RIBES: Regional Inclusive Biobased Entrepreneurship Solutions

RIBES is an EU-funded Horizon Europe project supporting the uptake of bio-based innovation in rural and peri-urban regions across Europe. Bringing together 20 partners, the project develops inclusive governance approaches and sustainable business models that combine circular bioeconomy, social innovation and rural development.

Objectives and Vision

Many European regions have strong agricultural resources and bioeconomy potential but lack the networks, governance structures and market conditions needed to turn innovation into viable local opportunities.

RIBES aims to empower rural entrepreneurs, businesses, public authorities, researchers and communities to co-create solutions that support regional development, strengthen bio-based value chains and accelerate the transition from linear to circular economies.

What Sets RIBES Apart

RIBES places local stakeholders at the centre of the innovation process. Through Multi-Actor Transformative Forums (MTFs), stakeholders work together to identify regional challenges, exchange knowledge and develop tailored business and governance solutions. This ensures that project results reflect local needs and can be applied beyond the participating regions.

How It Will Do It

RIBES will:

• Assess regional bioeconomy ecosystems and innovation barriers.
• Engage local stakeholders through workshops and co-creation activities.
• Develop inclusive bio-based business and governance models.
• Support social entrepreneurship, value-chain development and market access.
• Produce practical tools and recommendations for regional actors and policymakers.
• Share knowledge and establish synergies with relevant European initiatives.

White Research’s Role in RIBES

White Research leads the project’s dissemination, communication and networking activities. Our team manages the RIBES communication strategy, website, social media, newsletters and promotional materials, while supporting partners in communicating project results and monitoring outreach performance.

White Research also coordinates networking and synergies with relevant EU-funded projects, clusters and organisations to exchange knowledge, collaborate on activities and increase the visibility and uptake of RIBES results.

Beyond communication, White Research leads research into the socio-economic, psychological and behavioural factors influencing social entrepreneurial intentions. This work combines a literature review with a large-scale European citizen survey examining how demographic, psychological, personality and behavioural factors shape people’s interest in social innovation and entrepreneurship.