Valorisation of innovative bio-economical potentials along bio-based food & botanical extract value chains in the Alpine Space
Bioeconomy has an enormous potential for Green Growth and professional development, and thus is considered as a key discipline of the 21st century. EUs bioeconomy strategy addresses the production of renewable biological resources & their conversion into vital products. Expanding bioeconomy, particularly in rural areas, represents a major development potential. In the Alpine regions, this potential can however only be harnessed if the actors and municipalities cooperate closely and pursue shared objectives. The overall objective of AlpBioEco is to foster the sustainability of the local economy in the Alpine Space by the valorisation of innovative bioeconomical potentials along bio-based food and botanical extract value chains (VCs). It contributes to the framework conditions for innovation, resulting in eco-innovative business ideas & concepts for SMEs. By implementing & stimulating eco-innovations in practice, exemplarily 3 VCs are analysed, while a cross-sectoral multi-level stakeholder approach is applied. SMEs, clusters and initiatives, administration and politics as well as academia work together. A communication strategy on the basis of the quadruple helix approach strengthens the awareness of bioeconomy in Alpine regions. Within a validation report the approach of eco-innovation along bio-based food production VCs in Alpine regions is provided. Thus, AlpBioEco increases capacities of SMEs to jointly develop bio-based products. Through concepts of `Open Innovation´, it intensifies transnational cooperation for eco-innovations in the bio-based economy. In sum, AlpBioEco contributes to a better cohesion and integrated territorial development since rural regions become connected in new bio-based VCs. Thereby high value jobs will be induced in the agricultural sector. On a macro-regional level, AlpBioEco contributes to a lower disparity of the Alpine Space.