RIBES Publishes Its Public Deliverables to Support Inclusive and Evidence-Based Bioeconomy Governance Across Europe

Brussels, January 2026

The Horizon Europe project RIBES has made its public project deliverables openly available to all stakeholders through the RIBES website, providing free access to research outputs, analytical reports, and practical guidance on advancing inclusive regional governance for the circular bioeconomy.

Developed throughout the project in close collaboration with regional authorities, policymakers, researchers, civil society organisations, and bioeconomy practitioners, the deliverables consolidate RIBES’ work into a coherent set of accessible, evidence-based resources. They are designed not only to inform, but to be actively used in regional planning, policy dialogue, capacity-building, and co-creation processes.

By publishing these materials openly, RIBES reinforces its commitment to transparency, knowledge sharing, and stakeholder engagement. The project invites readers to go beyond consultation and to engage with the deliverables as living tools that can support regional decision-making, institutional learning, and long-term bioeconomy transitions.

From Research Outputs to Tools for Regional Action

Strengthening governance for the circular bioeconomy remains a complex challenge across Europe. Regions often face fragmented policy frameworks, limited coordination across sectors, and unequal stakeholder participation in decision-making processes.

RIBES’ public deliverables address these challenges by:

• Analysing regional governance frameworks, capacities, and enabling conditions for bioeconomy development,

• Documenting insights, methodologies, and lessons learned from Multi-Actor Transformative Forums and regional co-development processes,

• Translating complex research findings into structured, practical knowledge tailored to regional and local stakeholders.

Together, these deliverables form a shared knowledge base that bridges research, policy, and practice, while supporting regions in designing inclusive, place-based pathways towards a circular bioeconomy.

Designed to Be Engaged With, Not Archived

The RIBES deliverables are intentionally designed to be used, adapted, and discussed. They can support stakeholders in:

• Informing regional and national policy discussions on bioeconomy governance and sustainability transitions,

• Strengthening institutional capacities and participatory governance mechanisms,

• Supporting practitioners, researchers, and facilitators involved in regional bioeconomy planning and implementation,

• Inspiring peer learning and exchange across European regions.

By engaging with these resources, stakeholders contribute to a broader, evidence-based conversation on how bioeconomy governance can become more inclusive, resilient, and aligned with regional realities.

Access the RIBES Public Deliverables

All public deliverables are now available to read and download via the RIBES website:
https://ribesproject.eu/deliverables/

The materials are free and accessible to all interested stakeholders. Readers are encouraged to explore the deliverables, share them within their networks, and use them as reference points in ongoing regional initiatives related to the circular bioeconomy.

About the RIBES Project

RIBES (Regional Inclusive Biobased Entrepreneurship Solutions) is a Horizon Europe research and innovation project supporting regions across Europe in strengthening governance frameworks for the transition towards a circular bioeconomy. By combining research, regional experimentation, capacity-building, and multi-actor engagement, RIBES aims to foster inclusive decision-making, institutional learning, and long-term regional transformation.

PRESS CONTACT AND SOCIAL MEDIA

For more information, press materials, or interview requests, please contact:

White Research

Dissemination & Communication Manager,

Alexandros Altsitsiadis: [email protected]

Nikolaos Sotiriou: [email protected]

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.

RIBES Hosts Online Capacity-Building Training to Advance Regional Bioeconomy Governance

December 2025

The RIBES project  has successfully delivered an online capacity-building training focused on strengthening regional governance approaches for the transition towards a circular bioeconomy.

The training took place on 3 December 2025 and was organised by BIOCOM, the lead partner of Work Package 4 (WP4), with support from the University of Hohenheim (UHOH). Representatives from all ten RIBES regions participated, including members of the Multi-Actor Transformative Forums and regional project partners responsible for implementing upcoming regional co-development workshops.

Designed as a train-the-trainer session, the event aimed to ensure a shared methodological understanding ahead of the next phase of WP4 activities.

Preparing regions for co-development workshops

The primary objective of the training was to equip participants with the knowledge, methods, and tools required to design and facilitate regional co-development workshops scheduled between December 2025 and January 2026. These workshops constitute a core activity of WP4 and will engage a broad range of regional stakeholders in the co-creation of regional roadmaps for the transition towards a circular bioeconomy.

The roadmaps are expected to establish a shared understanding of regional transformation pathways, identify key challenges and opportunities, and define priority actions, partnerships, and governance solutions. They will ultimately form the analytical basis for the development of ten regionally adapted governance toolkits under the RIBES project.

Introducing the Theory of Change approach

A central component of the training was the introduction of the Theory of Change (ToC) methodology, which will be applied consistently across all RIBES regions. The ToC offers a structured yet flexible framework to jointly map long-term impacts, intermediate outcomes, concrete activities, required inputs, underlying assumptions, and indicators.

Rather than being presented as a fixed plan, the ToC was framed as a shared narrative and visual tool that supports reflection, coordination, and learning among diverse regional actors. Participants received detailed methodological guidance on how to adapt the ToC to their specific regional contexts while maintaining a common analytical logic across the project.

To support implementation, the facilitators demonstrated a digital ToC board developed specifically for RIBES, based on the web-based application Excalidraw. The interactive tool enables regions to co-create visual change pathways during workshops or digitally document discussions based on analogue inputs such as flipcharts or written notes.

External expertise from BIO2REG

The training was further enriched by an external contribution from Denise Gider, Coordinator of the Horizon Europe project BIO2REG. Her presentation introduced the BIO2REG Regionalization Concept, which provides a practical blueprint for developing circular bioeconomy model regions through a systemic and place-based approach.

The concept emphasises the integration of governance structures, innovation ecosystems, stakeholder participation, skills development, environmental sustainability, and policy frameworks, while recognising different levels of regional maturity and the need for tailored strategies reflecting local strengths and challenges.

Building on BIO2REG’s policy work, Denise Gider highlighted the importance of robust and adaptive governance for successful regional bioeconomy transitions. Key recommendations included strengthening policy coherence across governance levels, embedding governance functions within regional transition offices, investing in stakeholder engagement and capacity building, promoting public–private partnerships, and embedding continuous learning and monitoring within governance arrangements.

Open discussion and key takeaways

The training featured extensive discussion, allowing participants to raise concerns and clarify expectations. Key topics included maintaining a strong focus on governance within the ToC process, balancing industrial bioeconomy perspectives with rural development needs, and building on previous analytical work conducted within the RIBES project.

Participants also discussed practical considerations such as time constraints, workshop organisation during the holiday period, and the role of indicators. The facilitators clarified that regional ToCs should be understood as living documents, capable of informing future strategies beyond the project’s lifetime.

Next steps for RIBES regions

Following the training, RIBES regions are expected to adapt the ToC board to their regional context, organise inclusive co-development workshops, and jointly develop a regional ToC accompanied by a narrative description. The results will be documented using a standardised back-reporting template to ensure consistency and comparability across regions.

These outputs will feed into WP4’s cross-regional analysis and support the development of innovative governance toolkits that foster inclusive, place-based, and socially driven bioeconomy transitions.

By combining methodological guidance, practical tools, and external expertise, the capacity-building training marked an important milestone for RIBES, strengthening collaboration, empowering regional actors, and laying the groundwork for fair and inclusive governance solutions across Europe’s diverse regions.

New insights into opportunities and challenges of regional governance across ten European regions

The EU-funded RIBES project has published Deliverable D4.1 – Appraisal of governance practices in the circular bioeconomy (CBE) and social innovation in RIBES regions, offering a comprehensive assessment of how regional governance systems currently support the circular bioeconomy.

The deliverable constitutes a key knowledge base for Work Package 4 and directly supports the development of innovative governance toolkits and targeted policy recommendations for participating regions. WP4 focuses on strengthening regional CBE ecosystems, promoting social enterprises, and enhancing participatory decision-making processes.

To this end, Deliverable D4.1 analyses existing governance models, institutional arrangements, and political control mechanisms across the RIBES regions, with particular attention to the links between bioeconomy development and social innovation as drivers of rural transformation.

Mixed-methods approach and SWOT analysis

The study applies a mixed-methods approach, combining a self-assessment of governance quality by RIBES stakeholders with quantitative socio-economic data from EUROSTAT. The findings are synthesised through SWOT matrices, systematically identifying strengths, weaknesses, risks, and development potential for each region.

Key governance dimensions examined include transparency, accountability, participation, and inclusiveness, alongside the strategic orientation of regional bioeconomy policies.

Diverse structures, shared patterns

The results reveal that governance structures across the RIBES regions are highly heterogeneous, while also displaying converging patterns in terms of strengths and weaknesses. Levels of governance maturity vary considerably; however, all regions demonstrate clear potential for further development.

Identified good governance practices include strong institutional cooperation at regional level and access to external support for bioeconomy initiatives. Several regions effectively utilise EU Structural Funds and other support programmes to foster innovation and entrepreneurship. Universities and research institutions play a central role in knowledge transfer and in building regional bio-based innovation ecosystems. In addition, some regions have already taken initial steps towards defining a strategic orientation for their regional bioeconomy.

Key governance challenges

At the same time, the analysis highlights significant challenges. Many regions experience fragmented institutional coordination, limited policy coherence, and the absence of integrated bioeconomy strategies with cross-sectoral alignment. Limited citizen participation and weak accountability mechanisms further constrain effective governance.

Additional barriers include regulatory uncertainty, administrative inconsistency, and bureaucratic hurdles, which complicate long-term planning for bioeconomy initiatives by both citizens and businesses. Moreover, systematic risk management related to the bioeconomy transition is often insufficient, with environmental and social risks not adequately addressed.

Future fields of action

Based on these findings, Deliverable D4.1 identifies several priority areas for policy action. These include the development of integrated bioeconomy approaches that connect relevant policy domains, the establishment of targets, indicators, and monitoring systems aligned with the EU Green Deal, and the strengthening of transparency, participation, and accountability in governance processes.

Expanding institutional capacities and strengthening risk governance are also identified as essential conditions for supporting a sustainable and inclusive transition towards the circular bioeconomy.

With Deliverable D4.1, the RIBES project provides a robust evidence base to guide governance improvements and support regional transformation towards circular bioeconomy models across Europe.

The RIBES project proudly participated in the International Forum on Industrial Biotechnology and Bioeconomy (IFIB 2025), held on 25–26 September at the Cavallerizza Reale in Turin.

As one of Europe’s leading events dedicated to the circular bioeconomy, IFIB brought together researchers, industry leaders, policymakers, and investors from across the globe to discuss the latest trends in industrial biotechnology and bio-based innovation. The programme featured high-level debates, thematic sessions, and structured B2B matchmaking opportunities facilitated by the Enterprise Europe Network.

Within this vibrant forum, RIBES partners showcased how the project supports circular bioeconomy pathways in rural and peri-urban regions, emphasising inclusive governance models, sustainable business approaches, and community-driven innovation. Furthermore, participation in IFIB also allowed the consortium to strengthen synergies with other EU-funded projects and explore opportunities for scaling up impact.

By engaging in IFIB 2025, RIBES reaffirmed its commitment to bridging science, industry, and society to accelerate the transition towards a more sustainable and inclusive bioeconomy.

On 23 September 2025, the RIBES consortium came together in Turin, Italy, for its Midterm General Assembly — a milestone moment marking the halfway point of the project’s journey.

Hosted at the Environment Park – Sala Copenhagen, the meeting provided a full day (9:30–17:00) of debate, reflection, and forward planning. Partners from across Europe gathered in person and online to take stock of progress, share insights, and set a clear course for the months ahead.

At the heart of the discussions were three priorities:

• Assessing achievements and challenges across Work Packages

• Aligning on interim reporting and review procedures

• Shaping the roadmap for the next project phase

The midterm gathering also coincided with a vibrant week of bioeconomy activities in Turin, amplifying the collaborative spirit of the European research community:

• 24 September (morning): BIOLOC General Assembly

• 24 September (afternoon): BIOLOC Final Conference (co-organised with RIBES)

• 25–26 September: IFIB Conference (International Forum on Industrial Biotechnology and Bioeconomy)

Together, these events offered a unique opportunity to strengthen synergies, exchange ideas, and connect with stakeholders working at the forefront of Europe’s transition to a circular and inclusive bioeconomy.

The RIBES Midterm Assembly not only celebrated what has been achieved so far, but also energised the consortium to tackle the challenges ahead. With renewed commitment, RIBES continues its mission of driving resilient governance models for rural and peri-urban regions, ensuring that Europe’s bioeconomy is not only sustainable, but also fair and future-ready.

Earlier on July 2025, the third meeting of the Greek Multi-Actor Task Force (MTF) of the RIBES project took place in Mytilene, hosted at the Department of Geography of the University of the Aegean. Led by our pilot partners, MedINA, this marked the first in-person meeting of the group following two online sessions.

Participants included representatives from the primary sector, Harokopion University, University of the Aegean, civil society organisations, and regional government bodies.

The focus of the meeting was the evaluation of institutional frameworks and governance structures supporting Circular Economy and Social Innovation in the North Aegean Region, a pilot area for RIBES. Eight key social and economic indicators were explored, including:

• Public participation

• Regulatory frameworks

• Rule of law

• Risk management

• Corruption control

• Support measures for bioeconomy

• Strategic objectives for bioeconomy

• External interventions

A short questionnaire allowed participants to assess the regional governance model, with results used to guide a detailed discussion on how these indicators impact the development of circular bioeconomy (CBE) locally.

Among the central findings:

• Citizen participation hinges on awareness of risks and opportunities tied to bio-waste management.

• Improper handling of agricultural by-products (e.g., olive mill wastewater, sheep wool) leads to pollution but also offers opportunities for value-added solutions.

• The lack of a coherent regional or national strategy for CBE is a major obstacle to innovation governance.

• Successful examples (e.g., transforming olive pits into pellets, pomace oil, furniture) show the potential of rural circular entrepreneurship.

Food Waste Forum Followed

Immediately after the MTF meeting, the 4th Forum on Food Waste Prevention: From Farm to Plate was held in the same venue. Organised by Harokopion University with the support of MedINA and under the coordination of the Ministry of Environment and Energy, this event formed part of the LIFE-IP CEI-Greece project.

There, MedINA presented RIBES as a promising initiative for inclusive and sustainable reuse of agricultural residues in the North Aegean Region, reinforcing the importance of systemic, regional responses to food waste and circular transition.

RIBES partner “Lucian Blaga” University of Sibiu (ULBS) is leading the charge in bringing the circular bioeconomy to life in Sibiu County. Through the joint efforts of its Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, Food Industry and Environmental Protection and the International Relations Department, ULBS hosted a dynamic workshop titled:

“Circular BioEconomy (BCC): Mapping Ecosystems for Good Practices.”

Held at the Rusciori Educational Farm in Șura Mică, the event gathered 62 participants from academia, local and regional authorities, NGOs, farmers, and business representatives. In attendance were stakeholders from ADR Centru, Sibiu County Council, Sibiu City Hall, Boița City Hall, the County Directorate for Agriculture, and the Green Energy Cluster, whose president, Mr. Lajos Vajda, also participated.

The workshop aimed to raise awareness about the benefits of bio-innovation and the circular bioeconomy in the central region of Romania, with a strong emphasis on Sibiu County. Among the key discussions:

• Biomass availability assessments for local circular bioeconomy applications

• Defining a roadmap for implementing supportive measures

• Showcasing good practices and developing local project momentum

• Launching the RIBES Multi-Actor Task Force (MTF) to build long-term community support

Experts shared innovative opportunities, including:

• The Theory of Change to support regional transitions

• Development of biorefineries, biogas/biomethane plants, and bio-based fertilisers from sheep wool

• Sector-specific insights on agricultural, livestock, and forestry biomass availability

Importantly, the workshop also explored synergies with other EU-funded projects, such as Originn (Interreg) and SafeHabitus (Horizon Europe), demonstrating ULBS’s commitment to collaborative, cross-regional innovation.

By fostering dialogue, mapping resources, and bringing together a wide range of actors, ULBS is helping set the foundations for a vibrant, circular bioeconomy in the region—fully aligned with the RIBES mission of transforming rural innovation across Europe.

Today, Tuesday 3 of December, RIBES reached another important milestone with the successful completion of its 2nd Executive Board Meeting. This important gathering brought together key representatives from the consortium partners to review progress, discuss ongoing activities, and plan the next steps for advancing our mission to foster a sustainable circular bioeconomy.

The meeting served as an opportunity to evaluate the project’s progress, ensuring all deliverables and milestones are on track, while also focusing on key initiatives such as the Multi-Actor Transformative Forums (MTFs) and the promotion of bio-based innovation in our 10 target regions.

One of the highlights of the meeting was the collaborative atmosphere, with partners sharing valuable insights and aligning efforts to ensure the success of the RIBES project. Discussions also emphasised the importance of stakeholder engagement and effective communication strategies to amplify the impact of our work, as the workload of the Dissemination and Communication Package has been completed.

We are excited to see the momentum building across all work packages and look forward to sharing more updates as we continue to collaborate, innovate, and accelerate toward a sustainable future for rural Europe.

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