The European Green Deal aims to tackle challenges in climate resilience, biodiversity, soil protection and material efficiency, which require science-based solutions. However, the EU considers that technology alone is not sufficient to drive eco-innovative solutions. Tackling these challenges requires comprehensive “quadruple helix” governance based on cooperation between businesses, citizens, academia and the public sector.

Ihobe was invited by the European Environment Agency and the German Agency UBA to take part in this European project for the promotion of eco-innovative solutions

In this context, environmental agencies are currently the ideal place for all these actors to meet. For this reason, Europe’s leading environmental agencies are now strengthening their collaboration to achieve greater efficiency in solving complex challenges. This initiative will generate a common portfolio of R&D&I projects that will be deployed over time through this initiative to lead the advanced environmental knowledge required for environmental policies, called “Knowledge for Policy”.

Chaired by the new Executive Director of the European Environment Agency, Leena Ylä-Mononen, together with the President of the Umweltbundesamt - German Environment Agency, the meeting was attended by representatives of Ihobe, Ana Alzola and Ander Elgorriaga, responsible for the Soils and Eco-innovation projects, respectively.

About the CASRI consortium

As part of the Horizon Europe WIDERA framework programme, the CASRI consortium provides a stable framework for the European Platform for Actionable Knowledge and Solutions for Sustainable Development. CASRI aims to better connect environmental and sustainability research of European environmental agencies in order to improve what science has to offer and its effectiveness and provide the knowledge really needed by stakeholders for the transition to sustainability.

Supported by the European Environment Agency, the Environment Agencies of the EU states and regions taking part in the CASRI consortium bring together more than 5,000 environmental and eco-innovation experts, providing unique platforms to address environmental challenges by fostering cooperation between businesses, citizens, academia and the public sector.

The CASRI consortium, co-chaired by the German Environment Agency and the European Environment Agency, currently comprises environmental agencies from several countries, including Austria, Basque Country, Finland, Flanders, France, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland and Wales.