Webinar on 26 May 2021: Discovering good practice examples of industrial symbiosis and bio-based business models
Striving to become the first climate-neutral continent, the EU adopted the European Green Deal, a new growth strategy that aims to transform Europe into a modern, resource-efficient and competitive economy, where there are no net emissions of greenhouse gases by 2050, economic growth is decoupled from resource use, and no person and no place is left behind. Key elements of this transformation are the development of circular economy and sustainable bioeconomy supporting set goals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, become more resource efficient and substitute fossil resources with renewable resources.
Two ongoing Interreg Baltic Sea Region projects, the “BIS – Baltic Industrial Symbiosis” project and the “BalticBiomass4Value” project, join forces and will present recent findings on the implementation of industrial symbiosis and bio-based business models. This digital roadshow will present experiences that may help the industrial sector in the Baltic Sea area to speed up the transition and become more competitive in the international race towards capturing the markets embracing sustainability.
Therefore, industrial symbiosis and bio-based business stakeholders, i.e. representatives of public authorities, academia and the business sector, are kindly invited to participate in a webinar that will be held on 26 May 2021 from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM (EEST).
The aim of this event is to engage stakeholders from a triple helix constellation to facilitate the development of the industrial symbiosis mindset. This will be achieved through storytelling experiences and networking enabling the exchange of knowledge and experience across borders. Participants will be introduced with:
- Tools that will help new actors in developing industrial symbiosis (key policy framework, role of SMEs and municipalities, mapping facilitator's toolbox);
- Good practice examples of industrial symbiosis in the Baltic Sea area (examples of industrial symbiosis in Kalundborg (Denmark), Paper Province (Sweden), as well as in Poland);
- Bio-based business models for the replacement of fossil fuels with bio-based fuels, as well as for novel uses of bio-based materials for non-energy purposes;
- Good practice examples of bio-based business models presented and explained by practitioners, i.e. business companies itself.
Notably, following this webinar, the participants will be invited to direct one to one dialogues presenting the opportunity to take advantage from free consultancy support assisting industrial symbiosis stakeholders to speed up their transition efforts.
Full agenda of the event can be downloaded here.
The webinar is free of charge, but pre-registration is required. Please fill in online registration form here.
Language of the event is English.
The event is being organised in collaboration with the Nordic Council of Ministers Offices in the Baltic States.
Get involved in the BalticBiomass4Value business consultations-matchmaking meetings!
The BalticBiomass4Value project aims to enhance the capacity of public and private actors to produce sustainable bioenergy by utilizing new biomass sources (chiefly, biological waste) for energy purposes, as well as to use possibilities to utilize biomass and its side streams for higher value novel bio-based products. The project explores biomass from different sources and its logistics, various biomass conversion technologies and value chains, and seeks to bring together the producers of biomass and bio-based products, other important actors within biomass value chains, relevant public authorities and policy stakeholders to stimulate sustainable bioeconomy development and green growth in the Baltic Sea Region.
The consortium of the BalticBiomass4Value project, consisting of 17 organizations – business associations, competence centres, research and academic institutions, sectoral agencies, national and regional public authorities – from 8 countries, i.e. from Estonia, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Sweden, Norway and the Russian Federation, possesses a broad range of expertise in the field of bioeconomy, as well as a wide circle of targeted contacts. Therefore, with the objective to facilitate the emergence of sustainable bioeconomy development projects in the Baltic Sea area, the consortium kindly invites private businesses, state and municipality-owned enterprises interested in sustainable biomass utilization for energy purposes and/or for the production of higher value novel bio-based products to explore bio-based business development opportunities with knowledge and technology providers, while the latter are encouraged to share experience and get involved in discussions on potential collaborations. Table below presents thematic areas of planned matchmaking.
How it works?
The BalticBiomass4Value project will bring together enterprises that match in their development needs and offers via virtual meetings. Enterprises engaged in bio-based activities (both private and public), as well as knowledge and technology providers will be selected to separate consultation meetings on the basis of filled out questionnaires, in which they should provide information about their enterprise, its products and/or services, specific interests and development needs (e.g., adding value to and/or finding new utilization ways for residues, forming collaborations to introduce new products, start business in a new area of bioeconomy or in other country of the Baltic Sea Region).
Consultation meetings will be arranged to encourage enterprises of different profiles (e.g., agricultural producers and renewable energy technology companies) located in the Baltic Sea area to work together in improving particular biomass value chains. Knowledge exchange coordinated by the BalticBiomass4Value project will provide bio-based industry representatives with an insight into available opportunities to make their business more sustainable, while involved knowledge and technology providers will get a chance to learn more about the needs of bio-based businesses and how these could be better addressed.
How to get involved?
Please fill out the questionnaire and send it to Sascha Hermus (hermus@3-n.info), Project Manager at the 3N Lower Saxony Network for Renewable Resources and Bioeconomy, until 14 May 2021.
Link to the questionnaire: click here
If you have questions, please contact national coordinator in your country:
- Estonia: Riina Maruštšak (riina@epkk.ee) from the Estonian Chamber of Agriculture and Commerce
- Germany: Sascha Hermus (hermus@3-n.info) from the 3N Lower Saxony Network for Renewable Resources and Bioeconomy
- Latvia: Kristaps Ročāns (kristaps.rocans@vidzeme.lv) from Vidzeme Planning Region
- Lithuania: Virginija Kargytė (virginija.kargyte@vdu.lt) from Vytautas Magnus University
- Poland: Ewelina Olba-Zięty (e.olba-ziety@uwm.edu.pl) from the University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn
- Sweden: Per-Ola Ulvenblad (per-ola.ulvenblad@hh.se) from Halmstad University
- Norway: Birger Vennesland (birger.vennesland@nibio.no) from the Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy Research
The BalticBiomass4Value project aims to involve at least 40 enterprises in virtual consultation meetings with a small number of participants in each of these meetings to ensure productive knowledge exchange (e.g., representatives of two or three enterprises in one meeting). In order to be selected, please make sure that your interests match presented thematic areas and suggested development directions.
4# Newsletter BalticBiomass4Value
Dear Readers,
FNR, as Communication Manager of BalticBiomass4Value, is proud to announce the publication of the 4th newsletter.
This issue presents the project’s activities and achievements, as well as bioeconomy-related events. Additionally, three of the 17 project partners are introduced.
To download the newsletter click here: BB4V 4th Newsletter
You can subscribe to the newsletter here: Subscribe
We hope you enjoy reading it!
For questions regarding the newsletter contact: l.huck@fnr.de
International Day of Forests 2021
The United Nations General Assembly proclaimed 21 March the International Day of Forests (IDF) in 2012. The Day celebrates and raises awareness of the importance of all types of forests. On each International Day of Forests, countries are encouraged to undertake local, national and international efforts to organize activities involving forests and trees, such as tree planting campaigns.
The theme for each International Day of Forests is chosen by the Collaborative Partnership on Forests. The theme for 2021 is "Forest restoration: a path to recovery and well-being".
For more information visit: Link
2nd International Scientific Conference "Sustainable Bioeconomy Development 2021: Adaptation to Climate Change” – registration is open until 16 May 2021
The 2nd International Scientific Conference “Sustainable Bioeconomy Development 2021: Adaptation to Climate Change” organised by the Faculty of Bioeconomy Development of Vytautas Magnus University Agriculture Academy and the Faculty of Economics and Social Development of Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies will take place on 20-21 May 2021. The conference will be held virtually.
The conference is aimed at representatives of social sciences, who are invited to make presentations under these topics:
- Policy and Public Investments in Bioeconomy Research;
- Consumer and Producer Behaviour in the Context of Climate Change;
- Business and Place Models for Circular Bioeconomy;
- Accelerating Bioeconomy through Investment and Financing Decisions.
Important topics of the conference are instruments to support sustainable bioeconomy in the context of climate change.
The conference will bring together the European and national experts, as well as policy makers, researches and other stakeholders to discuss about opportunities related to sustainable bioeconomy development.
Programme: Link
Sign up here: Link
Photo credit Sarah Dorweiler on Unsplash
Report on Good Practice Business Models in the Baltic Sea Region Published
The Estonian University of Life Sciences, a project partner of the BalticBiomass4Value project, published a report on good practice business models in the Baltic Sea Region (BSR). The report aims to collect information and share the knowledge and experience on the good practices that facilitate the development of circular business models in the BSR.
The transition towards more circular economy that maximizes value of products, materials and resources and minimizes waste generation calls for a systemic change and rethinking of production, consumption and waste use (European Commission, 2015). The change requires not only new technologies, processes, but also new business models that change the way the enterprises conduct their business. The aim of the activities was to collect information and share the knowledge and experience on the good practices that facilitate the development of circular business models in the BSR. The present analysis adopted FAO’s (2013) definition that good practices are those practices that have been successfully proven to work and produce good results, and thus could be recommended as models for the adoption by others.
The present report summarizes the results of three sets of activities:
- analysis of good practice business models;
- description of good practice business cases of small and medium-sized enterprises;
- development of business planning tool for identified business models.
The report builds on the two previous outputs, the “Report on Market Outlook and Future Viability of Different Bioenergy Products and Value Chains in the Baltic Sea Region Energy System for the BalticBiomass4Value Project” (Trømborg and Jåstad, 2019) and the“Report on Mapping of Biomass Value Chains for Improved Sustainable Energy Use in the Baltic Sea Region Countries” (Stolarski et al., 2020). Both of those outputs studied the biomass availability, bioeconomy development trends, drivers and value chains at the macro-regional level in the BSR. This report illustrates how the trends described in those two outputs manifest at the micro, i.e. business enterprise, level.
Firstly, the theoretical background on business models and business model canvas is shortly introduced. The methodology section describes the selection of cases and development of taxonomy of good practice business models. The third section provides the description of identified good practice business models using the business model canvas. Good practice business models are summarized into archetypes in the fourth section. Business planning tool is presented in the fifth section, followed by conclusions in the sixth section.
You can find the full report here.
Survey on Mapping the Interests of Agricultural and Food Producers in Estonia
Science and Business Professionals Present the Development of Bioeconomy and Life Sciences in Lithuanian Regions
On 15 October 2020, the Lithuanian Biotechnology Association started an event tour of Lithuanian regions “Bioeconomy and Life Sciences Development Opportunities in Lithuanian Regions”. Researchers and biotechnology industry representatives invited regional municipalities and local businesses to discuss regional involvement in the development of innovative technologies.
The bioeconomy and life sciences play an important role in Lithuania’s economy. Lithuania’s bioeconomy sectors employ more than 240 thousand employees, almost 18% of the country’s total workforce, and generate almost 5 billion euros value added every year. However, compared to other countries of the European Union, the productivity of Lithuania’s bioeconomy is very low. On May 2020, the Bio-based Industries Consortium (BIC) presented a report on the potential of bioindustry in Lithuania. BIC noted that Lithuanian agriculture produces extremely high side biomass flows of around 8 million tons per year, and forestry sector – 270 thousand tons of residues per year. These raw materials could be converted into raw materials for the bioindustry and used in the production of biofuels, biogas, food additives, bio-based fertilisers, protein products, and various materials needed for the chemical industry.
Meanwhile, Lithuania’s life sciences sector is growing rapidly, and the Government of the Republic of Lithuania aims to promote even more active growth with the goal of a 5% share of this industry in Lithuania’s total value added in 2030. This ambitious goal requires looking at the potential of Lithuania as a whole to develop the life sciences industry.
The Lithuanian Biotechnology Association goal was to meet with representatives of Telsiai, Siauliai, Panevezys, Taurage, Marijampole, Alytus and Utena to discuss the possibilities of regions to become more involved in the development of circular bioeconomy, to assess the potential for development of innovative technologies. By promoting cooperation between science and business in the regions, the development of bioeconomy and life sciences, regions could become involved in international projects, develop high value-added production, increase the number of employees and, of course, reduce regional socio-economic exclusion.
“Bioeconomy and Life Sciences Development Opportunities in Lithuanian Regions” event tour was co-organised by the Lithuanian team of the BalticBiomass4Value project and also kindly supported by the Research Council of Lithuania.
On 5 November 2020, LBTA organised a virtual event in Taurage, during which representatives of Taurage District Municipality and local industry discussed opportunities for the development of the bioeconomy in the region with our Vice Presidents. The Taurage District Entrepreneurs Association introduced companies that produce bio-based products and shared their experience. We hope to extend the dialogue with the Taurage region in the future, especially considering that this region has one of the greatest potential to develop the bioeconomy and descends only to Kaunas and Vilnius counties.
A virtual meeting with Marijampole took place on 12 November 2020. LBTA presented opportunities for the development of the bioeconomy in the region and together with representatives of Marijampolė Municipality and Enterprise Lithuania initiative “Spiecius” discussed further steps of cooperation.
On 13 November 2020, LBTA organised a meeting with the College of Alytus. During the meeting, opportunities for bioeconomy development in Alytus region were presented, the establishment of Alytus STEAM Training Centre was discussed and further idea of cooperation between LBTA and Alytus College was put forward.
On 17 November 2020, LBTA, together with the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Lithuania, organised a seminar on “Opportunities for the Development of Bioeconomy and Life Sciences in Panevezys Region”. During the event, Dalia Miniataite, the Chief Adviser of the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Lithuania, presented the Lithuanian bioeconomy and potential of biomass resources. Representatives of LBTA presented the prospects for the development of the bioeconomy and biotechnological solutions. The event was attended by Mayor of Panevezys Rytis Mykolas Rackauskas, representatives of Panevėžys City Municipality, Panevėžys College, Panevėžys Chamber of Trade, Industry and Crafts, Utena College, KTU, VDU, LAMMC representatives, regional companies. During the active discussion, issues related to the development of the bioeconomy, cooperation of municipalities, business and scientific institutions with a view to empowering the potential in Panevėžys area were covered.
To visit the LBTA website, click here.
Report on the Mapping of Biomass Value Chains for Improved Sustainable Energy Use in the Baltic Sea Region Countries Published
The University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn (Polish partner of the BalticBiomass4Value project) published a report which maps biomass value chains for improved sustainable energy use in the Baltic Sea Region countries. The research focuses on the 9 Baltic Sea Region (BSR) countries: Denmark, Germany, Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Sweden, and Norway.
The general objective of this study was to map biomass resources and most commonly used bioenergy technologies in Baltic Sea Region countries and to exchange information on best practices and technologies between countries, not only on bioenergy uses but also on additional value chains based on biological resources.
More specific aims were:
• to assess biomass potential and biomass logistics from different sources (agriculture, food and feed industry, forestry, wood industry, municipal waste and sewage sludge, fishery),
• to assess biomass conversion technologies, including thermo-chemical, physico-chemical and biological conversion used in BSR countries,
• to provide information about technological solutions (including pilot plants under implementation experience) from different BSR countries and comparable/neighbouring regions,
• to identify different technological solutions, technology readiness level and the best bioenergy practices in bioenergy in BSR countries.
You can find the full report here.
Seasonal Greetings from BalticBiomass4Value
The BalticBiomass4Value team wishes you and your loved ones a Happy Holiday Season and a Happy New Year!
