FOEBE - Fostering Entrepreneurship for the Bioeconomy

The bioeconomy sector is a priority area for the European Union. This sector draws on a system-oriented approach that extends to different sectors of the economy and is rooted in the principles of circularity and sustainable development. Ultimately, it requires a paradigm shift both in educational programs and in teaching practices if young professionals are to be equipped with the entrepreneurial skill sets they need. This is because innovative, sustainable, and economically viable solutions are needed to fully deploy the bioeconomy across Europe.

There is a clear mismatch between today’s academic offerings in the field of business and the needs of the industry, which only serves to hamper its potential for development. In addition, no harmonized European approach exists in this arena, despite the fact that the bioeconomy is clearly depicted as a key industry. And yet, developing innovative educational content on a European scale would enable students—as future entrepreneurs—to acquire a comprehensive and multifaceted understanding of every aspect of the bioeconomy.

The FOEBE project therefore aims to achieve this objective by playing a key role in implementing the change needed for educational programs in the field of the bioeconomy. Seven higher education institutions (see list below), members of the European Bioeconomy University (EBU) alliance, have decided to join forces to provide students with the best possible educational offering. This partnership draws on their expertise, resources, and knowledge, as well as that of their industrial partners, to offer additional modules that are directly relevant to future entrepreneurs in the field.

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The general approach of the project is centered around a blended learning format, which combines online learning and face-to-face classroom sessions with a focus on innovative teaching practices. FOEBE thus allows master’s and Ph.D. students to select modules and courses that will enable them to directly enrich their course of study.

A variety of activities and results are expected to arise from the project:

• a survey of employers in the bioeconomy sector to precisely determine what qualifications and skill sets are expected;

• forums for sharing innovative practices (hackathons, informal education, contextual learning);

• the creation of an online platform (courses and educational materials);

• the publication of a guide on innovative educational programs to encourage entrepreneurship through education;

• the creation, dissemination, and sharing of new educational resources, additional courses, and the innovative educational practices that are at the heart of the project;

• the publication of a public report setting out recommendations for how students in the field of the bioeconomy can be given the skill sets they require, how they can successfully position themselves as innovators, and how they can bring their ideas to market.

With a flexible, optimized approach to entrepreneurial training in the field of bioeconomics, the FOEBE project will boost students’ potential for innovation and encourage the transfer of their ideas to enable them to be fully fleshed out and brought to market.

Eligibility

The FOEBE course is open to bioeconomy Master students currently enrolled in one of the 7 partner institutions (see list above.)

Application dates

Applications for the 2023 FOEBE session open on October 10^th, 2022, and close on November 14^th, 2022.

Course dates

Classes start on January 16^th, 2022. The mandatory in-person study week is set to take place in Warsaw in June 2022.

Coursework will represent 3 hours per week minimum, every week.

How to apply

In order to apply, please fill in the application form and upload your CV.

Contact

More questions? Please write to foebe-application@agroparistech.fr