AGRI-BIOCIRCULAR-HUB is a first-of-its-kind excellence hub in sustainable agriculture and circular bio-economy aimed at strengthening R&I capabilities and innovation ecosystems of 3 Widening countries, including one emerging ecosystem (PL, LV and UA). Building on experience of 2 more developed countries (ES and BE), and in particular on a frontrunner region (“Catalonia”), a leading European regional ecosystems in the field, we aim to respond to the common needs and challenges of these ecosystems, fully aligned with key strategic areas for the development of the smart specializations of these regions. By bringing together relevant European and regional actors, with track record in R&I ecosystems and bioeconomy, we aim at leveraging the q-helix innovation model by creating and strengthening links between academia, business, government and society: - To promote and foster cross-border and interregional R&I cooperation, we will design and deliver a long-term R&I action plan, across key strategic R&I themes towards a sustainable and biocircular agriculture; - To enhance the R&I capabilities of 3 targeted Widening countries, we propose to design, pilot and scale up (TRL3-6) a pipeline of R&I business cases, driven by regional challenges and local innovative SMEs; -To foster and promote transfer of knowledge and good practices across regions, we will deliver capacity building, training and networking activities for innovation and entrepreneurship diffusion as well as tailored mentoring module targeting the needs of an emerging ecosystem – UA; - To promote entrepreneurship, provide support in bringing innovations to farmers, we will deliver an open innovation and entrepreneurship mentoring programme; - To promote innovation, biocircular and sustainable agriculture practices, we propose development of a cascade funding scheme to support SMEs engaged in the development and adoption of smart and circular technologies and innovation towards sustainable agriculture.

Biomethane is expected to contribute towards the decarbonisation of the EU energy system as a renewable gas. Its contribution strongly depends on the market & policy environment & on societal acceptance. Member State policies are often inadequate and not tailored to market needs. The objective of GreenMeUp is facilitating the wider market uptake of biomethane in the European energy and transport sectors by strengthening the market in countries with slow development rates. The work is structured in 6 WP. In WP1 framework conditions and market dynamics for bioCH4 will be analysed in the top 10 advanced European countries and in selected 5 MI countries. The analysis will address all production routes, feedstocks and end-uses. The technological developments for bioCH4 production and use, and feedstock availability will be addressed. Similar work will be carried out at national level for 7 selected European target countries (Greece, Spain, Poland, Latvia, Estonia, Czech Republic, and a region in Danube) with low developments in WP2. As a result, comprehensive overviews of the existing market situation and future market trends in Europe and in each of the selected countries will be produced. In WP3, stakeholders engagement and societal acceptance will be assured, with the involvement of relevant actors representing all stages of the bioCH4 value chains through science-based evidence and tools. In WP4, market uptake policy measures and financial frameworks will be designed, that will allow the bioCH4 markets to operate efficiently in the advanced and target countries where results could be replicated. The interaction of work from all WPs will steer the development of more informed and targeted policies in the target countries and support them in building a robust, incentive-compatible bioCH4 market, in their final energy consumption by 2030 and beyond. In WP5, dissemination & communication will target all key policy &decision makers & market actors. WP6 aims at management.