On 22 September, the ACE²-EU ARC Knowledge Creation Team Workshop #5 — “Green Circular Economy & Bio-Based Materials” kicked off at Lietuvos inžinerijos kolegija (LIK) in Kaunas, Lithuania. The three-day event, running from 22 to 24 September, brings together researchers to develop collaborative project ideas, strengthen links across the Alliance and explore new opportunities for interdisciplinary research and innovation. The workshop is organised by the Sustainable Science and Innovations Applied Research & Innovation Centre and the ARIES Incubator.
The first day began with welcome remarks from LIK Director Lina Girdauskienė and Sangeetha Brennsteiner (WP3 leader), followed by an introduction to the Knowledge Creation Team Workshop. External stakeholder Anastasija Novikova from Vytautas Magnus University then presented the role of bioeconomy in sustainable development, highlighting its relevance to current sustainability challenges. The morning sessions also explored the connection between science and business, with a focus on technology transfer and practical experience at LIK.
Participants then moved from discussion to active collaboration, presenting their project idea pitches and taking part in matchmaking and idea development sessions aimed at identifying shared interests, connecting expertise across the Alliance and developing potential international collaborations. The programme also included an overview of EU funding calls, their analysis and proposal writing, as well as a tour of the Faculty of Industrial Engineering and Technology facilities and laboratories, where participants gained insight into LIK’s infrastructure and applied research environment.
The workshop forms part of ACE²-EU’s efforts to strengthen its existing Applied Research Centres (ARCs) and build bridges between research areas through interdisciplinary and cross-cutting cooperation. Over the next two days, participants will continue developing their ideas, work on competitive project proposals and exchange feedback, with the aim of creating new opportunities for collaboration across the ACE²-EU Alliance.
