RIBES LAUNCH Press Release
Brussels, 17/04/2024
With its kick-off meeting in beautiful Trieste in late March, the RIBES project unites twenty (20) partners from all around Europe to promote the use of bio-based innovations by developing new governance and business models that combine the circular bioeconomy, social innovation, and rural development.
RIBES’s overall objective is to empower rural social entrepreneurs to co-create inclusive and sustainable bio-based business models that use simple digital solutions to connect and inform stakeholders while facilitating value chain development and market access for bio-based products and services. The activities will focus on contributing to the transition from a linear to a sustainable and circular bioeconomy in 9 European regions that are currently lagging in biobased innovations.
IN MORE DETAIL
Across Europe, most EU regions are still exploring their position regarding the bioeconomy. From complicated policy mandates to a limited understanding of the economy, many barriers get in the way. Most importantly, the need for more awareness of relevant market opportunities and a lack of knowledge, skills, and financial resources to set up sustainable business models result in bioeconomy innovation feeling far from straightforward for most rural stakeholders.
Regional Inclusive Biobased Entrepreneurship Solutions, or simply RIBES, is a Research and Innovation Action project funded by the new Horizon Europe Programme to alleviate the disconnection between bioeconomy and rural stakeholders. With a total duration of thirty-six (36) months and a total budget of approximately five million euros, the project’s key objectives include:
- Accelerate the regional shift from traditional, linear fossil-based economies to efficient, circular bio-based systems.
- Enhance awareness, governance, and social innovation to reduce resource use and boost the capacity for bio-based innovation in rural and peri-urban communities.
- Involve key local actors and stakeholders in bio-based innovation to support and encourage social enterprises and entrepreneurs to address local needs.
- Collaboratively develop innovative business and governance models supported by inclusive digital tools.
- Build strong multi-actor collaborations with stakeholders and platforms and use the research insights to reinforce international science-policy connections.
CONSORTIUM PARTNERS
The project brings together a diverse group of leading research institutions and organisations, each contributing unique expertise and resources to upscaling nine (9) European regions towards a greener, sustainable, and innovative future. Specifically, the project’s consortium comprises twenty (20) partners from sixteen (16) different EU Member States and EU Neighbourhood countries, led by the Central European Initiative from Italy.
“Harnessing the power of transformative governance and innovative business models, RIBES is leading the charge in propelling lagging European regions towards a circular economy. By uniting the forces of circular bioeconomy, social innovation, and rural development, RIBES is driving systemic change, igniting innovation, and unlocking untapped potential. Together, we are shaping a sustainable future where biobased solutions reign, fuelling economic growth, societal well-being, and environmental well-being and harmony.”
Peter Canciani, Project Coordinator, Central European Initiative
PRESS CONTACT AND SOCIAL MEDIA
For more information, press materials, or interview requests, please contact:
Alexandros Altsitsiadis
Dissemination & Communication Manager,
White Research
Regional Inclusive Biobased Entrepreneurship Solutions, or RIBES, project is funded by the European Union’s HorizonEurope Research and Innovation programme under Grant Agreement number 101134911. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.