RDI2CluB

A three-year project of RDI2CluB (Rural RDI milieus in transition towards smart bioeconomy clusters and innovation ecosystems) has become to its end. Project has been funded by European Development fund programme Interreg Baltic Sea Region, and it has been part of the project family of 2014-2020 under the Priority 1 'Capacity for innovation' that is dedicated to actions strengthening the ability of the Baltic Sea Region to create and commercialize innovation. RDI2CluB unites authorities, RDI institutes (research, development, and innovation institutes) and business development bodies from five regions (triple helix consortium) to a joint quest of boosting smart and sustainable bioeconomy development in the rural areas of Baltic Sea Region.

Project mission was bringing together bioeconomy developers throughout the rural areas of Baltic Sea Region to a joint table to solve global and local challenges with bioeconomy innovations. Aim was to connect bioeconomy innovation networks to share ideas, share knowledge, raise awareness, find partners and work together to create business opportunities in bioeconomy. To enable international co-operation and co-development we created several tools and methods.

From this section you will find all of RDI2CluB’s main outputs and results.

Results and lessons learn are also been collected to this report:

Summary report

 

1. Regional Bioeconomy Profiles

Background

Regional Bioeconomy Profiles describe the triple helix co-operation in bioeconomy

RDI2CluB partnership is based on Triple-Helix -innovation model in each partner region. Triple-Helix model is based on the interaction and strategic planning with three parties: RDI-institutes, private-sector and authorities. Private sector (business-aspect) is involved in all actions in RDI2CluB and leads the development of Bioeconomy Clusters/Innovation Ecosystems and the local pilots. With this innovation model, the international network of RDI2CluB is able to build capacity for innovation and develop the bioeconomy of the Baltic Sea Region. For example, biomass into a high-added value bioeconomy products and services.

Bioeconomy has a significant contribution to EU employment and turnover. All EU member states are players in bioeconomy, but their bioeconomy focus varies. This is also true on national level, bioeconomy plays important role on our national economies, but the bioeconomies differ from a region to region.

To fully utilize the potential of a regional, national, and EU bioeconomies we need to have a clear picture of the bioeconomy potential. The starting point in Bioeconomy profile development on RDI2CluB project was to get a clear picture of a regions bioeconomy to enable further development. We have now created bioeconomy profiles for Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Norway and Poland.

What are regional bioeconomy profiles?

Regional bioeconomy profile is a collection of bioeconomy related statistical data (production, employment, turnover, etc.) of a regional area. It enables a comprehensive picture of a regions bioeconomy performance and gives ideas on the possible development areas in bioeconomy. Bioeconomy profile default setting is the comparison of a region to national average. In addition, bioeconomy profile tool also enables comparison between the regions.

Wageningen Economic Research - WUR (NL) is associated partner of RDI2CluB that has special expertise on Bio-based Economy with unique data, models and knowledge offering insights and integral advice for policy and decision-making processes. WUR coordinated a project “BERST” that developed the unique tools for smart specialization in bioeconomy. Other associated partners, BSSSC - The Baltic Sea States Sub regional Co-operation and Nordic Council of Ministers’ Office in Latvia, provide sustainable platform, channels and wide networks for dissemination.

What are the benefits? And for who ?

Regional development is based on the analysis of the current situation. In bioeconomy, we are still lacking a clear picture of bioeconomy performance on regional level. We need to understand in more details the bioeconomy on regions in order to enable the growth of bioeconomy sector. With the help of regional bioeconomy profiles, the regional local authorities and development bodies will get a better understanding of the possibilities of the regional bioeconomy and carry out the development of it.

Output

 

2. Joint Action Plans

RDI2CluB -project’s second aim is to focus on joint transnational efforts to the most potential subsectors and interfaces in the field of bioeconomy.

What are the Joint Action Plans?

Joint Action Plan (JAP) is the document aiming to support smart, sustainable and inclusive growth in bioeconomy in rural regions. It is developed in cooperation of authorities working with aim to implement national Smart Specialization Strategy, universities, RDI institutes, business development bodies, clusters, bio-economy businesses and other stakeholders.

JAP is elaborated as roadmap and is connected to the EU- and Baltic Sea Region strategies, aiming to promote regional development, innovation and bioeconomy.

The JAP is including measures and actions, structured in two groups:

  • Internal (regional and/or national) measures and actions (to be implemented by one or several actors at regional level)
  • Transnational measures and actions (to be implemented by involving partners from two or more different regions).

Output

 

3. Biobord Platform & Biobord Operating Model

Biobord Platform forms a digital innovation hub

With transnational co-operation the organizationally thin, rural RDI2CluB partner regions create thicker and more complete regional innovation system that supports a renewal of existing path for business development, and a formation of new regional development paths for higher added value bioeconomy products and knowledge-based jobs and growth.

An innovation hub of four bioeconomy clusters/innovation ecosystems from four different regions (FI,NO,LV,PL) was created in the RDI2CluB based on the results of the Joint Action Plan process. This innovation hub is now called Biobord (platform and operational model).

What is Biobord?

Biobord is a digital innovation platform for bioeconomy developers. Biobord consists of network map, news section, service cards, open discussion forum and a wide transnational bioeconomy network.

 Biobord offers:

  • Bioeconomy news from network members
  • Bioeconomy services
  • Matchmaking services
  • On Stage -online events
  • Open discussion and innovation on the discussion forum
  • Closed and open groups for project management
  • Document Management system

The Biobord Operating Model describes the potential of our network, the functionalities of the platform as well as the user profiles and service paths. Furthermore, the Operating Model provides practical guidance and tools for the uptake of the Biobord, creation of the service paths as well as continuous improvement of the forum community building. It also contains the Biobord user policies and user guides.

Output

Latest updates and timely versions available at: Biobord Forum

For more information, please contact

Riikka Kumpulainen, Project Manager, JAMK University of Applied Sciences, firstname.lastname@jamk.fi

Piloting Biobord

Biobord has been developed in an iterative service design process. There have been two piloting phases. First pilot was Bibord Operating Model version 1.0 September – December 2019 that represented the prototype of the platform and upgraded platform and operational model were published based on the piloting feedbacks. The second piloting started in January 2020 and it aims to further develop the platform and operating model (2.0). The second piloting ends in April 2020.

A final operating model for the co-operation of the Biobord network is anticipated for August 2020 after the feedback collection and analysis from the second piloting round in spring 2020. This upgrade will guide the network activities and platform management after the piloting period as a long-term operating model.

During the piloting phase, we are testing Biobord with different user groups and service cases, including project lifecycle, network management, innovation calls and matchmaking, capacity building as well as connecting developers with product and business development services. We plan to connect at least 400 bioeconomy experts to the platform. Stakeholders and partners of the network are also invited to join the piloting to build the community of the innovation hub.

Service design process moves from discovery and definition to prototyping and piloting

 

4. 25 Cases for Bioeconomy Innovation

RDI2CluB-project has prepared a bioeconomy-publication with the support of Nordic Council of Ministers to showcase inspirational stories of how private and public sector actors in five RDI2CluB partner regions have participate to the development of the bioeconomy of Baltic Sea Region. 25 cases have been structured in four sub-groups:

  • Sustain: biodiversity and ecosystem services
  • Increase: business and competitiveness
  • Unlock: potential
  • Collaborate: for positive change

With five criteria and related assessment parameters, readers may evaluate bio-cases. Criteria includes: sustainable use of resources, social benefits, environmental benefits, business model innovation and technological innovation.

Publication