bio-based skills and novel business models through BioGov.net training guidelines.

Arts & Creative stakeholders

will contribute to the integration of humanities, art, design and culture in the bioeconomy education, aiming to inspire, engage, encourage creative thinking, and facilitate inclusion.

Policy Makers

will learn about opportunities for intergovernmental and multidisciplinary cooperation, access to communities of practice and learn who are the enablers for transformation in the region.

NGO's & Citizens

will have a “voice” in the decision-making process, and an active role in the transition to bioeconomy, by increasing the visibility of bio-based alternatives and influence with sustainable bio-based choices.