On December 15th 2023, our project Partner University of Palermo completed the series of co-creation workshops envisaged by Engage4BIO for the Italian Hub, enjoying great participation of stakeholders and enthusiasm for the topics discussed and the activities proposed.
The goals planned for the workshops were to share and examine ideas and reflections on new training for adults, communication activities and governance for the territory to improve the sustainability of the fishing sector and of biobased products, putting into practice innovative blue bioeconomy activities.
The co-creation opportunities helped to reach Engage4BIO’s specific aims of building local bioeconomies by developing innovative governance models and increasing citizen engagement through awareness raising and education on sustainable production, consumption and lifestyles.
The path started last June, in Trapani, where the Vision & Strategy co-creation workshop brought together representatives of local stakeholders belonging to the quadruple helix to engage collaboration across different fields of science, the business sector, decision-makers, and citizens. It was the perfect opportunity for strengthening the connection between the blue bioeconomy and the art & design sectors, to promote a sustainable use of the territory in the context of the regional transition to bioeconomy.
During the workshop, participants had the chance to attend a tour of laboratories where bioactive compounds for many industrial applications are produced from marine wastes and by-products. Stakeholders were able to get familiar with some applied methodologies, different process for quality assessment, and techniques for bioactive compounds extraction.
Participants involved were active and collaborative, expressing the request for more intense communication between the various actors involved in the blue supply chain. Participants also declared their interest to be involved in all project steps, being an opportunity for the development of the regional blue bioeconomy.
Taking advantage of the results from the first event, the subsequent Training & Mentoring co-creation workshop of November 9, 2023, produced insights to be translated into practices of the innovative ideas collected. The goal was to support and enhance the development of regional bioeconomy, strengthening the knowledge and skills useful in the bio-based sectors. In particular, two new training activities involving adults are going to be implemented: one for high school professors in art, nutrition and science; the second one for private companies’ managers that highlights the advantages of developing and expanding blue bioeconomy activities, both in terms of competitiveness and sustainability.
The Knowledge gain & Awareness campaigns workshop took place on the 13th of December2023, and encouraged collaboration and communication throughout the blue biobased value chain by using digital campaigns, event organizing and exhibitions. Arts and design sector were invited, and their participation was enthusiastic. Ideas from the participants included short sub-marine videos; simple, but impacting images, such as murals depicting the current state of the sea and the need of biobased solutions; events dedicated to children, with games and comic books for showcasing the fishing production and recycling, emphasizing consumer-level sustainability improvements. The main points to be promoted into the future communication campaign that will be elaborated in the frame of the project, are the need of a more responsible use of the sea products and the use of blue waste for innovative bio-derivates.
The final innovative governance models workshop (15 December) involved the entire value chain in building the innovation pathway from ideas to commercial exploitation, and to pitch ideas for improving the innovation ecosystem as a whole.
The workshop participants, again from different stakeholder groups, expressed the need for a matchmaking platform between relevant stakeholders, and the need to develop an EU-wide sustainability criteria by combining climate metrics, biodiversity, and societal aspects.
