BioSTEP-Politikpapier

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

BioSTEP Policy Paper

Publication: Policy Brief
Citation: BioSTEP consortium (2017): Creating Networks for the Transition to a Bio-based and Circular Economy. BioSTEP Policy Paper.

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.

The EU Bioeconomy Strategy is currently undergoing a review, which will be completed by mid-2017 and underpin the future orientation of the strategy. At the same time, policy-makers are discussing the links between the bioeconomy and the circular economy and whether the two concepts should be combined in a single strategy. On this background, BioSTEP has published a policy paper which aims to provide policy-makers with five recommendations for effective stakeholder and public engagement in a bio-based and circular economy:

Support small and medium-sized enterprises in the creation of new networks
Facilitate involvement of civil society (actors) in bioeconomy and circular economy debates
Increase public awareness of and engagement with the bio-based and circular economy
Design and implement effective instruments for stakeholder and public engagement
Provide opportunities for participation in the development, implementation and evaluation phases of bioeconomy and circular economy strategies

The draft of the policy paper was discussed with stakeholders in the context of the BioSTEP Forum, which was held in Brussels in March 2016. The BioSTEP policy paper “Creating Networks for the Transition to a Bio-based and Circular Economy“ is available for download.

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

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

Event:Workshop

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.

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

20 January 2017
Graz, Austria

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

Language: English
Credits: Editors: Holger Gerdes, Zoritza Kiresiewa, Lucas Porsch (Ecologic Institute)
Layout: Beáta Vargová (Ecologic Institute)
Funding: European Commission, Directorate-General Research & Innovation (DG Research & Innovation), International
Year: 2017
Dimension: 16 pp.
Project: Promoting Stakeholder Engagement and Public Awareness for a Participative Governance of the European Bioeconomy (BioSTEP)
Project ID: 2801
Table of contents: Click to show full table of contents

1 Background
1.1 Participation as an important tool to help building new economic value chains and processes
1.2 What new networks need to be created?
2 Concept of stakeholder and public engagement
3 Recommendations for effective engagement in the bio-based and circular economy
3.1 Support small and medium-sized enterprises in the creation of new networks
3.2 Facilitate involvement of civil society (actors) in bioeconomy and circular economy debates
3.3 Increase public awareness of and engagement with the bio-based and circular economy
3.4 Design and implement effective instruments for stakeholder and public engagement
3.5 Provide opportunities for participation in the planning, implementation and evaluation phases
of bioeconomy and circular economy strategies
Keywords: Bioeconomy

Economics

Governance

Resource Conservation + Circular Economy

Policy recommendations, bioeconomy, circular economy, public and stakeholder engagement, participation, value chains, clusters, regional development

Europe

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

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

The aim of the conference is to present 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... Read more

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

Date: 29 March 2017
Location: Brussels, Belgium

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

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

Date: 20 January 2017
Location: Graz, Austria

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

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