During the Vidzeme Innovation Week which is annually organized by Vidzeme Planning Region many important aspects on responsible innovation in various fields, including science, business and bioeconomy, were represented by experienced local and foreign experts. The central event of the Week – Innovation conference – was organized in three parallel sessions, focusing on innovation in gastronomy, sustainable use of resources and development of innovative services for public administration. Interreg BSR 2014.–2020. programme project “Rural RDI milieus in transition towards smart bioeconomy clusters and innovation ecosystems” (RDI2Club) was presented during the parallel session “Bioeconomy Innovations in Food Production and Gastronomy” where experts were invited to share their experience and engage into the discussion with audience.

Workshop was organized with aim to introduce the good practice examples in circular economy and entrepreneurship, which could easily be implied in Vidzeme region and nationally, and it was moderated by the member of RDI2CluB team, project expert at Vidzeme Planning Region Kristaps Ročāns. The keynote speaker Johannes Kisser, managing director of Alchemia-Nova (AT), gave several inspiring examples regarding biomass conversion to high added value products – biorefinery innovation. “Just by one single tree you can tell how the society works in total. We look at plants as our superheroes,” said Kisser. He introduced the participants to the idea of trees as innovation generators and service providers, arguing that these are our “workers”, which can serve the humans for their purposes. Kisser reminded the participants about the importance of our surroundings while highlighting that circular bioeconomy is all about value and cooperation. Three strategy pathways – circular, nature-based and participatory – were presented as well as the subject of linear economy and the problems that it faces. Bioplastics from organic waste were also discussed and several solutions were provided.

Dr. Pekka Kilpeläinen, research manager at Oulu University in Finland (FI), presented several good practice models on natural product research, including the patterns for a successful collaboration. “Quite often we form consortiums where several companies from our region and one or two bigger ones are represented so that an ecosystem could be formed and everyone would benefit from it,” Dr. Kilpeläinen commented. The participants were acquainted to lingonberry characteristics and end-products and were encouraged to use more products in the form of powder because of its favourable features. “It takes less space and the logistics is easier,” he added. While discussing the use of cryoconcentration, Dr. Kilpeläinen gave examples on products such as beer and birch sap and mentioned that there’s also equipment for large scale use but it’s too expensive for most of the companies marking one of the many difficulties the researchers face daily.

Full video lectures of Dr. Pekka Kilpeläinen and Johannes Kisser will be published on Biobord soon.

During the panel discussion “Food Innovation – Opportunities and Challenges” valuable insights were provided not only by the guests mentioned above, but also by the founder of the Institute for Environmental Solutions Gundars Skudriņš and Jānis Garančs, Member of the board in Aloja-Starkelsen Ltd. and Chairman of the board at Latvian Food Bioeconomy cluster. “There is a need to separate noise from the actual signal, because, as of now there is a lot of noise that creates false business trends,” said Skudriņš. Currently there are many companies who portray themselves as nature-friendly while making a negative impact on the environment during the product production. “The consumer must think along as he makes up his food basket. One player cannot change the overall system. We all need to change,” added Garancš.

The guests also discussed the challenges faced by farmers and the cooperation with scientists and bigger companies. Latvian Food Bioeconomy cluster was mentioned as a good solution for SMEs who do not have enough resources to attract knowledgeable scientists. The cluster requires cooperation not only on the level of farmers, but also on the level of food businesses with common needs. Thus, in a single cluster it is possible to find both funding and support from scientific institutions. Garančs encouraged everyone to learn and understand the meaning behind sustainability, eco-friendliness, and, when creating something new, not to stay on the same small aspect that is solved already, but to look at and retain the bigger picture. Dr. Pekka Kilpeläinen inspired the local entrepreneurs by saying: “You don’t always need a big, magnificent invention to create a good, successful product. There must be a real need for it, you have to market it properly and you have to do something a bit differently.”

See the summary video of the conference “Responsible Innovation” HERE.

The session “Bioeconomy Innovations in Food Production and Gastronomy” was organised within Interreg Baltic Sea Region programme projects “Rural RDI milieus in transition towards smart Bioeconomy Clusters and Innovation Ecosystems” (RDI2CluB), “Unlocking the Potential of Bio-based Value Chains in the Baltic Sea region” (BalticBiomass4Value), Interreg Estonia – Latvia programme project “Design and promotion of tourism product based on Livonian culinary heritage” (Livonian Culinary Route).

For more information: Santa Niedola, Project Manager, Vidzeme Planning Region, santa.niedola@vidzeme.lv

After a long development period, Biobord platform has been updated according to its users’ requests! It is now more simple, easier to use and more visual.

What is new ?
• New, more describing, and simpler front page
• New about-page that contains information about the RDI2CluB -project behind the platform
• Improved network map that shows Biobord Network’s organizations
• Simplified Biobord Forum, with just three main categories (User Support, Open Biobord and On Stage): easier to post something on Biobord
• Renewed tag-system (specific tags with visual icons and color coding): easy to see what the topic is about
• Better descriptions of the forum’s project group and regional groups: chance to find new projects, experts, and information
• We are always happy to receive feedback and improvement ideas: so we created a topic where to share your ideas
• We also wish to hear your requests for a bioeconomy themed webinar (On Stage event): we created a topic for that as well

Register now on Biobord and join the transnational discussion! It is easier than ever!

Between 20 and 23 April we planned a last benchmarking meeting of RDI2CluB partners in Latvia. Unfortunately, the coronavirus pandemic, made it impossible. We did not see the Latvian outstanding examples of innovative bioeconomy in practice. But our previous face to face contacts, common goal of knowledge sharing and outstanding organization by our Latvian partners and Lead partner via modern technologies enabled us to conduct a successful on-line workshop together. Thanks to this, we also contributed a little to helping our planet and we hope this news cheers you all up a little during this difficult time of isolation. If you want to see how we did it, see our YouTube video (Engilsh subtitles provided).

Joint Action Plan related blog post, by RDI2CluB partner Vidzeme Planning Region, is now published in EUSBSR Highlight blog. You can read the post here or by following the link: https://www.balticsea-region-strategy.eu/news-room/highlights-blog/item/103-bioeconomy-for-the-regions-regions-for-the-bioeconomy

Someone might ask whether this is an appropriate time to talk about the bioeconomy and future of regions when the world is focused on a microscopic, but powerful threat that has been able to halt humans’ plans and actions temporarily, reduce access to financial resources and freeze development intentions.

We are claiming to argue that more than appropriate. Economy more than ever needs know-how, new business models and creative approach enabling individuals, legal entities and regions to change and adapt quickly to new situation , as well awareness and knowledge on how and for what we can use regional natural resources in situation of limited movement of people and goods. By identifying alternative and novel opportunities for use of local resources, we will create new business activities, thus strengthening local and regional economy. By addressing regional challenges and by strengthening local producers, we will increase applicability of the resources, as well will help enterprises to secure business and socioeconomic benefits they create. Especially significant it is for the main sectors of the bioeconomy: agriculture and food processing, forestry and woodworking, fisheries and others forming the backbone of regional economies. They are securing regions’ stocks of food and energy materials and are providing jobs to thousands of people around the Baltic Sea .

We are willing to tell about the initiatives in development of the bioeconomy in Finland, Norway, Latvia, Estonia and Poland, and hope that our experience will inspire readers to look at traditional natural resources from a new, innovative perspective and to act in order to transform this potential in new, unique products and services, will encourage research, development and innovation, as well will motivate different level public authorities to develop and implement support mechanisms that stimulate the bioeconomy while at the same time ensure balance among economic, social and environmental interests of regions.

Knowledge is backbone of development

Twelve partners from five European countries have developed the Joint Action Plan for the Development of a Knowledge-Driven Regional Bioeconomy Innovation Ecosystems . Partners have agreed that three core elements are the most significant for efficient innovation ecosystems:

1. knowledge for those who produce products and services, especially for those who innovate
2. well-functioning ecosystems, where services and tools available are linking bioeconomy stakeholders across borders and are providing access to knowledge, experts and RTD and innovation facilities, and
3. awareness of the society on the bioeconomy, its potential and novel approaches on application of the existing natural resources.

The joint action plan was approved in mid-2019 and it foresees 17 joint actions, grounding on identified needs and capacity of each involved region. As the range of measures is very wide, we will present some joint initiatives already implemented or being in progress.

Knowledge is backbone of development, especially of innovation, and because of this reason great attention is paid towards knowledge sharing, exchange and co-creation in diverse partnerships . Joint initiatives, such as development of new and improvement of existing technologies for wildlife monitoring have been started by Norway’s and Latvia’s researchers and practitioners. They have planned also joint measures for automatization of lake ecosystem monitoring process. Finnish and Latvian food processing SMEs have shared knowledge on production of niche food products from local natural resources. A group of Latvian researchers and entrepreneurs has acquainted with Norway’s knowledge and experience in the smart use of wood resources in construction and is working on transfer of this experience for development of smart wood cross-sectoral laboratory in Latvia. These small steps have helped researchers and businesses obtain knowledge they need or to get insight into how to combine the specific knowledge from different fields. In some cases it significantly has speeded up products and services development without long-lasting, expensive research and technological development measures.

Those who manage natural resources know where and how they can be applied

Development of services and support tools is good intangible investment addressing and satisfying the bioeconomy stakeholders’ needs for experienced labour force, expertise, advice, funding or other type of support. One of such measures is the development of innovative, high-quality flexible adult learning pathways for smart specialization oriented SMEs . Vidzeme Planning Region (Latvia) and JAMK University of Applied Sciences (Finland) with participation of other adult education and business support organisations from Germany, Spain, Estonia and Lithuania, have started development of the methodology, which will be piloted in SMEs and further will help enterprises to attract and to manage qualified personnel effectively, thus satisfying companies’ needs for researchers, engineers, technologists and other skilled staff. First results and conclusions are expected at the end of 2020.

Awareness on natural resources potential and their application possibilities within the bioeconomy is an important that those who own or those who manage natural resources know where and how they can be applied, especially for innovative products and services. Raising awareness is especially significant in Baltic countries and Poland, where society’s awareness level on the bioeconomy and innovation is lower, than in Nordic countries . In order to create positive change, targeted awareness raising events, attracting the most experienced European experts, have been organised in Latvia and Estonia. Two bioeconomy innovation fora, bringing together more than 100 participants from Latvia and abroad were held in Vidzeme in 2019. At the same year the national level bioeconomy conference with participation of the industry, politicians, researchers and consumers has been organised in Estonia. These events have helped to create such outcomes as improvement of mechanisms and tools, aimed to support fields of the bioeconomy, new research and technological projects, agreed among participants; and other.

The Biobord platform is an open and voluntary community of bioeconomy developers that connects the users

Aware of the role of knowledge, experience and exchange of views, and of how much time and financial resources would be needed for on-site activities, the partners have developed an information technology-based solution - an open virtual innovation hub - the Biobord platform - that allows obtaining knowledge, sharing expertise, offering and providing research and technological development services and carrying other relevant activities virtually. The Biobord platform is an open and voluntary community of bioeconomy developers that connects the users, by offering tools for knowledge and information on the bioeconomy resource management and sharing and provides innovation support services. More than 230 businesses, researchers, inventors and developers, as well public authorities from different countries are already using the platform for co-working, peer learning, matchmaking, and networking.

All we have described so far is a start of the bioeconomy “story” . In a few months bioeconomy good practices brochure will be published, where everyone interested will have opportunity to acquaint with different stories on how traditional raw materials have been transformed into innovative products; how community is taking action for creation of sustainable and environmentally friendly housing; how new business model helps to create sustainable, export oriented business, and other. The brochure will be available in the platform: https://biobord.eu/, but the platform itself offers much more possibilities. If you will decide to become its user, it will provide you opportunities to find research, technological development partners, will offer you innovation services, as well will let you to offer your services, will enhance possibilities to get and to share knowledge, and many other opportunities. You are welcomed!

Measures, described in this text, are implemented within the project RDI2CluB , a Flagship project of EUSBSR Policy Area Bioeconomy. The project is funded by ERDF within EU Baltic Sea Region Programme.