SPI – Sociedade Portuguesa de Inovação

SPI Consultants Attended Horizon Europe Project, GeneBEcon, Event in Berlin

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SPI Consultants Attended Horizon Europe Project, GeneBEcon, Event in Berlin

SPI as Work Package 4 Leader, represented by Igor Lopes and Brimoresa Dhoro, attended the three-day GeneBEcon event, comprising the Science-Policy Symposium, Stakeholder Advisory Board Workshop, Exploitation Meeting, the 3rd Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI) Workshop, and the Consortium Meeting.

Day 1: Science-Policy Symposium and Stakeholder Advisory Board Workshop

The event commenced with the GeneBEcon Science-Policy Symposium in Berlin, graciously organized by the Federal Office of Consumer Protection and Food Safety (BVL) and Agroscope, and Die Botschaft der Schweiz in Deutschland for hosting. The symposium focused on the regulation and socio-economic implications of new genomic techniques, featuring expert presentations from the fields of law, bioeconomy, and risk assessment, discussing results from the GeneBEcon project.

Simultaneously, an internal workshop was held with the project’s Stakeholder Advisory Board, led by Plants for the Future, Euroseeds and ILVO (Instituut voor Landbouw, Visserij- en Voedingsonderzoek). This workshop aimed to engage with Stakeholder Advisory Board experts in preparation for the upcoming annual consortium meeting of GeneBEcon partners. Discussions included the progress of the EU legislative proposal for plants obtained by NGTs, an overview of the latest project developments, and the application of systems mapping to GeneBEcon.

Day 2: Consortium Meeting and Exploitation Workshop

The second day featured the GeneBEcon Consortium Meeting, focusing on the project’s current status, upcoming activities, and strategies for connecting results to policy. The day’s agenda also included the GeneBEcon Exploitation Workshop, where external stakeholders and SAB members reviewed and enhanced the project’s exploitation strategies. Presentations of the Key Exploitable Results (KERs) developed by GeneBEcon partners and discussions of their potential within the broader value chain were highlights of this collaborative effort, aimed at identifying strengths and addressing potential challenges to ensure robust and targeted exploitation plans.

Day 3: RRI Workshop and Event Conclusion

The final day featured the 3rd Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI) Workshop on the NGT Transition Action Plan, led by XPRO Consulting Limited. The main aim of this workshop was to refine the Transition Action Plan based on insights from various stakeholder groups. The three-day event concluded with a summary and closing remarks from the GeneBEcon coordinator.

SPI’s active participation in these events underscores our commitment to advancing genomic innovation and supporting the secure and sustainable exploitation of new genomic techniques.