ROBIN is the acronym for "Deploying circular Bioeconomies at regional level with a territorial approach". The project is funded under the 2021 Call "Innovative governance, environmental observations and digital solutions in support of the Green Deal". ROBIN is one of a series of projects that aims to support and further develop regional bioeconomy strategies – a goal that is fully in line with the findings of the EU Bioeconomy Strategy Progress Report (European Commission, 2022).

• Support the regional authorities of 5 European regions to accelerate the deployment of the bioeconomy through governance models
• Exploit existing knowledge from early work and know-how in bioeconomy policy and social innovation
• To network and promote mutual learning from peers
• Consort with the European Commission’s “Circular Cities and Regions Initiative’s” Coordination and Support Office (CCRI-CSO).

BIOPRO and Steinbeis 2i are teaming as regional partners for the implementation of the project in Baden-Württemberg. Close cooperation with Baden-Württemberg’s Ministries is expected in the course of ROBIN, as well as with selected stakeholders.

Baden-Württemberg has been implementing its state strategy for a sustainable bioeconomy since 2019 with dedicated resources and funding programmes. ROBIN shall contribute to the further implementation of the strategy and its update scheduled in 2024, with methodologies and tools that can be useful for its monitoring and environmental performance. ROBIN is an opportunity as well for the regional government and delegated regional development agencies to team up with European peers in the process of preparing their policy models (Southern Region in Ireland, North Macedonia in Greece and Žilina in Slovakia) or shaping the strategies they have already in place (the case of Andalusia in Spain). Other advantages of ROBIN are, for example, the further positioning of Baden-Württemberg as a beacon for other regions in Europe that have not yet implemented their bioeconomy strategies, as well as the higher visibility of its regional stakeholders at the European level.

The kick-off meeting of the project took place in Thessaloniki on September 26-27, 2022. The project is funded by the European Union under the Research & Innovation Framework Programme Horizon Europe, officially started on September 1, 2022 and is expected to be completed in August 2025. It is led by QPLAN International Advisors, a consulting company from Greece. The total funding amount is 2,499,951 € from the Horizon Europe Programme. The consortium includes 12 project partners from 6 countries in Europe (Belgium, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Slovakia and Spain). Over 40% of the project partners are government-related organisations.