Strengthening the European Research Area by enhancing the bioeconomy research and innovation ecosystem in BIOEAST countries

Expected Outcome:In line with the European Green Deal priorities, the EU’s climate targets for 2030 and 2050 and the bioeconomy strategy vision of an economic system that acts within environmental and social boundaries, the successful proposal will contribute to the impact of this Destination on just sustainable transition for all by assessing research and innovation capacities in the bioeconomy for improved innovation ecosystems and aligned national R&I agendas in BIOEAST[1] countries, Ukraine, Moldova, and the Western Balkans.

Project results are expected to contribute to all of the following expected outcomes:

• improved research and innovation capacities in the bioeconomy, by strengthening soil and water resilience, enhancing food systems security, and promoting sustainable biomass valorisation through the adaptation of modern biorefinery concepts and biomanufacturing techniques;
• improved coordination and collaboration among stakeholders within the macro-region to address regional challenges, to coordinate research efforts at local, national, macro-regional and European levels, fostering a shared vision for climate-neutrality and an inclusive, sustainable and circular bioeconomy;
• strengthened macro-region's research and innovation ecosystem through integration of public and private stakeholders that lead to tangible projects which drive fair and sustainable socio-economic development and environmental sustainability, including contribution to the reduction of biodiversity loss and to climate action;
• strengthened European Research Area by outlining a roadmap and identifying emerging thematic areas for research and innovation cooperation through a multidisciplinary approach, incorporating, among other fields, environmental science, ecology, and biodiversity.

Scope:This topic targets proposals for the alignment of research and innovation agendas for sustainable natural resources, with a particular attention to soil and water resilience, food systems security, and sustainable biomass valorisation in the bioeconomy. The primary goal is to enhance research and innovation capacities, while fostering ownership in BIOEAST and EU accession countries, with special focus on Ukraine, Moldova, and Western Balkans. Based on the BIOEAST Initiative involvement and format, the proposal should be able to mobilise the research funders and managers, but also thematic networks from the macro-region. For establishing the knowledge transfer and good cooperation, consortia should include entities from EU Member States with significant experience of managing joint research initiatives and partnerships. Collaboration with the BIOEAST Initiative is expected to be instrumental in achieving the outcomes of the project.

Proposals should demonstrate the potential for impact and scalability of their proposed activities. Proposals should collaborate and ensure synergies with ongoing and past projects and initiatives on bioeconomy governance[2],and collaborate with the Circular Bio-based Europe (CBE) JU and its widening strategy. The successful proposal will contribute to:

• engage ministries, research funders, and managers as well as thematic networks, to mobilise resources and create synergies between European, national and regional level funds;
• establish frameworks for communication and coordination among European and national bioeconomy related programme owners and managers to reduce fragmentation;
• enhance long-term cooperation in the bioeconomy to amplify research impact on socio-economic development while supporting widening and the EU enlargement process;
• address the region's geopolitical, research, and innovation challenges by achieving coherence across research, policy, and funding instruments in the bioeconomy. This includes fostering climate neutrality, contributing to the reduction of biodiversity loss, promoting an inclusive, circular, sustainable bioeconomy through an integrated macro-regional approach to research and innovation.

[1] www.bioeast.eu The Central-Eastern European Initiative for Knowledge-based Agriculture, Aquaculture and Forestry in the Bioeconomy – BIOEAST – offers a common political commitment and shared strategic research and innovation framework for working towards sustainable bioeconomies in the Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries (Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia, Bulgaria, Croatia, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Romania, Slovenia).

[2] BIOEASTsUP, BOOST4BIOEAST