Sharing Circular Bioeconomy Knowledge with Peers

The Interreg Europe programme strengthens regional development by enhancing respective regional policies through interregional collaboration and information sharing between European regions (Interreg Europe 2023a). Peer reviews are one of the services offered to public authorities by the Policy Learning Platform of Interreg Europe. Peer reviews are two days of organized, assisted meetings when local beneficiaries, experts, and selected peers discuss a particular policy topic and share information and ideas. As a consequence, the policy authority and its stakeholders receive specific guidance, inspiring examples, and customized recommendations. (Interreg Europe 2023b.)

Peer Review on Circular Bioeconomy

On October 25–26, 2023, a peer review on the subject of the circular economy was held in s’Hertogenbosch, in the Province of Noord-Brabant, the Netherlands. The two main policy issues that the province pointed out to reach the transition to circular bioeconomy were 1) How to design the transition to a bioeconomy in the region and 2) How to incentivize the use of bio-based products.

People are sitting around a big table in a meeting room. People are watching one standing speaker. At the back centre, there is a big screen with some text displayed. — Picture 1. The Interreg Europe programme’s primary feature, the power of knowledge exchange, was emphasized in the peer review. (Photo: Katerina Medkova)

Experience from LAB, Lahti & Päijät-Häme region

LAB’s Katerina Medkova was also one of the peers; she provided the knowledge and specific examples from LAB and Päijät-Häme, along with good practices (examples) from the past Interreg Europe cooperation projects (BIOREGIO, CECI). Currently, she leads CITISYSTEM – Supporting cities in sustainable biobased systemic change -project, which focuses on developing circular bioeconomy in cities, being in line with the subject of the peer review (Interreg Europe 2023c). As a result, the peer review served as a mutual learning environment for exchanging knowledge, finding fresh perspectives, and getting inspired by the initiatives being undertaken in other countries.

The following four concrete examples were presented at the peer review: 1) Päijät-Häme Circular Economy Roadmap, 2) Päijät-Häme Grain Cluster, and the next two examples from LAB, 3) Sustainable Materials Laboratory (SuMa), and 4) Food Pilot Plant. The first three examples were published on the Policy Learning Platform of Interreg Europe after being recognized as good practices of the BIOREGIO project. The platform offers a free database of more than 3000 tried and tested good practices and solutions on a range of subjects further supporting policy learning. Before being included in the database, the identified examples are examined by thematic experts. (Interreg Europe 2023d.)

A group of people standing indoors. In the background, there is a big colourful mosaic looking like a map. — Picture 2. The diverse group of selected peers brought unique insights and expertise to the table: Marino Cavallo from Italy, Elisa Gambuzzi and Cristina Pérez Rivero from Spain, Peter de Boer from the Netherlands, Apostolos Malamakis from Greece, and Katerina Medkova from Finland. (Photo: Magda Michalíková)

Visiting Dutch Design Week

Following the conclusion of the first day’s schedule, the participants visited the annual Dutch Design Week, which is held in October in Eindhoven. The group explored the Embassy of Circular & Biobased Building, an exhibition that used storytelling to bring together the building and agricultural industries to create a sustainable living environment. For instance, the biobased agri-construction chain was demonstrated. Materials, such as hemp, flax, and straw were displayed as the whole plant, from flowers, stems, and seeds to the roots. Simultaneously, the interactive displays presented potential uses, such as building materials, insulation wool, or façade and interior panels. (DDW 2023.)

Picture 3. An exhibition at the Embassy of Circular & Biobased Building. (Photo: Katerina Medkova)

Author

Katerina Medkova works as an RDI Specialist at LAB University of Applied Sciences and is CITISYSTEM Project Manager.

Link to the website of CITISYSTEM – Supporting cities in sustainable biobased systemic change.

References

DDW. 2023. Embassy of Circular & Biobased Building. Cited 16 Nov 2023. Available at https://ddw.nl/en/programme/10056/embassy-of-circular-amp-biobased-building

Interreg Europe. 2023a. What is Interreg Europe? Cited 16 Nov 2023. Available at https://www.interregeurope.eu/what-is-interreg-europe

Interreg Europe. 2023b. Peer review. Cited 16 Nov 2023. Available at https://www.interregeurope.eu/peer-review

Interreg Europe. 2023c. CITISYSTEM – Supporting cities in sustainable biobased systemic change. Cited 16 Nov 2023. Available at https://www.interregeurope.eu/citisystem

Interreg Europe. 2023d. Find policy solutions. Good practices. Cited 16 Nov 2023. Available at https://www.interregeurope.eu/policy-solutions/good-practices

Links

Link 1. Interreg Europe. 2023c. Project Summary. CITISYSTEM. Cited 16 Nov 2023. Available at https://www.interregeurope.eu/citisystem