BRT at the CEE2ACT Final Conference: Reflections on the Future of Bioeconomy
Recently, BRT Director Assoc. Prof. Dr. Hynek Roubík and postdoctoral researcher Dr. Adam Hruška travelled to Hungary for the CEE2ACT Project Final Conference.
The conference, titled “The Future of the Bioeconomy in Central and Eastern Europe” was organised by Geonardo Ltd., held in Budapest, at the MagNet Community House. The aim of the event was to bring together policymakers, researchers, and industry players to shape the sustainable future of the region. The CEE2ACT project was working to empower Central and Eastern European countries to develop circular bioeconomy strategies. The project developed circular bioeconomy strategies and action plans through knowledge transfer and innovative governance models to achieve better-informed decision-making, societal engagement, and innovation.
Enjoy reading Adam’s first-hand account of the meeting!
On a cold December morning in Budapest, the stage was set for a gathering that promised to shape the future of sustainability in Central and Eastern Europe. The final event of CEE2ACT Project as well as a subsequent conference "The Future of the Bioeconomy in Central and Eastern Europe," organized under the Project. The event kicked off with a final meeting, where the project closure, including the deliverables connected to it were discussed. The morning after, we explored the MoU Gallery, a space dedicated to showcasing partnerships and commitments to the bioeconomy’s growth. Here, we engaged with representatives from the other National Bioeconomy Hubs and discovered posters from synergistic projects like BOOST4BIOEAST, BIOECO-UP, and Greet CE. Each project highlighted the region’s collective efforts to turn bioeconomy strategies into action.
The keynote speech by Barna Kovács, Secretary General of the BIOEAST Initiative, set the tone for the day. The speech painted a clear image of bioeconomy’s current state in Central and Eastern Europe, emphasizing the opportunities ahead, especially in light of the new EU Bioeconomy Strategy. This strategy, as we’d soon discover, would serve as a guiding framework for many of the day’s discussions.
One of the event’s highlights was the guided poster walkabout, where representatives from ten Central and Eastern European countries, including our team, presented their National Bioeconomy Roadmaps. For us, this was a chance to share our contributions and engage directly with delegates from across the region. We discussed applied actions, explored potential future partnerships, and exchanged ideas on how to align our projects with broader EU priorities.
Networking wasn’t just a side activity, it was a core element of the event. From the coffee breaks to the standing lunch reception, every moment was an opportunity to connect. We met with project coordinators, policymakers, and industry representatives, each conversation a step closer to potential collaborations.
In conclusion, while the event marked the end of the CEE2ACT Project it also represented a start of new, exciting conversations, sparking with potential for projects across the bioeconomy domain. The future remains uncertain, yet both the contacts and the lessons learned from the event will serve as strong basis for continued work on bioeconomy development related tasks of our team.
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