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You are here: Home / Archives for Green deal

Bio-based Innovation to Decarbonise the Construction Sector

7 November, 2022 By Johanna Pacevicius

On 6 December, the day before the AER Bureau, the AER Working Group on the Bioeconomy is organising a workshop on “The Bioeconomy & the New European Bauhaus“, which will look at bio-based innovation in the construction sector.

Bio-based innovation: a catalyst for change

The bio-based sector or bioeconomy, is a catalyst for systemic change. Indeed it opens new ways of producing and consuming resources while respecting our planetary boundaries. It contributes therefore directly to achieving the economic, social and environmental goals of the European Union’s Green Deal.

Massive impact in the construction sector

The construction sector has a considerable environmental impact, during the whole life cycle of buildings (construction, use, demolition) as well as the life cycle of construction materials.

In this context, bio-sourced construction materials, if managed in a sustainable way during their whole life cycle, have a major role in the decarbonisation of the construction sector. The development of technological innovation, value chains and skills ecosystems require however intense collaboration across sectors.

Creativity, sustainability, inclusion: it’s possible!

The New European Bauhaus is a creative and interdisciplinary EU initiative that connects the European Green Deal to our living spaces and experiences. 

The New European Bauhaus was launched by President von der Leyen in September 2021. It adds a cultural dimension to the Green Deal and accelerates the green transition with change on the ground that combines the values of aesthetics, sustainability, and inclusion.

Mutual learning to accelerate the development of the bioeconomy

The ambition of the AER Working Group on the Bioeconomy is to create a community amongst European regions to share challenges and opportunities. The activities organised by the working group are also laying the ground for future partnerships and projects.

The workshop “The Bioeconomy & the New European Bauhaus” will therefore look at:

  • European strategies supporting the decarbonisation of the construction sector
  • Societal challenges, the territorial approach
  • Technical innovations in bio-based materials, which are being explored and implemented in the regions
  • The state of play in the regions.

The programme of this workshop is available on the event webpage. As places are limited, registrations will be taken on a first-come first-served basis.

Share your experience!

It is still possible to propose policies and practices you are proud of in your region to be presented at the workshop on 6 December. Your experience matters and is interesting for other regions: this is what the mutual learning community is all about! If you would like to share your region’s experience in the decarbonisation of the construction sector via bio-based innovation, please get in touch with AER Coordinator for Policy & Knowledge Transfer Johanna Pacevicius.

More information on this topic

  • Activities of the AER Working Group on the Bioeconomy
  • Interview of Aud Hove, Chair of the AER Working Group on the Bioeconomy
  • How the bioeconomy contributes to the European Green Deal
  • European Strategy on the Bioeconomy
  • Knowledge Centre for Bioeconomy
  • Bioeconomy & EU financing instruments
  • Funding opportunities under the New European Bauhaus

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A peer review service tailor-made for regions

22 March, 2021 By Johanna Pacevicius

The Interreg Europe Policy Learning Platform offers a free on-demand peer review service, where a two-day knowledge-exchange experience can be designed to advise on a region’s policy frameworks. This service will be presented in detail on 25 March at the webinar “Ambitious Skills and Innovation Strategies: A territorial Approach” as one of the opportunities regions can use to implement bold regional development strategies.

Peer feedback & insights for regional policymaking

Policymakers and practitioners of regional development policies can face a number of challenges related to the design, implementation, and monitoring of the regional policies that they oversee. When faced with such challenges, one of the best solutions is to reach out for help to those who have relevant experience to share. This is why the Interreg Europe Policy Learning Platform’s peer review service offers policymakers to meet and exchange with peers from other parts of Europe. Sharing about challenges and enablers of other policy initiatives is deemed to bring new insights to their work.

What is a peer review?

The Interreg Europe Policy Learning Platform can organise 2-day meetings in the region of the beneficiary organisation or online. Going deep into the issues and challenges of a specific territory, this peer review service allows its beneficiary to exchange, learn and brainstorm with a carefully selected group of practitioners from other European regions.

The below 3 minutes video shows how the peer reviews work in practice.

Topics addressed are the following:

  • Research and Innovation
  • Low-carbon Economy
  • Environment and Resource Efficiency
  • SME competitiveness

3 reasons to apply

  1. Find the best solution for your regional challenge through exchanging with peers
  2. Meet in person or online; the format will be adapted to your needs
  3. Easy application process, online, no supporting documents

What do regional representatives think about it?

The peer review allows you to show that new ideas and approaches work elsewhere, a powerful tool.

Jan Nylander, host of a peer review for Region Gävleborg, Sweden

It is nice that we can use quick and efficient instruments [like the peer review] because, very often, the framework programmes are impressive and important instruments but sometimes they can’t provide quick or practical solutions to what one is looking for. I was very impressed that the selected peers provided advice relevant to the Bulgarian environment. And this is, of course, very important because we can’t accept any solutions, they have to be adapted to our regional/national context.

Karina Angelieva, host of a peer review in Sofia, Bulgaria

For more information on the peer review service of the Interreg Europe Policy Learning Platform, and have the opportunity to ask questions, join the webinar on 25 March at 10:00 CET!

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Partner Search: Develop innovative land-based and offshore renewable energy technologies with the team from Umbria

9 December, 2020 By Stanislava Milankov

Are you currently developing a project proposal within the Horizon 2020 European Green Deal Call or do you wish to do so? Then, Municipality of Acquasparta, Municipality of  Sangemini, Municipality of Terni and company Green Power, based in Umbria (Italy), AER member region, are eager to either join an established consortium or to find partners willing to co-create an effective project application.

About the European Green Deal Call

Horizon 2020 Green Deal Call launched on the 18th of September, offers €1 billion investment to boost the green and digital transition. It provides the opportunity and resources to achieve the primary objective of a sustainable Europe and planet. Project proposals have to be submitted by 26 January 2020.

The structure of the call is mirroring the European Green Deal. One of the ten thematic areas is Innovative land-based and offshore renewable energy technologies and their integration into the energy system – LC-GD-2-1-2020 within which proposals should focus on decarbonising Europe by making land-based and offshore renewables the main energy source while keeping the stability and resilience of the European Energy System.

About the “Renewable energy-based systems for District heating and cooling (DHC)” idea

Municipality of Acquasparta, Municipality of  Sangemini, Municipality of Terni and the company Green Power are looking for an established consortium to join as partner for an effective project application to be submitted in order to create a District heating and cooling (DHC) or for cogeneration of heat and power (CHP), possibly within the Horizon 2020 Green Deal calls – Innovative land-based and offshore renewable energy technologies and their integration into the energy system (LC-GD-2-1-2020).

Municipality of Acquasparta, Municipality of  Sangemini, Municipality of Terni and company Green Power aim to create a Self-Sustainable District in region Umbria, Italy. The protection and safeguard of the environment in this area, including springs with mineral water (Sangemini, Fabia, Amerino, etc.) will represent the basis for an eco-system that promotes the well-being of the citizens and other users of the mineral waters produced there. This will be achieved through an environmental recovery, including preparations for the production of green energy in former industrial areas and recovery of land connecting urban centres with major communication routes.

Therefore the team from Umbria is ready to contribute – in a potential project proposal that is already ongoing – by sharing their experience and know-how for designing a qualified project as well as its administrative capabilities for a pilot implementation/validation.

If you are interested in having the team from Umbria on board or have innovative ideas for projects in line with these project ideas, do not hesitate to get back to us by 15 December 2020!

For more information contact:

Agnese Pantaloni, European Projects Coordinator

Email: [email protected]

Photo by Bruce Kee on Unsplash

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Partner Search: New project proposal to boost the circular economy!

9 December, 2020 By Valeria Simonte

Are you looking for partners to join and contribute to your project proposal under the Horizon2020 Green Deal Call – Demonstration of systemic solutions for the territorial deployment of the circular economy?

The paper-making consortium ECOVPRINT based in Città di Castello, in Umbria, one of the AER member regions, could be the right partner to join your project!

About the European Green Deal Call

Green Deal Call, worth €1 billion, has been launched on the 18th of September. It is the last call of the Horizon 2020 Programme and just ahead of the launch of Horizon Europe, the next research and innovation programme kicking-off in 2021.

The Green Deal Call is all about making Europe the first climate-neutral continent by 2050, with a sustainable and inclusive economy. This is the opportunity to contribute to shaping a fair and greener society.

The structure of the call is mirroring the European Green Deal. Among the ten thematic areas, Demonstration of systemic solutions for the territorial deployment of the circular economy – LC-GD-3-2-2020 seeks for proposals enabling to decouple economic growth from resource use and to ensure a swift transition to climate-neutral and circular solutions.

About ECOVPRINT

ECOVPRINT is a consortium of companies specialized in paper-making and it is willing to put their expertise into the development and implementation of concrete actions. To this aim, ECOVPRINT is eager to get involved as a partner in projects in the framework of the Green Deal Call, Topic LC-GD-3-2-2020 “Demonstration of systemic solutions for the territorial deployment of the circular economy“.

Small Medium Enterprises’ members of the consortium produce packaging of paperboard, the printing of all kinds,  paper and paperboard products, durable and non-durable displays with components also of metal, plastic, and wood. In particular, ECOVPRINT can provide his experience in order to improve the social and environmental impact of the life cycle of the products concerned.

Considering the increasing global consumption and growing pressure on resources, boosting circular economy solutions can limit the environmental impact and waste of resources, increase competitiveness, improve the security of the supply of raw materials. This is even more relevant at the current time in light of the EU’s recovery from the adverse socio-economic and environmental impacts of the COVID-19 crisis.

If you are interested in ECOVPRINT to join your project proposal and contribute to its further development, contact AER Project Unit by 16 December 2020.

Agnese Pantaloni (AER)[email protected]

Photo by Josh Power from Unsplash

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