In November 2019, we collected feedback from Biobord users and carried out focus group discussions with Biobord network members to improve the user experience and services of Biobord. Feedback was applied directly to the technical development and upgrading of the Biobord Operating Model. Now, the changes have been implemented and an updated Biobord launched.
The improvements entail several small technical adjustments, visual outlook update as well as integration of totally new features. For registered users, Biobord now offers a document management system under the ‘Resources’ headline. A document management system connected to the Biobord Forum is for sharing, storing and managing the resources of projects, teams and networks.
Furthermore, matchmaking and networking services of the Biobord Forum were upgraded, and the service experience developed based on the feedback from pilot users. In the next phase of the piloting, a dedicated Biobord staff will guide the new users in usage of the ‘Open Biobord Forum’ matchmaking forum, ‘Biobord On Stage’ web-events and ‘Biobord Network Actions’ information sharing forum. Help is available also via the new ‘Helpdesk’ ticketing system as well as ‘Biobord User Support’ forum.
The upgraded Biobord Operating Model with several user manuals and guides is now available at Biobord User Support.The report and connected guides provide updated information of Biobord services for network members and users as applied in the second round of piloting started on January 15, 2020.
In a region of long distances, the seminars and workshops are always tricky to organise. Especially when we are working on topics that require the presence of business and public sector together. This was the case when we started to develop the workshop to boost the local food usage in public catering in RDI2CluB. Our initial idea was to create a workshop that is easy to access, without very much time required to travel. Also, we wanted the people to meet face-to-face, so webinar was out of question.
We created a multi-spot workshop, that was organized simultaneously in three different locations in Central Finland (Jyväskylä, Saarijärvi and Viitasaari). Participants singed in to one of these spots and each location had their own hosts present live. First part of the seminar was for all the participants, and presentations were followed online on the screens. Live connection between the spots was established, and this allowed real live discussions during the presentations.
Second part was for the three different spots, a workshop facilitated by the local hosts on local food promotion needs in Central Finland. This part was off-line and only the results were then afterwards presented to all the participants.
This kind of methodology worked very well, especially since we had a host by the organizer present in all three locations. They acted as facilitators on the spots. One person was a chairperson, and he was in responsible for normal workshop arrangements – while the hosts could concentrate on facilitation on spots. It was also very important, that there were presentations from all the participating locations. This made the feeling of live workshops to all locations. Total number of participants was 80+. of which 21 was following on-line streaming. As such, we felt that we succeeded, and we will for sure use this kind of methodology also in the future. It would also be interesting to hear from Biobord community, if you have similar kind of setups?
Technical requirements:
We used Microsoft Teams to create the seminar. This enabled the local hosts to show presentations from their spots. Microphones and loudspeakers were standard external microphones and no additional connections was required for this. Additionally, we also offered a possibility to follow streaming on-line. The stream was sent to Regional Councils YouTube channel and this link was distributed via various channels to potential attendees. This required an additional WLAN.
You can respect your fatherland in many ways – also by not throwing around litter and by saving natural resources like water or energy. This is what the RDI2CluB team from the Świętokrzyskie Voivodship wanted to teach the young citizens during a special lesson of patriotism, conducted in the Marshal Office of the Świętokrzyskie Voivodship in Kielce. It was organized on the 7 November 2019, just before the National Independence Day in Poland (11 November) for 2nd grade students of the Primary School No. 28 in Kielce. They were told about different forms of showing their respect for the fatherland, like knowing their country’s history, paying respect to national symbols, as well as caring for their region and its natural heritage. The latter perfectly reflect the ideas of bioeconomy! The children found out how important their daily habits are and how by sorting the waste, saving water and energy, not wasting food they help the planet. They took part in a lively discussion, ate treats on edible, biodegradable dishes made of wheat bran and received a set of gifts promoting the region and the bioeconomy. One of them was a book entitled “Nature is an adventure. Experiments for a young scientist. On the track of laws of nature” by J. Hecker – bought within the RDI2CluB project in order to promote bioeconomy among the youngest citizens. Similar lessons, joining patriotic and environmental education, are being planned in the Marshal Office of the Świętokrzyskie Voivodship as a cyclical event aimed at young citizens interested in the subject.
Regional Science and Technology Centre together with Świętokrzyskie Voivodship and Foundation for Education and Social Dialogue Pro Civis organized three bioeconomy-related events in Busko-Zdrój and Solec-Zdrój – spa municipalities in which the Polish local pilot case is being implemented. The first event, which took place on 21 October 2019 in Busko-Zdrój, gathered decision and policy makers from the two municipalities, the District of Busko-Zdrój, as well as representatives of science. The other two events were organized on 7 and 8 November 2019. Directed at more general population (inhabitants, spa clients, NGOs), the meetings focused more on daily-life examples on how air quality affects our lives, providing some concrete solutions to most-frequent challenges (e.g. which heating solutions are most ecological and effective). At all meetings participants had a chance to find out more about RDI2CluB project and the bioeconomy potential in the region. The participants were also encouraged to become active “users” of the project by active involvement in the local pilot on air quality and near-ground emission, as local communities and their perception of near-ground emission are crucial for building a five-helix based model of dealing with mitigation of air pollution. The presentations on sources and consequences of near-ground emission were strengthen by presentation of results of air pollution measurements via drone. Additionally, participants were encouraged to engage in the bioeconomy-related discussion via the virtual platform Biobord.eu and within the Centre for Knowledge and Bioeconomy Development, operating in the Regional Science and Technology Centre. To the meetings with inhabitants there are invited enterprises offering solutions mitigating near-ground pollution, as well as representatives of the Voivodeship Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management in Kielce and media representatives.
The bioeconomy has been on the agenda of the Vidzeme Planning Region for two years. An action plan has been developed based on concrete actions and steps to be taken to develop the knowledge driven bioeconomy innovation ecosystem in Vidzeme.
Although knowledge-based bioeconomy has been identified as one of the most important areas of development and at the same time one of five smart specialisation areas in Latvia, it is essential to raise knowledge and awareness on bioeconomy in society.
Information and understanding enhance the ability of the public to engage in qualitative discussions and encourage them to innovate in their everyday business.
On October 15, 2019, those who have been working in the bioeconomy for a long time, as well as those who are ready to study it in more detail and are looking for cooperation opportunities for the development of innovative products and processes, gathered in Ligatne village, in Vidzeme region / Latvia.
To continue the popularization of the name and potential of the bioeconomy, as a follow-up forum for the first bioeconomy forum organized in March, this time the forum highlighted the importance of cross-sectoral cooperation – the role of digitalization and opportunities for bioeconomy development.
The bioeconomy is still in a relatively early stage of development in Latvia, so it should be emphasized that digitalization has a huge impact on it. Technologies and data can provide solutions to long-standing problems, and moreover. Digitalization has the potential to deliver a significant additive effect to process improvements and development.
Technological development, innovation and digitalization play a key role in increasing the efficiency of existing production processes by introducing digital solutions for managing raw material flows or coordinating logistics. Digitalization enables the development of new bio-based products, services and business models, optimizing production costs and reducing their environmental impact, thus contributing to European and global competitiveness.
The aim of the event organizers was to introduce entrepreneurs and leaders of municipalities, universities and scientific institutions with innovative solutions for development of bioeconomy value chain, as well as digitalization solutions and opportunities available in Europe and Latvia. Not only are we aware, but also foreign experts point out that rural areas and regions that concentrate their agricultural, food, water and forest resources have the greatest potential for bioeconomy.
We look back at the event and invite you to watch the VIDEO story. In it, experts share a few insights that can serve as a basis for initiative and ideas on how bioeconomy and digitization can help a business grow.
By 2030, the world will need 50% more food, 45% more energy, and 30% more water. The solution is bioeconomy that is based on the sustainable use of renewable resources as well as circular economy models. Bioeconomy utilizes clean technologies that enable the efficient use of natural resources and nutrients, while ensuring biodiversity and supporting climate change mitigation.
Our mission is to bring together bioeconomy developers to a joint table to solve global and local challenges with bioeconomy innovations. Biobord connects bioeconomy innovation networks around the Baltic Sea Region to share ideas, find partners and work together to create business opportunities in bioeconomy. Together we build knowledge and raise awareness on sustainable and viable bioeconomy business potential in Baltic Sea Region.
Biobord is a place for you, if you are interested in viable and sustainable biobased business and networking with bioeconomy developers around the Baltic Sea Region. Find people with shared interests, team up and get support from our network of bioeconomy experts to build your business or launch your innovation to the markets.
Our growing network has been initiated by the following regions around Baltic Sea that specialize in bioeconomy:
Together we are piloting Biobord.eu as a meeting, co-working and innovation forum for bioeconomy developers with a passion for rural viability and sustainability.
Join our journey and share your experiences with us to help us develop the Biobord.eu platform. We are piloting the platform as a part of RDI2CluB project in 2019-2020 to improve our service based on the user experiences.
Our journey towards smart specialization in bioeconomy started with the creation of Regional Bioeconomy Profiles.
Data is key for evidence-based decision making in regional strategy work. Still, reliable statistics to show the development of bioeconomy do not exist in regional level. Therefore, we compiled it! Not just for ourselves, but also for the other regions in Finland, Norway, Poland, Latvia and Estonia.
The updated web-toolkit for regional bioeconomy strategy work enables assessment of regional bioeconomy potential, strengths and weaknesses in comparison to national averages – as well as other regions in Baltic Sea Region and EU.
Statistics are not perfect when it comes to bioeconomy and regional expertise is key for interpreting the results. Still, the visual tools for bioeconomy readiness give an excellent start for the regional discussions and commitment to joint actions.
With data and regional dialogue on the potential for bioeconomy in our regions, we identified and established Joint Action Plans for supporting smart, sustainable and inclusive growth in bioeconomy in the rural regions of our network.
The Joint Action Plans were developed in cooperation with regional triple helix actors –regional authorities, business and academy. The planning involved also authorities working with design and implementation of national smart specialization strategies in bioeconomy. Furthermore, Joint Action Plans connect the existing EU, EUSBSR, national and regional policies and strategies to a roadmap for the development of bioeconomy innovation ecosystem around the Baltic Sea Region.
Joint Actions have been identified for regional level and for co-operation across the regions in the Baltic Sea. The international Joint Action for Boosting Bioeconomy focus on three areas:
We have identified actions that we can start right way and implement with our existing resources. Moreover, we have found action areas were we share an interest to plan jointly future actions.
Download the plans and read more from rdi2club.eu website.
The co-working has started and you can follow and join our discussions at our Forum under ‘Biobord Network Actions’!
To help our Network to work together on the Joint Action Plans and to connect our regional bioeconomy innovation ecosystems, we created Biobord. Biobord is an open virtual innovation hub for bioeconomy developers. On Biobord, we offer our network members tools for managing the project lifecycle, network building and management, interactive online capacity building, matchmaking and connecting with innovation support services.
Biobord has been developed in an iterative service design process. Now, we are in piloting phase, where we test and scale up platform functionalities and operations together with different user groups - researchers, regional development agents, students, entrepreneurs, inventors and innovation brokers.
The Biobord Operating Model describes the potential of our network, the functionalities of the platform as well as the user profiles and service paths. Furthermore, the Operating Model provides practical guidance and tools for the uptake of the Biobord, creation of the service paths as well as continuous improvement of the forum community building.
Read more on the Biobord Operating Model, joint the activities at Biobord and share your feedback to help us develop the platform into an attractive virtual co-working, networking, learning and innovation environment.
