A Bioeconomy Strategy for Austria: The Role of Civil Society – BioSTEP Policy Workshop

Event: Workshop
Date: 20 January 2017
Location: Graz, Austria

The Austrian government is currently in the process of developing a strategy for research, technology and innovation to support the emerging bioeconomy. Following this process, the development of a broader strategy is envisaged that comprises further policy domains and sectors. Against this background, the questions arise regarding what role civil society organisations should play in this process and how they can contribute to shaping the further development of the Austrian bioeconomy.

Besides businesses and research centres, civil society can be directly or indirectly affected by future developments in the bioeconomy field. Bio-based products and processes are associated with economic, social and environmental effects, which may have positive or negative impacts on society. This BioSTEP workshop aims to discuss the role of civil society organisations in the strategy development process in Austria, specifically reflecting on current approaches and what opportunities and challenges arise.

For more information about this event, please click here.

In the context of the 5th Central European Biomass Conference (CEBC 2017)

Engaging Stakeholders and Citizens in the Bioeconomy

Lessons learned from BioSTEP and recommendations for future research

Year 2018

Publication:Document

Stakeholder and public engagement are key elements of EU policy development, as well as of responsible research and innovation. Over a period of three years, BioSTEP has designed and implemented a wide range of citizen and stakeholder engagement activities regarding the development of Europe's bioeconomy. This paper, edited by Ecologic Institute's Holger Gerdes and Zoritza Kiresiewa, presents a set of research recommendations, which builds on the lessons learned from the application of BioSTEP's participatory tools. The BioSTEP research recommendations are available for download.

Engaging Stakeholders and Citizens in the Bioeconomy

BioSTEP Research Recommendations

Year 2018

Event:Conference

Over a period of three years the BioSTEP project developed participation tools to involve the public in the development of the European bioeconomy. Different types of participation were sought. During the final conference on 22 February 2018 in Brussels, the participation formats and their possible impact as well as the BioSTEP research recommendations will be presented and discussed. Registrations are possible until 15 February 2018.

Effective Stakeholder and Public Engagement in the Bioeconomy – BioSTEP Conference

22 February 2018
Brussels, Belgium

Presentation:Panel discussion

<p>On 23 May 2017 a CommBeBiz webinar featured a discussion with Ecologic Institute's Holger Gerdes and Zoritza Kiresiewa, on the topic "Creating Networks for the Transition to a Bio-based and Circular Economy." They gave deeper insights into recommendations for effective engagement in the bio-based and circular economy. These recommendations were published in a BioSTEP policy paper, which is available online.</p>

Creating Networks for the Transition to a Bio-based and Circular Economy

23 May 2017
Dr. Zoritza Kiresiewa

Publication:Policy Brief

After two years of research and stakeholder consultation, the BioSTEP consortium, led by Ecologic Institute, finalized the BioSTEP policy paper. This paper concludes five recommendations, aiming to support the revision of the European Bioeconomy Strategy. These recommendations were amended and complemented at the BioSTEP Forum, which was held in Brussels in March 2016. The policy paper is available for download.

Creating Networks for the Transition to a Bio-based and Circular Economy

BioSTEP Policy Paper

Year 2017

Event:Conference

<p>The aim of the conference is to present and discuss the results of the stakeholder engagement activities in BioSTEP and its value to the current policy discussions on the bioeconomy and the circular economy. BioSTEP has analysed in three policy workshops the participation processes that are necessary to build and strengthen the new value chains of the bioeconomy. The policy workshops discussed how bioeconomy strategies can be developed in a participatory way, ensuring that the change of economic value chains, necessary for a transition to a bioeconomy, is understood and supported by all stakeholders.</p>

Creating Networks for the Transition to a Bio-based and Circular Economy – BioSTEP Forum

29 March 2017
Brussels, Belgium

Publication:Case Study

How have stakeholders and citizens participated in the development, implementation and monitoring of regional bioeconomy strategies? How has the involvement of stakeholders and citizens affected the strategies' development, implementation and monitoring? What are good practice examples of stakeholder and citizen participation in national and regional bioeconomy strategies? These and other questions are addressed in this report on regional bioeconomy strategies across Europe, focused on four regional case studies: Scotland, South-West Netherlands, Saxony-Anhalt and Veneto. Ecologic Institute was tasked with researching the Regional Innovation Strategy (RIS) in Saxony-Anhalt (Germany). The report is available for download.

Case Studies of Regional Bioeconomy Strategies across Europe

Year 2016

Event:Workshop

The BioSTEP policy workshop focuses on local and regional businesses and their role in the regional bioeconomy. It explores a broader model of the bioeconomy (bottom-up, participatory) and discusses how small and medium-sized enterprises, civil-society organisations and further relevant actors can be engaged in the (further) development of a regional bioeconomy strategy in Scotland.

Shaping the Scottish Bioeconomy Together – BioSTEP Policy Workshop

18 - 20 October 2016
Glasgow, United Kingdom

Publication:Document

Janssen, Rainer; Zoritza Kiresiewa; Holger Gerdes 2016: Results of the BioSTEP stakeholder consultation. BioSTEP deliverable 4.1.

Results of the BioSTEP Stakeholder Consultation

Year 2016

Funding: European Commission, Directorate-General Research & Innovation (DG Research & Innovation), International
Organizer: Ecologic Institute, Germany
Team: Holger Gerdes

Lucas Porsch

Dr. Zoritza Kiresiewa

Marius Hasenheit
Date: 20 January 2017
Location: Graz, Austria
Language: German
Participants: 15
Project: Promoting Stakeholder Engagement and Public Awareness for a Participative Governance of the European Bioeconomy (BioSTEP)
Project ID: 2801
Keywords: Bioeconomy

Governance

Resource Conservation + Circular Economy

Events

Bioeconomy, civil society, public engagement, participatory governance, bioeconomy strategy

Austria

Further Links

ProjectHorizon 2020Promoting Stakeholder Engagement and Public Awareness for a Participative Governance of the European Bioeconomy (BioSTEP)

The bioeconomy holds potential solutions to important challenges of the future. The social, economic and environmental impacts associated with its products and processes, however, will require extensive dialogue processes on the future development of the bioeconomy.... Read more

Promoting Stakeholder Engagement and Public Awareness for a Participative Governance of the European Bioeconomy (BioSTEP)

Duration: Mar 2015 - Feb 2018
Funding: European Commission, Directorate-General Research & Innovation (DG Research & Innovation), International

EventWorkshopThe Future is Bright, the Future is the European Bioeconomy? – BioSTEP Stakeholder Workshop

The aim of this workshop is to identify and discuss challenges, opportunities, and policy gaps surrounding the development of bioeconomy strategies across Europe. The outcome of this process will be a list of targeted policy recommendations for the (further) development... Read more

Workshop:The Future is Bright, the Future is the European Bioeconomy? – BioSTEP Stakeholder Workshop

Date: 14 April 2016
Location: Utrecht, Netherlands

EventWorkshopShaping the Scottish Bioeconomy Together – BioSTEP Policy Workshop

Scotland possesses a huge amount of natural resources, on which many small and medium-sized enterprises base their business models. The Scottish bioeconomy is largely focussed on industrial biotechnology and the major policy focus to date has been to support the growth... Read more

Workshop:Shaping the Scottish Bioeconomy Together – BioSTEP Policy Workshop

Date: 18 - 20 October 2016
Location: Glasgow, United Kingdom