“Our BIObec Centre design will give a structure to these activities offering science communication activities, policy recommendations, industry-academia collaboration, consulting services, and networking actions in Germany”.
Lina Mayorga, from the University of Hohenheim (UHOH), serves as the Project Coordinator at European Bioeconomy University and as a Scientific Assistant for Biobased Resources in the German Bioeconomy. Alongside colleagues from UHOH, she is contributing to the progress of the BIObec project and fostering a thorough understanding of the European Bioeconomy Center’s context and related fields.
- What are your expectations from the BIOBEC project?
I expect the design of the BIObec Education Centres (BBECs) to be implemented. Although there are already many activities happening at regional, national, and European levels, the BBECs designs have the potential to give a structure to current and future bioeconomy and education initiatives. I expect the BBECs to be hubs where the creation of innovative ideas and new educational formats can happen to reach practical, contextualized, and regional positive changes.
- What is the main role of UHOH in BIOBEC?
We led the initial set of tasks under ‘Work Package 1: Regional Bioeconomy Ecosystem – Needs and Exploitation,’ which laid the foundation for designing the various BBECs. Additionally, we are leading the design of the German BBEC, for which we have been in close contact with different stakeholders and done multiple brainstorming sessions to find the right fit for a contextualized BBEC.
- Can you talk a bit more about the German BIOBEC?
At the University of Hohenheim, there are various activities in connection to Bioeconomy education: we have a master’s program dedicated to bioeconomy, cooperation between industry and academia, alliances between universities, and innovative educational formats, among others.
- What are the main benefits that BIOBEC could provide to society and what field do you think will be most impacted positively?
I believe that the activities of the potential future BBECs will further enhance the startup community, improve the quality and suitability of educational formats for students, and foster stronger connections between educational initiatives and tangible industry and societal challenges.
- What do you think will be the main outcomes of the BIOBEC project?
The primary outcome is a design that aligns well with the context of the pilot BBECs, integrating ongoing activities and innovative initiatives related to bioeconomy education.
