POWER4BIO contributes to Horizon Europe Programme in the framework of the European Research & Innovation days

Brussels, 26 September 2019

Last 26 September, Ignacio Martín, POWER4BIO project coordinator, participated in the European Research & Innovation days, as speaker and moderator of the session “Bio-based economy – innovations in practice”. The session looked at the main challenges and potentials in the field of bio-based innovation, including research, macro-regional (Bio-EAST), industrial and environmental aspects. The speakers in this session shared their views with the audience on what should be the focus of future R&I, taking into account the discussion on Horizon Europe Cluster 6, and specifically its intervention Area 6.4 “Bio-based innovation Systems”, as well as potential European Partnership for a Circular bio-based Europe.

Ignacio Martín (CIRCE) could transfer the POWER4BIO’s view of how the implementation of Bioeconomy strategies in the European regions, is and will be a very powerful tool to mobilize and engage stakeholders of all kinds in the bio-based economy transition: “It is key to keep supporting technically the regions and policy makers with this regard”, he said. As a conclusion, there was full agreement that bioeconomy and bio-based economy are local, so the involvement of regional authorities and their strategies are key to maximise opportunities.

About the event
The European Research & Innovation days is the first annual policy event of the European Commission, bringing together stakeholders to debate and shape the future research and innovation landscape. The event was the central for all stakeholders to meet and co-create the strategic priorities for the European Commission’s investment in research and innovation. Namely, to build strategic priories for the first 4 years of Horizon Europe’s implementation. Horizon Europe, beginning in 2021, is the successor to the current research and innovation framework programme, Horizon 2020.