Events

Our events are central to our mission. Through them, we foster dialogue between science, politics, practice and the public, creating spaces where knowledge and perspectives meet. We act as a convener, bringing different stakeholders together to co-develop solutions for resilient societies and thriving ecosystems. This page features our own events, including recordings, summaries, and supplementary materials. 

In addition, we contribute to other events by moderating them, giving presentations at them and participating in panel discussions. You can find more information about this under Presentations.

Event:Digital Event
 
title of event with forest in background
On 24 June 2026, Ecologic Institute, Trinity College Dublin and WWF Sweden will host an online stakeholder consultation on the further development of a Nature-Positive Economy Roadmap for Europe. The event will present emerging findings from the Horizon Europe project GoNaturePositive! and gather feedback to inform the next steps in developing the roadmap.

Scaling-up a Nature-Positive Economy Roadmap for Europe

Stakeholder Consultation


online

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Event:Conference
 
A promotional banner for the final 3-CO event titled "Empowering Bio-Based Choices Through Smart Certification", featuring a woman scanning a product in a supermarket. The event takes place on 21 October 2025 from 9:00 to 13:30 CEST and is advertised as a free webinar. The 3-CO logo appears in the top left corner.
The 3-CO project hold on 21 October 2025 an online event showcasing how consumer perspectives and attitudes can drive impactful communication for sustainability. Noemi De Santes (Junker App), Florian Birk (SIGU Platform) and Zoritza Kiresiewa (Ecologic Institute) discussed in the second session of the event the role of social innovation in fostering sustainable consumption and production.

The Role of Social Innovation in Promoting Sustainable Consumption and Production

3-CO Final Event


online

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Event:Conference
 
The Ecologic Institute-led SCALE-UP project played a central role in the European Rural Circular Bioeconomy Conference (EuRCBC), held on 13 and 14 May 2025, at Comet Louise in Brussels. As a member of the Rural Bioeconomy Alliance, SCALE-UP – together with five other EU-funded projects – brought together stakeholders from local communities, policymaking, industry, and rural regions to explore concrete pathways for accelerating Europe's rural bioeconomy. Representatives from Ecologic Institute – Holger Gerdes, Zoritza Kiresiewa and Gerardo Anzaldúa – delivered insightful presentations and contributed to dynamic panel discussions.

European Rural Circular Bioeconomy Conference

SCALE-UP Final Conference

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online and Brussels, Belgium

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Event:Digital Event
 
On 25 March 2025, Ecologic Institute hosted an online workshop as part of the EU-funded 3-CO project, bringing together 21 participants from across Europe to discuss how policy can better support social innovation. The discussion centered on key barriers and policy recommendations, grouped into two areas: financial & regulatory and collaboration & networking challenges.

Strengthening Support for Social Innovation

Key Takeaways from the Workshop


online

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Event:Conference
 
The SCALE-UP consortium organised a thematic conference in the frame of Bio360, which took place on 5 and 6 February 2025 in Nantes, France. The international trade fair, dedicated to advancing the bioeconomy, drew more than 450 exhibitors and 40+ conferences featuring pioneering solutions in bio-based materials, circular agriculture, and renewable energy. As the coordinator of the SCALE-UP project, Ecologic Institute played a key role in bringing together innovators, investors, farmers, and researchers to discuss sustainable bio-based solutions.

Scaling Up Innovations in the Bioeconomy

A Lever for Europe's Green Transition and Rural Development

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Nantes, France

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Event:Digital Event
 
On 12 December 2024, Work Stream 7 of the SCALE-UP training programme convened its final session. Seventy-two bioeconomy stakeholders from SCALE-UP's focal regions and beyond gathered to review key outcomes and identify priorities for the EU Bioeconomy Strategy update. Zoritza Kiresiewa (Ecologic Institute) opened the session by emphasizing two objectives: first, to examine critical topics – such as regulatory alignment, producer integration, and resource competition – that will shape the future EU Bioeconomy Strategy; and second, to reflect on the cumulative insights generated by SCALE-UP over the past months and their relevance for policy design.

How Should the EU Bioeconomy Strategy and its Upcoming Review Address Challenges Arising from Bioeconomy-related Trade-offs?


online

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Event:Digital Event
 
On 31 October 2024, Work Stream 7 “Balancing socio-economic and environmental objectives: Indicators, tools and practical insights” of the SCALE-UP training programme convened its first session. The aim was to present and discuss monitoring frameworks, indicator sets and participatory tools that enable regional stakeholders to reconcile potentially competing social, economic and ecological goals within the bioeconomy. Holger Gerdes and Zoritza Kiresiewa (Ecologic Institute) welcomed 43 bioeconomy stakeholders – from SCALE-UP's focal regions and beyond – and outlined how a functional framework is needed to navigate trade-offs and embed bio-based solutions in a sustainable, regenerative and just regional bioeconomy.

Balancing Socio-economic and Environmental Objectives

Indicators, tools and practical insights


online

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Event:Workshop
 
Within the field day "Alfalfa Cultivation and Climate Adaptation," Holger Gerdes and Zoritza Kiresiewa (Ecologic Institute) presented a draft policy paper on sustainable subsoil management in Germany. The objective was to collaboratively develop core recommendations – together with farmers, soil experts, and policy stakeholders – on how to more effectively promote deep-rooting crops, particularly alfalfa. Discussions centered on strategies for securing yields during drought years and on adapting political frameworks to make alfalfa cultivation more attractive.

How Can the Cultivation of Deep-rooted Crops be Promoted?


Hessische Staatsdomäne Frankenhausen, Germany

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Event:Discussion
 
Ecologic Institute hosts Rwandan Delegation
Ecologic Institute recently hosted a delegation of Rwandan stakeholders consisting of government officials, scientists, and members of civil society. The event, organized by the Development, Climate, and Events teams and supported by the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ), aimed to expand Ecologic Institute's international networks and increase the reach of their research results.

International Networks and Collaboration on Climate Research


Berlin, Germany

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Event:Conference
 
After 40 months of collaboration, the BE-Rural project concluded with its Final Conference, held in Frombork, Poland, from 11 to 14 July 2022. Approximately 40 project members and regional bioeconomy stakeholders – representing research organisations, universities, cluster associations, local action groups and regional authorities from eight EU Member States and candidate countries – gathered to reflect on BE-Rural's achievements.

Inspiring Regional Agendas for Inclusive Bioeconomies

BE-RURAL Final Conference

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Frombork, Poland

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Event:Workshop
 
Within the framework of the Global Bioeconomy Summit 2020, Holger Gerdes and Zoritza Kiresiewa, together with the POWER4BIO project, organized a breakout session on "Local-Level Bioeconomy" on 18 November 2020. This session formed part of the workshop "Rebooting the economy – sustainability, growth, and climate action delivered by the bioeconomy," which the European Commission's DG RTD hosted in collaboration with BE-Rural, POWER4BIO, and other partners. Holger and Zoritza took charge of the program design: they introduced BE-Rural, implemented participatory methods, and coordinated the flow via digital platforms so that more than 30 participants engaged interactively.

Benefits of Participatory Development of Regional Bioeconomy Strategies


online

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Event:Workshop
 
In June 2019, the stakeholder workshop "Optimal soil management to ensure yield capacity & acceptance analysis of measures to upgrade the subsoil" of the BMBF-funded BonaRes project "Soil³ – Sustainable Subsoil Management" took place in Moltzow (Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania). This workshop is part of a series of workshops with the aim to discuss and gather the prevailing opinions on subsoil management measures with the help of an acceptance analysis. Ecologic Institute researchers discussed with farmers and other ecological actors under which conditions they would implement or support these measures.

Optimal Soil Management to Ensure Yield Capacity


Moltzow, Germany

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Event:Workshop
 
On 17 June 2019, the NaWiKo workshop "Sustainable management in companies based on the example of bioplastics" took place at the facilities of Bio-Molkerei Söbbeke GmbH, a sustainable creamery, in Gronau near Münster. The aim of the workshop was for company representatives from the packaging and food industry to discuss findings from research projects that dealt with sustainability effects of bioplastics and bio-based materials.

The Challenges and the Significance of Bioplastics as Packaging Materials in the Food Industry


Gronau, Germany

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Event:Workshop
 
What kind of solutions are required to increase the market share of sustainable bio-based and circular products in Germany and Europe? Which products and product properties do consumers demand? What are the innovations that can be developed and what are suitable research and communication strategies? What role do local value chains and markets play? And how does a supportive regulatory environment look like?

Challenges and Opportunities in the Bioeconomy


Bonn, Germany

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Event:Workshop
 
On the 13 May 2019, Ecologic Institute organised the workshop "Beyond sectors – chances and challenges of multi-stakeholder collaboration in the bioeconomy" in the context of the 8th International Bioeconomy Conference in Halle (Saale). The aim of the workshop was to discuss the challenges of cross-sectoral, multi-stakeholder cooperation in the bioeconomy as well as potential instruments for their facilitation and to present good practice examples. The workshop was held in German.

Beyond Sectors – Chances and Challenges of Multi-stakeholder Collaboration in the Bioeconomy


Halle (Saale), Germany

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Event:Workshop
 
In January 2019, the stakeholder workshop "Using the Subsoil to Better Prepare for Droughts – An Acceptance Analysis of Measures to Enhance the Subsoil" of the BMBF-funded BonaRes project "Soil³ – Sustainable Subsoil Management" took place in Bonn. The aim of the workshop was to discuss the prevailing opinions on subsoil management measures. Ecologic Institute researchers discussed with farmers and other ecological actors under which conditions they would implement or support these measures. The protocol is available for download.

Using the Subsoil to Be Better Prepared for Droughts – An Acceptance Analysis of Measures to Upgrade the Subsoil


Bonn, Germany

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Event:Conference
 
Over a period of three years the BioSTEP project developed participation tools to involve the public in the development of the European bioeconomy. Different types of participation were sought. During the final conference on 22 February 2018 in Brussels, the participation formats and their possible impact as well as the BioSTEP research recommendations will be presented and discussed. Registrations are possible until 15 February 2018.

Effective Stakeholder and Public Engagement in the Bioeconomy – BioSTEP Conference


Brussels, Belgium

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Event:Conference
 
<p>The aim of the conference is to present and discuss the results of the stakeholder engagement activities in BioSTEP and its value to the current policy discussions on the bioeconomy and the circular economy. BioSTEP has analysed in three policy workshops the participation processes that are necessary to build and strengthen the new value chains of the bioeconomy. The policy workshops discussed how bioeconomy strategies can be developed in a participatory way, ensuring that the change of economic value chains, necessary for a transition to a bioeconomy, is understood and supported by all stakeholders.</p>&#13;

Creating Networks for the Transition to a Bio-based and Circular Economy – BioSTEP Forum


Brussels, Belgium

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Event:Workshop
 
The Austrian government is currently in the process of developing a strategy for research, technology and innovation to support the emerging bioeconomy. Following this process, the development of a broader strategy is envisaged that comprises further policy domains and sectors. Against this background, the questions arise regarding what role civil society organisations should play in this process and how they can contribute to shaping the further development of the Austrian bioeconomy.

A Bioeconomy Strategy for Austria: The Role of Civil Society – BioSTEP Policy Workshop


Graz, Austria

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Event:Workshop
 
The BioSTEP policy workshop focuses on local and regional businesses and their role in the regional bioeconomy. It explores a broader model of the bioeconomy (bottom-up, participatory) and discusses how small and medium-sized enterprises, civil-society organisations and further relevant actors can be engaged in the (further) development of a regional bioeconomy strategy in Scotland.

Shaping the Scottish Bioeconomy Together – BioSTEP Policy Workshop

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Glasgow, United Kingdom

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Event:Workshop
 
The aim of this workshop is to identify and discuss challenges, opportunities, and policy gaps surrounding the development of bioeconomy strategies across Europe. The outcome of this process will be a list of targeted policy recommendations for the (further) development of balanced and informed bioeconomy strategies at the regional, national and European level.

The Future is Bright, the Future is the European Bioeconomy? – BioSTEP Stakeholder Workshop


Utrecht, Netherlands

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Event:Visitors Program
 
On 9-19 August 2007, a transatlantic Farmer-to-Farmer exchange program brought together 30 farmers, policy makers, scientists, and journalists from the United States and Europe with an agricultural background. The program included field visits to farms and biomass processing facilities in Germany and the U.S. as well as visits to research institutes to see experimental bioenergy cropping, climate friendly agricultural practices and to discuss the link between climate and agricultural policy.

Transatlantic Farmer-to-Farmer Exchange on Bioenergy and Climate Friendly Farming Practices

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Brandenburg, Kansas and Missouri

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