TWG on Bioeconomy Education

Objectives

Bioeconomy offers a realistic opportunity to reconcile economic growth in a sustainable way and within an environmentally responsible frame. This development requires an interdisciplinary approach to research and innovation, for the implementation of innovative solutions achieved by a new generation skilled expert. In this perspective, tailored bioeconomy education and training are important to enhance the transition to sustainable development. The BIOEAST Initiative fully acknowledges the importance of the coordinated approach and tackle the issue of bioeconomy education in the BIOEAST macro region, the Thematic Working Group Bioeconomy Education and Skills was established in 2020 to meet the specific macro regional education needs of the BIOEAST macro-region.

Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda (SRIA)

This TWG is responsible for developing and updating its thematic Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda (SRIA). This document serves as the roadmap for regional research, aligning macro-regional priorities with national bioeconomy Action Plans.

The TWG recommends prioritising interdisciplinary bioeconomy education, lifelong learning, digital and entrepreneurial skills, industry engagement, micro-credentials and university–industry cooperation to strengthen bioeconomy human capital.

Key activities

The activities of this TWG are centred around the following research and innovation pillars:

BIOEAST UniNet Network of Bioeconomy Universities
Supporting BIOBec Innovation Centre focused on Eastern Europe
BIOgovNET
MAPAVIN

Highlights and achievements

National priorities were expressed and assessed by TWG member – February 2021
Thematic Study of the BIOEAST macro-region was developed with the support of the BIOEASTsUP – April 2022
Stakeholder consultations on three validation workshops in Ljubljana, Tartu and Warsaw organised by the BIOEASTsUP – May 2022
International Conference Bioeconomy education: A BIOEAST Perspective setting the BIOEAST Universities Network was organised under the auspices Czech EU Presidency – Dec 2022
Thematic SRIA was finalised and published – Jan 2023
1st Anniversary Conference BIOEAST Uni Net March 2024 in Prague – Dec 2023
BIOEAST Conference in Budapest – March 2024
BIOEAST Manifesto – May 2024
BEAMING Alliance Establishment – June 2024
EU Elections 2024 – June 2024
21/11 EU Education Workshop – Nov 2024
26/11 Policy Expert Dialogue & BIOEAST Uni Net 2nd Anniversary Conference 2024 – Nov 2024
BIOEAST Conference in Bucharest – April 2025
Input 2 new BE Strategy – June 2025
Summer School – July 2025
NEW BE Strategy – Nov 2025
Policy Expert Discussion – Dec 2025
Peer Review Webinar – April 2026
BIOEAST Conference in Zadar – April 2026
Policy Expert Discussion – May 2026
8th International Summer School on Circular Bioeconomy and Sustainable Development (ISSCBSD) – June 2026

Resources and library

Explore the key documents and research outputs from our working group.

Knowledge platform

Looking for specific data, policy papers, or case studies related to Working Groups? The BIOEAST Knowledge Platform is our multilingual library for the macro-region. It hosts an expanded collection of resources designed to help you implement bioeconomy solutions in Central and Eastern Europe.

Discover more

TWG members

Discover the experts driving bioeconomy innovation in the TWG on Bioeconomy Education.

Božidar Šantek

Faculty of Food Technology and Biotechnology, Department of Biochemical Engineering; University of Zagreb, Faculty of Agriculture, Croatia

Danka Moravcikova

Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra

Dimitar Andreev

Directorate Higher Education, Agricultural University Plovdiv, Bulgaria

Dimitar Andreev

Ministry of Education and Science, Bulgaria

Dimo Atanasov

Faculty of Economics, Agricultural University Plovdiv, Bulgaria

Ivan Kruselj

Directorate for Advisory services in Agriculture and Fisheries, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Croatia

Jelena Ilić-Dreven

Directorate for Science and Technology, Ministry of Science, Education and Youth, Croatia

Justyna Cieslikowska

Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Poland

Katrin Kepp

Department of Innovation and Knowledge Transfer, Center of Bioeconomy, Estonian University of Life Science

Krisztina Anett Szabó

Department for Agricultural Research & Management, Ministry of Agriculture, Hungary

Luka Juvančič

Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Slovenia

Ornella Mikuš

Department of Agricultural Economics and Rural Development; University of Zagreb, Faculty of Agriculture, Croatia

Rasa Pakeltiene

Vytautas Magnus University, Lithuania

Rimantas Dapkus

Kaunas Polytechnic Institute, Vytautas Magnus University, Lithuania

Rositsa Beluhova-Uzunova

Faculty of Economics, Agricultural University Plovdiv, Bulgaria

Stanislav Atanasov

Master: Responsible & Sustainable Governance; Agricultural University Plovdiv, Bulgaria

Steliana Rodino

The Research Institute for Agriculture Economy and Rural Development, Romania

Vanja Jurišić

Department of Sustainable Technologies and Renewable Energy Sources; University of Zagreb, Faculty of Agriculture, Croatia

Vilija Aleknevičienė

Faculty of Bioeconomy Development, Vytautas Magnus University, Lithuania

Virginija Kargytė

Lithuanian Biotechnology Association, Vytautas Magnus University, Lithuania

Štejnarová Šárka

Ministry of Agriculture of Czech Republic