BioHeroes is a community of people (external to the consortium) with great interlocution and communication skills or/and with influence on the sectors related to the bioeconomy, who are motivated to raise awareness about bio-based products and consider the bioeconomy as an economic model that can lead the European change to a more sustainable economy.

The Advisory Board (AB) is a consultation mechanism of the project formed by external experts active in various fields of bioeconomy, committed to improve the collaboration among all actors in the value chain to enhance the development and eventually marketability of bio-based products.

They will complement the Biobridges partners’ effort by advising them on:

• Collaboration challenges among industry, brands and consumers, as well as possible solutions/actions to address them;
• Key messages to be communicated to relevant stakeholders towards improving the update of BBPs;
• Good practices of multi-stakeholder and cross-sector collaboration that could be duplicated.

BioHeroes can be representatives of 4-helix (Brand Owners, Journalists, Scientific and Influencers).

• People with good communication skills and influence in media and social networks, able to reach a broad audience (preferably with scientific knowledge).
• Professionals in the biotechnology/bioeconomy sector who can communicate their benefits to the audience.
• People knowledgeable about bio-based products and their potential for sustainable-based European economic development.

The Advisory Board will be composed of multi-disciplinary groups of experts, representing different actors in the value chain, namely people:

• Actively involved in the production and marketability of bio-based products (industry) or bringing such products to the market (brand owners/retailers/etc.)
• Representing consumer associations dealing with issues related to bio-based products and bioeconomy (Consumers)
• Representing intermediaries such as National Contact Points, Business associations, Non-Governmental Organisations, regional networks, etc.

Related Activities

BioHeroes will be involved in the following activities:

• Be involved in dissemination and communication of bioeconomy and bio-based products: The BioHeroes could help to promote and disseminate the outcomes of the project at different geographical levels, such as the cooperation challenges identified among bio-based industries, brands and consumers, best practices and recommendations to boost the bioeconomy in Europe.

• Participate in promotional materials: Such as videos (involving the BioHeroes as spoke-persons or testimonials) and promotional materials pitching to key stakeholders the advantages of sustainable alterantives of business models and the bio-based potential for our economy.

• Participate in European, national events and policy debates: The BioHeroes could attend to the events organised by the project, promoting the project and ecouraging cooperation and dialogue between those actors involved in the bioeconomy R&I and the citizens. 

 Related Activities:

The Advisory Board members were/will be involved in the following project activities:

• Focus Group co-creation workshop: the results of the analysis of the existing cooperation challenges among consumers, brand owners, and bio-based industries will be discussed, enriched and validated during a co-creation workshop. The focus group aims to assist the formulation of key messages and the design of well-targeted activities to inform, motivate and engage stakeholders towards the market uptake of bio-based products.
• Identification of relevant initiatives: the aim is to leverage from AB members experience and networks in order to map initiatives that exist at the local, regional and European level, which support the growth of bioeconomy.
• European, national events and policy debates: co-creation events will be organized at national and European level with the aim to bring together representatives from bio-based industries, brand owners and consumers and result in fresh, innovative and collaborative ideas. Furthermore, policy debates will be held for the identification of policy gaps.
• Dissemination and communication of the project’s activities and results: the project will map the cooperation challenges that exist among the key actors of the bioeconomy market landscape, present a framework and good practices for multistakeholder and cross-sector interconnections, as well as organize specific events and activities to boost community engagement. The AB member could leverage their strong networks and disseminate the project activities and outcomes.

Interaction with the BioHeroes will be done both ad-hoc (remotely via email exchange, social network, teleconferences, etc.) as well as during round tables, meetings and workshops that will be organised to facilitate direct interaction.

The scope and timing of the BioHeroes’ meetings will be fixed well in advance in order to ensure the availability of its members and allow enough time for the necessary logistical preparations. Furthermore, the travel costs of the BioHeroes to attend these meetings, as well as the organisational costs of those meetings will be covered by the project.

Interaction with the AB members will be done both ad-hoc (remotely via email exchange, teleconferences, etc.) as well as during round tables and workshops that will be organised to facilitate direct interaction. The aim is to:

• seek advice on the Biobridges partners’ findings as these will reflected on the various reports, publications and activities; and
• share ideas on the success/failure factors influencing the collaboration between the key actors of the bioeconomy market landscape

Note: The scope and timing AB meetings will be fixed well in advance in order to ensure the availability of its members and allow enough time for the necessary logistical preparations. Furthermore, the travel costs of the AB members to attend these meetings (if needed) will be covered by the project.

Participation as a BioHeroe is on a volunteer basis. You only need to send us an email and we will inform you how to be part of our community of BioHeroes.

Participation in the AB is on a volunteer basis.