On 24 September, the ACE²-EU ARC Knowledge Creation Team Workshop #5 — “Green Circular Economy & Bio-Based Materials” concluded at Lietuvos inžinerijos kolegija (LIK) in Kaunas, Lithuania after three days of intensive collaboration, knowledge exchange and development of joint research ideas.
At the opening of the workshop, LIK Director Lina Girdauskienė encouraged participants to draw inspiration from nature and its principles when approaching innovation and sustainability:
“We very often strive to discover or invent something new, yet frequently overlook what is right beside us. What we seem to have discovered has actually always existed within nature and its laws; we need only pause to listen, observe and learn.”
These words set the tone for the three days in Kaunas, where participants were encouraged to look at familiar challenges from new perspectives, exchange knowledge across disciplines and develop ideas through collaboration.
The final day focused on bringing together the work developed throughout the workshop. Participants put the final touches to their project posters, presented their ideas and exchanged peer feedback before discussing next steps and follow-up actions. The programme concluded with a visit to LIK’s Faculty of Environmental Engineering in Girionys, where participants explored its facilities and gained further insight into the College’s applied research environment.
Over the three days, researchers from across the ACE²-EU Alliance worked together to identify shared research interests and develop ideas for future collaboration. The programme combined project development with practical sessions on proposal preparation, European funding opportunities and international research networks, while encouraging participants from different disciplines to approach common challenges from new perspectives.
Reflecting on the workshop, Associate Professor Anastasija Novikova from the Faculty of Bioeconomy Development at Vytautas Magnus University, who participated as an external stakeholder, highlighted the value of exchanging experience beyond the boundaries of a single alliance:
“It was a pleasure to participate in the ‘Green Circular Economy & Bio-Based Materials’ workshop as an external representative and to contribute with a presentation on the role of bioeconomy in sustainable development. I especially appreciated the open exchange of knowledge, ideas and experiences among the participants. As Vytautas Magnus University is also part of a European university alliance, it was particularly valuable for me to experience the environment of another alliance and see different approaches to collaboration and knowledge creation. I believe such exchanges are a great source of new perspectives and inspiration for future cooperation.”
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Daniel Fuchs from Technische Hochschule Ingolstadt (THI) also emphasised the interdisciplinary and international character of the workshop:
“The diversity of research proposals presented underlined the importance of genuine interdisciplinarity and illustrated how ideas can be transferred across fields. Engaging with early-career researchers from universities across Europe broadened my network, provided valuable insights into different academic cultures, and ultimately strengthened my sense of European scientific collaboration.”
The fifth Knowledge Creation Team Workshop demonstrated the value of bringing together different disciplines, institutions and perspectives within ACE²-EU. Beyond developing individual project ideas, the three days in Kaunas created new connections between researchers and laid the groundwork for continued cooperation and future joint initiatives across the Alliance.
