July 1, 2025Thessaloniki, Greece

BRILIAN participated in the 7th International Summer School on Circular Bioeconomy and Sustainable Development, held at the American Farm School & Perrotis College in Thessaloniki, Greece. The event convened a dynamic community of students, researchers, academics, and professionals from across Europe to explore the latest advances in Circular Bioeconomy.

Representatives from BIOEAST HUB CZ (Anastasia Perouli) and Chimar ( Dimitris Argyropoulos) presented an exposition of BRILIAN’s ongoing work, with particular emphasis on the project’s innovative pilots and the promising replication potential of its sustainable business models tailored for rural areas. Participants were presented with the opportunity to engage with tangible examples of BRILIAN’s products, including wooden panels made with rapeseed protein-based resins developed by the Danish pilot in cooperation with Chimar.

The presentation was followed by a dynamic and informative discussion, unveiling both prospects and pivotal challenges in the scaling of bioeconomy initiatives. The following issues were of particular note:

• -The vital role of young farmers. Their digital fluency and openness to innovation render them pivotal agents of progress in the field of sustainable agriculture.
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• -The issue of language barriers and accessibility is of particular importance in this context. The necessity for localised actions and straightforward communication became apparent as vital factors for achieving widespread engagement.
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• -The market dynamics concerns have been raised regarding the pricing of feedstock, as demand from industry can lead to an increase in costs. It was mentioned by the participants that the establishment of regulatory frameworks was imperative in order to ensure fair competition and availability.
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• -The structural clarity is also of key importance. A lack of transparent cooperation frameworks and governmental support was cited as a major barrier for new stakeholders aiming to collaborate with the agricultural sector.
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• This valuable feedback reinforces BRILIAN’s commitment to the co-creation of sustainable, scalable, and inclusive solutions for Europe’s rural communities. The team remains open to collaboration and welcomes dialogue with stakeholders across sectors.

About the Summer School

Now in its seventh year, the International Summer School on Circular Bioeconomy and Sustainable Development has become a cornerstone event for the bioeconomy community in Europe. The Summer School was initiated by Prof. Dr. Konstantinos Vorgias and was originally under the auspices of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens. It now enjoys support from a wide array of academic institutions, research organisations, and industry leaders, including Dr. Christian Patermann, who is often regarded as the father of Europe’s bioeconomy.

This year’s edition is of particular significance as it marks the 20th anniversary of the launch of the EU’s inaugural Bioeconomy Action Plan. To commemorate this achievement, the programme was expanded to encompass eight full days of workshops, discussions, and networking events, encompassing a comprehensive range of bioeconomy applications.

The BRILIAN team wishes to extend its most sincere gratitude to the organisers for their hospitality and dedication to the promotion of knowledge exchange. It is anticipated that the dialogue will be continued and that sustainable innovation will be advanced in collaboration.

For more info regarding this event, contact:

Anastasia Perouli
perouli.anastasia10@gmail.com