Hungarian bioeconomy actors were invited to the CEE2ACT project launch press conference in Budapest on 14 September 2022. The objective of this press conference was to introduce the CEE2ACT project to the bioeconomy stakeholders and policymakers in Hungary as well as to the media. The meeting also aimed to foster collaboration between actors from the public and private sectors already active on bioeconomy projects, strategies and action plans and the CEE2ACT consortium to avoid duplication of efforts and build on existing initiatives. The conference counted with the presence of Circular Bioeconomy actors such as Bay Zoltan Research Centre representative; member of the CEE2ACT Advisory Board, the Ministry of Innovation and Technology, the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, OTP Bank and various representatives of the initiative Circular Hungary.
During the meeting, Dániel Ganszky representing Geonardo Environmental Technologies, CEE2ACT project coordinator, presented an overview of the CEE2ACT project, followed by a presentation of Ms. Laura Vārpiņa, Policy Officer at DG Research & Innovation on the European Bioeconomy Strategy Progress Report released on 9 June 2022. This report reflects on the increased importance of the bioeconomy in the new political environment, framed by the European Green Deal. Ms. Katalin Kalai, talked about the bioeconomy-related activities and projects of Bay Zoltan Research Centre and talked about the role of the institution in the foundation of the Hungarian Bioeconomy Cluster. Members of the audience engaged in discussions about potential cooperation with CEE2ACT and at the end of the meeting, and the audience interacted with CEE2ACT consortium members.
The European Green Deal has set Europe on its path to being the first climate-neutral continent by 2050 and achieving a green transition that is just, fair and inclusive. One of the seven core pathways to deliver this climate neutrality is the bioeconomy. The 2018 update to the EU bioeconomy strategy highlighted the relevance of developing national bioeconomy strategies and action plans to deploy a sustainable and circular bioeconomy across Europe, considering economic, social and environmental aspects.
To date, there are still Member States, including many from Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) that do not have a national bioeconomy strategy and action plan despite their high biomass resource base and new bioeconomy potential. However, there are relevant regional initiatives supporting bioeconomy in Central and Eastern European countries. According to the EU Bioeconomy Strategy Progress Report (released on 9 June 2022), Hungary is part of the six (6) Members States, where the dedicated bioeconomy strategy at a national level is under development.
The objective of CEE2ACT is to empower countries in Central Eastern Europe (Hungary, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia,) and beyond (Greece, Republic of Serbia) to develop circular bioeconomy strategies and action plans, through knowledge transfer and innovative governance models, to achieve better-informed decision-making processes, societal engagement, and innovation, building on the practice of experienced countries (Austria, Belgium, Finland, Germany, Netherlands, Spain, Sweden).
Knowledge transfer and inspiration in creative formats that address the motivations, needs and knowledge gaps of each CEE2ACT target country will be realised through CEE2ACT National Bioeconomy Hubs. A bottom-up approach will be applied throughout the project activities, tackling specific knowledge gaps and shortcomings of the top-down conventional approach, building closer interconnections between actors across public institutions, private sector, industry, energy, SMEs, feedstock providers (e.g., waste, side streams, farmers, foresters, fishermen), academia and research, NGOs, and Civil Society Organisations in the target countries.
To achieve this, a baseline assessment will be carried out, and stakeholder engagement activities will be implemented ensuring the active participation of all relevant stakeholders. Digital solutions for sustainable governance will be created, supporting the exchange of best practices on technology transfer, and building the capacities of the stakeholders to develop bottom-up bioeconomy strategies.
The findings will be used and disseminated through practical tools, guidelines, and policy recommendations to support beneficiary countries to develop flexible and inclusive bioeconomy strategies and action plans, boosting societal engagement in the countries’ transition toward a circular bioeconomy.
About CEE2ACT
Geographical scope: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia, Finland, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden.
Overall budget and funding source: EUR 3.9 million, HORIZON-CL6-2021-Governance-01-10 Horizon Europe Coordination and Support Action project. This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon Europe Research and innovation programme under grant agreement N°101060280.
Duration: 36 months (1 September 2022 – 31 August 2025)
Coordinator: María Beatriz Rosell, Senior Project Manager, Geonardo Environmental Technologies Ltd., Email: maria.beatriz.rosell@geonardo.com
Media & Communications: Nathalie Bargues, Project Manager, Greenovate! Europe, Email: n.bargues@greenovate-europe.eu
Website: www.cee2act.eu
Social media channels: LinkedIn and Twitter
