The BioFairNet Project brings together 13 partners from 7 countries.
🇮🇹 🇩🇪 🇪🇸 🇬🇷 🇫🇷 🇨🇦 🇰🇪
About
L.U.P.T., founded in 1976 at the University of Naples “Federico II”, is an interdisciplinary research center of excellence and a reference point for applied research and sustainable development. As one of the university’s most complex research institutions, it unites over 150 professors from 11 departments, blending humanities, scientific, and technical expertise. Its specializations include urban planning, social economy, bioeconomy, and innovation management. L.U.P.T. excels in communication, event organization, and managing complex projects, with strategic partnerships enabling effective awareness activities and engagement.
Role in BioFairNet
The University of Naples Federico II is the project coordinator and will supervise the activities of the partners involved in the project and will be responsible for maintaining relationships with the Granting Authority.
The University of Naples Federico II leads BioFairNet with dual responsibilities. First, they research bio-circular transformation hotspots, analyze business models for sustainability gaps, evaluate transition toolkits, organize stakeholder workshops, and develop a co-creation model incorporating diverse perspectives. Second, as project coordinator, they organize partnership meetings, support work package leaders, ensure quality assurance through EC reporting and milestone monitoring, manage finances, facilitate innovation reviews, and implement data management plans following FAIR principles. This comprehensive approach advances BioFairNet’s mission of transitioning greenhouse gas-intensive regions toward sustainable bio-circular economies.
About
UNIFE: The University of Ferrara (UniFe), founded in 1391, is one of Italy’s oldest and most prestigious academic institutions. With a strong commitment to research, innovation, and international collaboration, UniFe offers a wide range of undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs across various disciplines, including economics, environmental sciences, engineering, and humanities. The university actively engages in European and international projects, fostering interdisciplinary research on sustainability, digital transformation, and social impact. UniFe stands out for its focus on green transition, circular economy, and urban sustainability, making it a key player in addressing global challenges.
SEEDS: SEEDS (Sustainability Environmental Economics and Dynamics Studies) is a leading Italian research network focused on environmental economics, sustainability, and socio-economic dynamics. Bringing together scholars from different universities, SEEDS promotes cutting-edge research on eco-innovation, circular economy, climate policies, and sustainable development. The network plays a crucial role in shaping evidence-based policies, engaging with public institutions, industries, and international organizations. SEEDS researchers contribute to high-impact studies on environmental performance, green finance, and the transition towards low-carbon economies, supporting decision-making for a more sustainable future.
Role in BioFairNet
The University of Ferrara (UniFe), through its Department of Economics and Management, actively contributes to BIOFAIRNET, a project dedicated to fostering bio-based and fair innovation networks. Our research focuses on the economic and policy dimensions of sustainability, emphasizing circular economy, bioeconomy, and just transition principles. As part of the BIOFAIRNET consortium, we analyze the socio-economic impacts of bio-based innovations, assess policy frameworks, and contribute to stakeholder engagement strategies. Leveraging expertise from SEEDS (Sustainability Environmental Economics and Dynamics Studies), we support evidence-based policymaking and develop tools for sustainable business models. Our involvement reinforces UniFe’s commitment to green transition, social equity, and interdisciplinary collaboration, ensuring that bioeconomy advancements are both environmentally sustainable and socially inclusive.
About
The University of Rome UnitelmaSapienza is an Italian online university affiliated with Sapienza University of Rome. It leverages advanced information technology and distance learning methodologies to provide accessible higher education. The university specialises in digital education and interdisciplinary research, particularly in scientific, economic, and information technology fields. Research at UnitelmaSapienza is carried out in many laboratories, research centres, and research groups.
Bioeconomy in Transition Research Group (BiT-RG)
The Bioeconomy in Transition Research Group (BiT-RG) at UnitelmaSapienza studies the transition to a circular and bio-based economy, emphasising sustainability and innovation. Its research spans economic assessments, policy analysis, and innovation studies. Similarly, the School of Sustainability Studies and Circular Economy (SUSTAIN) provides advanced training in sustainability and circular bioeconomy-related topics. Through BiT-RG, UnitelmaSapienza has coordinated many EU-funded projects, such as SUSTRACK, STAR-ProBio, and Circular Bricks (Erasmus+), and is part of BIORECER, STAR4BBS, and LIFE EBP. The BiT-RG has a strong track record in conducting and organising communication and dissemination activities that promote a circular bio-based economy. Additionally, it is a member of the European Bioeconomy Network. BiT-RG also brings extensive expertise in sustainability assessment, socioeconomic impact analysis, and life-cycle methodologies, making it an important contributor to the project’s goals of fostering fair and just transitions to bio-based innovations.
Role in BioFairNet
UnitelmaSapienza leads Work Package 2 on Multidimensional Sustainability Assessment and oversees the integration of environmental, economic, and social sustainability dimensions. WP2 aims to evaluate the feasibility, environmental implications, socio-economic value, and barriers of the bio-based technologies proposed in BioFairNet. Within this framework, UnitelmaSapienza leads the Social Life Cycle Assessment (Task 2.3) and Life Cycle Costing (Task 2.2). The S-LCA focuses on evaluating the socio-economic impacts of proposed bio-based innovations on local communities in the pilot regions. This involves active stakeholder engagement and data-driven methodologies. Task 2.2 on Life Cycle Costing includes a cost-performance comparison between the proposed technologies. Through these efforts, UnitelmaSapienza contributes to evidence-based decision-making, ensuring that sustainability assessments in BioFairNet are holistic, inclusive, and aligned with broader environmental and socio-economic goals.
About
The University of Bayreuth is one of the most successful young universities in Germany with interdisciplinary research and teaching as its core value. The Department of Engineering Design & CAD carries out research on innovative topics in the areas of drive technology and mechatronic machine elements, component calculation, simulation and FEM as well as component design, system design, design methodology – and of course CAD. In line with the principle of “generating knowledge, structuring knowledge and communicating knowledge,” the department is engaged in mostly interdisciplinary research projects to develop solutions for current challenges.
Role in BioFairNet
UBT/CAD leads the workpackage “Green Information Factory for a just and Green Transition” with a focus on an open hardware concept for data monitoring at the pilot sites and the development hybrid AI- physics-simulation-based prediction and assessment models, which form a key component of the AI-based platform central to the project’s objectives.
About
SATEC is a company specialised in the design and deployment of technological solutions. With more than 35 years of experience, more than 1,600 employees and presence in more than 10 countries, we work for the world we imagine with a focus on the client and sustainability. We offer advice, technological integration, and customised solutions with a solid foundation in innovation, quality and experience. Our portfolio includes advanced technological solutions in communications networks, data centres or cloud services, cybersecurity, software development and artificial intelligence, with one of our areas of specialisation being the design, construction and implementation of information management and exploitation platforms for different sectors.
SATEC Carries out small-scale industrial research at low TRLs with which to generate new knowledge and applications, have a relevant presence in recognized scientific-technological publications, as well as play an agile role in the transfer of possible developments/results to the industry and potential sectors of interest. SATEC has experience in data flow management and intelligent execution environments.
Role in BioFairNet
The role of SATEC in BiofairNet is to provide a digital toolkit (understood as a network) with an associated digital platform combining into a Green Information Factory for assessment and evaluation of a just and fair CE and BE transition. Thereby the network will consist of an open hardware concept for data collection and an extensive API and a set of applications (monitoring, analytics, simulations, etc.), developed using the services provided by the platform. The platform will cover the data life cycle from a variety of data sources and data types (data gathering, pre-processing, storage, access, processing, etc.), but will also manage data analysis and processing by providing programming environments and tools (Python libraries, notebooks, visualization tools, etc.). Thus, SATEC focuses on the advancement of technological solutions and aims to equip local stakeholders with the technical tools for a socially equitable green transition.
About
The Centre for Research and Technology Hellas (CERTH) suggests one of the most important Research Centers in Greece with a main mission: The promotion of innovative research for the benefit of society. Dedicated to this purpose, CERTH lies at the forefront of basic, applied and technological research to provide solutions to society’s modern challenges. One of its five Institutes is the Institute for Bio-Economy and Agri-Technology (iBO), focusing on the scientific field of agri-technology and the broader scientific area of biosystems engineering. iBO’s research priorities include rational environmental management and sustainability assessment of bio-production activities, and the optimization of human interactions within these activities, all in the direction of adopting the principles of the circular economy. Finally, the Environmental Engineering and Sustainability (EnvES) lab is a key unit within IBO, specializing in circular bioeconomy and the green transition, addressing the interactions between environment, energy, and quality of life, and exploiting this knowledge in the design of novel processes and products serving sustainability objectives. The lab’s expertise lies in the upcycling and valorization of bio-based residues and by-products, the mapping of biomass resources, pinpointing environmental and socioeconomic benefits, the digitalization of value chains, and creating linkages by employing innovative circular thinking approaches towards decarbonization pathways and resource efficiency.
Role in BioFairNet
CERTH, through the EnvES lab, contributes to BioFairNet activities related to environmental and socioeconomic assessment. More specifically, as the leader of Task 2.1 “Life Cycle Assessment”, CERTH is responsible for quantifying the environmental aspects of the bio-based agricultural and mining value chains by conducting a thorough environmental impact assessment. Besides that, CERTH is participating in the evaluation and analysis of the socio-economic sustainability aspects of the project’s value chains. Moreover, as the leader of Task 2.4 “Decarbonisation for Green Transition toolkit”, CERTH provides a toolkit to support stakeholders in the choice of efficient, low carbon, green technologies contributing to a just and sustainable transition. Finally, CERTH as the leader of WP4 “Pilot site 1”, oversees the implementation of the corresponding pilot and ensures its smooth operation.
About
The University of the Aegean is a research-focused institution in Greece’s Aegean region, harmonizing traditional cultural heritage with contemporary academic methodologies. The institution comprises multiple campuses across islands and mainland areas, each designed to foster interdisciplinary research and educational rigor. Its academic framework spans a broad spectrum of disciplines including humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, and technology. This diverse curriculum supports cross-disciplinary inquiry and the systematic investigation of complex contemporary issues. The university is equipped with advanced laboratories and learning facilities that promote both theoretical study and empirical research. The University emphasizes community engagement and international collaboration through research partnerships, internships, and scholarly exchanges. This strategy not only integrates academic theory with practical application but also enriches the learning environment by incorporating the unique ecological and cultural attributes of the region.
Role in BioFairNet
In collaboration with the Centre for Research and Technology Hellas (CERTH), the University is instrumental in developing Pilot Site 1, a critical facility designed to evaluate the integration of novel processes within practical operational frameworks. The University has the role to the design and develop HYDROPYR, an innovative technology aimed at enhancing efficiency in resource utilization and supporting environmentally sustainable practices. In addition, the University of the Aegean participates actively in the development of a carbon footprint calculator, a tool that quantitatively assesses greenhouse gas emissions and supports data-driven decision-making for emission reductions.
About
SSG is an award-winning climate action planning firm dedicated to sparking change by developing innovative climate action practices and supporting communities and organizations to address the climate crisis. . We collaborate with and propel cities and organizations to develop inspiring, equitable, and cost-effective climate action solutions based on meaningful community engagement and rigorous technical analysis. Rooted in a recognition that nothing short of systemic change is needed to address the greatest challenges of our time, our founders established SSG as a worker cooperative in 2001. We believe democratic decision-making, fair participation, and a caring work environment are key to creating equitable solutions to the climate crisis. Our organization prioritizes providing meaningful work for our members while rejecting the drive for never-ending economic growth that fuels the climate crisis. We now have over 30 worker-owners, and the confluence of our diverse disciplines, personalities, cultures, and expertise enables us to prepare our clients to lead and implement climate action.
Role in BioFairNet
SSG’s involvement with BioFairNet will be to engage with people and organizations involved in the agricultural value chains and the surrounding communities in Canada. This will involve engagement techniques such as workshops, focus groups and surveys with agricultural cooperatives and farmers to validate the BioFairNet platform and provide feedback on its relevance and adaptability for the context. Results from this engagement process will be presented, and recommendations for adaptations will be identified. SSG will provide regular updates on BioFairNet’s scalability, reporting on insights and feedback obtained to inform future replication efforts.
About
The Co-operative University of Kenya (CUK) is a public institution of higher learning with a cumulative experience of over 70 years of cooperative education, training, research and innovation. We are strategically positioned in the Cooperative Movement and have played a critical role in Kenya’s socio-economic development including in the cooperative sector through skills development, research, and consultancy. As a public institution, our reach is national, and we are often called upon to provide technical assistance to the cooperative sector in the region. CUK offers graduate and undergraduate degrees, diplomas and certificate courses in various disciplines with the current student population in excess of 11,000. With a total outlay of 300 staff, the University has the capacity to support the growth of vibrant cooperative movement in Africa. We have a rich and continuously expanding research and community outreach portfolio. To implement our research and community outreach programmes, we have established a unique partnership and collaborative model for working with the National Government; County Governments in Kenya; Regional linkages and networks and partnerships with development partners based on mutual corporate understanding.
Role in BioFairNet
CUK’s role in BioFairNet Project involves stakeholder engagement workshops to understand their needs and perspectives on the bio-circular transition. This includes discussions on challenges and opportunities and gathering feedback for transition strategies. This will culminate in the development of a co-creation model based on research findings and workshop results. Once the Model has been developed and tested in the EU. It will be necessary to validate it outside Europe for scalability. CUK will play a critical role in this phase. The University be responsible for assessing the feasibility and validation of the effectiveness of the BioFairNet model in the Kenyan context with the aim of demonstrating the applicability of the project’s initiatives across diverse environmental, economic, and social landscapes, specifically outside the EU.
About
Created in 1982, the Reunion Island University offers multidisciplinary training, and has been able over time to forge partnerships with local, national and international institutions. The establishment includes 22 research units. PIMENT Laboratory was born in January 2010 from the merger of different research teams and covers a wide spectrum of skills in the field of Research in Thermal, Building, and Urban Engineering and Mathematical Engineering. The PIMENT laboratory is associated in this project with the ENERGY-LAB laboratory which specializes in the Optimization of intelligent solar or intermittent energy systems through three scientific areas: i) Variability and energy management; ii) Hydrogen energy: design, diagnosis, control; iii) Interconnected networks and energy management: protocols and topologies.
Role in BioFairNet
Leader of WP5, our main objective will be to provide technical datas from our biogas pilot for other WPs. Our pilot will be used to produce hydrogen and methane from agro-industrial wastes.
Datas will be used for LCA approach and the Green factory development.
About
The University of Trento is today one of the leading Italian and European higher education institutions in the fields of engineering and social sciences, which are most relevant to the BioFairNet research program. Founded in the second half of the 20th century, UNITN has grown substantially and today is a medium-sized Italian university (about 17 thousand total enrollment) hosting thousands of students from different Italian regions, Europe and even non-European countries. UNITN is very active in scientific research, promoting several PhDs in the social sciences, including a PhD in Economics and Finance (joint with the University of Bolzano), one in Management (joint with the University of Bolzano), and one in Sustainability Studies (SusTEEMS). The University of Trento also has strong connections with networks, hubs and incubators of technologically advanced companies in both the industrial and service sectors. Today it can be called a leading university in Europe, hosted by a historic and touristic city that boasts a perfect location in the southeastern Alps (in the Italian Dolomites) for academic studies and research.
Role in BioFairNet
The team from the Department of Economics at UNITN University of Trento includes Prof. Ermanno C. Tortia and Dr. Marco Lomuscio. The role of the UNITN research unit in the BioFairNet project is to deal with sustainability issues in socioeconomic and environmental transitions, including both theoretical elaboration and empirical application. Social and environmental sustainability criteria are applied to the transformation of industrial processes with high environmental impact (e.g., in the steel, mining and agricultural sectors) into low-impact industrial and agribusiness processes in the circular economy. Social sustainability enters this framework in terms of the equity of transition processes, for example in the redeployment of workers from traditional brown sectors (e.g., mining, oil and coal) to technologically advanced sectors (e.g., biofuel and solar energy production). It is embodied in economic and social policies that impact employment levels, employability, and the development of new welfare solutions related to new industrial activities, e.g., in local welfare systems and corporate welfare. Social sustainability will also be analyzed in terms of the inclusiveness of local development processes in the affected areas, which should involve all key stakeholders in deliberative democracy processes. Finally, social sustainability will also be studied from the perspective of the role of social economy organizations (nonprofit organizations, cooperative enterprises, social enterprises and benefit corporations), particularly producer cooperatives (agricultural and worker cooperatives), credit cooperatives and social enterprises in the circular economy and social and ecological transitions.
About
The University of Cologne is one of the oldest and largest universities in Europe. Due to its outstanding scientific achievements and the high quality and diversity of its degree programmes, it enjoys an excellent international reputation. The UoC’s mission is to create, preserve and impart knowledge, to offer its students and early-career academics outstanding academic education, to qualify them for both academic and professional careers, to promote cutting-edge research and to drive innovation while focusing on the constantly changing needs and challenges of today’s society.
Role in BioFairNet
The University’s primary role is in supporting various moments of analysis. This refers particularly to participation in WP1, helping to coordinate and execute the overall assessment of the literature, identifying stakeholders and hotspots, planning and coordinating workshops with relevant stakeholders, as well as contributing to, completing and publishing reports. At a later project stage, it also includes involvement in validation and communication of project results (WP6 and WP7).
About
Eco Imagination is a non-profit association dedicated to communication, research, and the development of innovations and technologies that support the protection of our environmental, social, and cultural heritage.
With over 10 years of experience in communication, our team consists of experts in sustainability from both business and engineering backgrounds, all committed to safeguarding the planet’s limited resources.
Through event organization, strategic communication, and networking, we strive to raise public awareness about the technological challenges we must address to create a healthier and sustainable future for our planet.
Role in BioFairNet
ECO Imagination leads the communication, dissemination, and stakeholder engagement activities for the BioFairNet project. This includes developing and executing a comprehensive Communication and Dissemination Strategy, creating engaging materials, and fostering stakeholder consultation. By working closely with all consortium partners, ECO Imagination ensures effective outreach, visibility, and engagement to maximize the project’s impact.