Fraunhofer Italia
Fraunhofer Italia

AlpLinkBioEco

The Interreg Alpine Space AlpLinkBioEco project will develop a cross-regional circular bio-based economic strategy connecting diverse producers along the entire supply chain to increase the economic competitiveness of alpine regions.

The transition from a fossil-based to a circular bio-based economy is one of the biggest common challenges of the Alpine Space. This transition is needed to strengthen the regional economic activity and sustain high value-added businesses and jobs in these territories. The challenge is caused by traditional operation in a linear economy, poor understanding of natural strengths in the Alpine Space as well as missing awareness of interregional opportunities.

The project aims at tapping into the existing potential by setting up a methodology to connect diverse bio-feed-stock producers with intermediate product developers and end users of high value applications addressing critical societal needs, to create new cross-regional value chains for a bio-based circular economy. It will result in four demonstrator value chains with identified individual actors covering agro-based industries, wood-based industries, chemistry and food- / pharma-packaging. Specific objectives of the project aim at facilitating tailor made matching of bio-based actors across the Alpine Space, fostering the initiation of high added value bio-based applications and product​, as well as formulating recommendations for a common policy development on circular bio-based economy.

 

Project detail

Name: AlpLinkBioEco - Linking BioBased Industry Value Chains Across the Alpine Region

Funding programme: Interreg Alpine Space

Lead Partner: Plastics Innovation Competence Center (CH)

Partner: Fraunhofer Italia (IT), Confindustria Lombardia, Business Upper Austria (AT), Hub Innovazione Trentino (IT), Chemie Cluster Bayern (DE), , Poly4Eml (SI), Slovenian Ministry of Education, Science and Sport (SI), France clusters (FR), Plastipolis (FR), Green Chemistry Cluster (IT), Technologiezentrum Horb (DE), BIOPRO BW (DE), Centro Studi Alpino Pieve Tesino (IT).

Duration: 04/2018- 04/2021

Budget: 2.036.020 € (1.730.617 co-financed by the ERDF)

A Roadmap for a Circular Bio-based Economy (WP4)

Presenting the mechanics and actions to be carried out for developing a Roadmap for an Alpine Space circular bio-based economy to Observers and Advisory Board members.

AlpLinkBioEco Piloting Sessions: Fraunhofer Italia

Michael Riedl, vice-director of Fraunhofer Italia, presents how the South Tyrol Region contributes to reaching the aims of the Project, focusing on the biolink they identified in fruit production, a strategic sector for the Region. The innovative value-chain entails using the cellulose contained in apple pomace, a by-product of apple processing, to produce bio leather and paper.