BIOSPARK

Skills Promotion and Awareness for Regenerative Knowledge

Project details

Type of project
Coordination and Support Action
Project period
1 October 2026 - 31 March 2029
Status
Upcoming
CBE JU Contribution
€ 999 571,25
Call identifier
HORIZON-JU-CBE-2025

Summary

The bioeconomy is a key driver of sustainable growth in Europe. Despite progress in technological development, education and training in the sector are not keeping up with the industry needs. New skills and a mindset shift across the stakeholder community are required. There is also a need to actively implement the lessons learned, apply policy and educational recommendations, and prepare for future advancements in bioeconomy systems. 

BIOSPARK will address these challenges by developing and validating demand-driven curricula for the education, training, and reskilling of students and professionals. A network of bio-based educational centres across the 27 EU member states will support mutual learning and knowledge exchange. The project will dedicate strong effort to involving the so-called widening countries, less R&I advanced EU member states, associated countries and outermost regions.  

It will also strengthen the European bioeconomy by fostering strong collaborations between universities, research and technology organisations, and industry. 

  • Set up and consolidate the BIOSPARK network of universities, research and technology centres, and industry.  
  • Ensure effective involvement of widening countries.  
  • Develop a set of 14 curricula (11 online and 3 onsite) for education and training, as well as retraining, reskilling, and upskilling in the field of circular bio-based systems, targeting students and professionals.  
  • Conduct a pilot test of the proposed curricula involving real end users.  
  • Raise awareness on the need to optimise the education and training for circular bio-based systems as to ensure the right talent can drive the bioeconomy transition in Europe.   

  • Strengthen European education, lifelong learning, and innovation in the circular bioeconomy through an integrated networks of bio-based educational centres acting as hubs for collaboration and capacity building, and covering the 27 EU countries. 
  • Enhance collaboration and alignment among actors from academia, industry, and policy, contributing to a more connected and effective European bioeconomy landscape, with a significant inclusion of widening countries. 
  • Expand access to high-quality circular bio-based education across Europe, supporting lifelong learning and professional development, through around 50 training actions (online and onsite), reaching over 12.000 learners in total by 2035. 
  • Certify over 8,500 students and professionals in key areas such as biotechnology, biomanufacturing, sustainability assessment, and circularity strategies, contributing to a more qualified and future-ready workforce. 
  • Strengthen long-term uptake of circular bio-based practices through knowledge exchange and capacity building enabled by 14 recurring annual events. 

Consortium map

Project coordination

  • ITA-SUOMEN YLIOPISTO KUOPIO, Finland

Consortium

  • FUNDACJA EDUKACJI I DIALOGU SPOLECZNEGO PRO CIVIS KIELCE, Poland
  • STICHTING AVANS TILBURG, Netherlands
  • UNIVERSITY COLLEGE DUBLIN, NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF IRELAND, DUBLIN DUBLIN, Ireland
  • SZKOLA GLOWNA GOSPODARSTWA WIEJSKIEGO WARSZAWA, Poland
  • NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF IRELAND MAYNOOTH Maynooth, Ireland
  • SPRING SUSTAINABLE PROCESSES AND RESOURCES FOR INNOVATION AND NATIONAL GROWTH Milano, Italy
  • SVERIGES LANTBRUKSUNIVERSITET Uppsala, Sweden
  • FVA SAS DI LOUIS FERRINI & C ROMA, Italy
  • INNOVAWOOD ASBL BRUXELLES, Belgium
  • SUSTAINABLE INNOVATIONS EUROPE SL MADRID, Spain
  • INSTITUT NATIONAL DES SCIENCES ET INDUSTRIES DU VIVANT ET DE L'ENVIRONNEMENT - AGROPARISTECH PALAISEAU, France
  • BIOEAST HUB CR, Z. U. PRAHA 5, Czechia
  • UNIVERSITAET FUER BODENKULTUR WIEN Wien, Austria
  • ALMA MATER STUDIORUM - UNIVERSITA DI BOLOGNA Bologna, Italy
  • WAGENINGEN UNIVERSITY Wageningen, Netherlands
  • FUNDACION CORPORACION TECNOLOGICA DE ANDALUCIA Sevilla, Spain
  • UNIVERSITAET HOHENHEIM STUTTGART, Germany