Conference
NEW SKILLS FOR A EUROPEAN BIOECONOMY
20-21 November 2012, Brussels
Session 2:
Aligning Science and Innovation with Global Challenges and
Bioeconomy needs - skills for scientists
Josef Glössl
University of Natural Resources and
Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
(BOKU University, Vienna)
josef.gloessl@boku.ac.at, www.boku.ac.at
09.07.2012
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How to align science and innovation
activities to address global challenges?
Global Challenges: e.g.
 Sustainable management of natural resources
 Sustainable production
 Improving public health
 Mitigating climate change
 etc.
Important to consider:
 Environmental concerns and sustainability are not just a burden for
economy, but can be a source of growth and new jobs.
 Education, science and innovation as key drivers for a knowledgebased bio-economy
 Important role of universities for the development of new
skills
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Interlinking Natural Sciences, Technology
& Socio-Economics:
BOKU University – Themes and Competences
Soil and terrestrial
ecosystems
Water –
Atmosphere Environment
Development of
the Living Space
Resources and
societal
dynamics
Living space and
landscape
Management
of Natural
Resources
Securing Nutrition
and Health
Nanosciences &
- technology
Renewable raw
materials, resources
oriented technologies
Food – nutrition health
Biotechnology
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How to align science and innovation
activities to address global challenges?
 Role of universities
 Education
 Involvement of stakeholders in curriculum development
 Research
 Excellent fundamental research as a key driver for innovation
 Knowledge and technology transfer  Innovation
 Inclusion of business skills in curricula
 IP (Intellectual Property) strategies at universities
 Internationalization:
 Development of the university beyond its national boundaries
 In its region and globally
 Strengthening the development of international cooperative
networks with both European and non-European countries
(especially in the field of development assistance)
 Cooperation with international organisations (e.g. UN, FAO, IIASA)
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High Potential of Bioeconomy
in the Danube Region:
The Danube Region:
 20% of the area of the EU
 115 Mill people living in the region
 3 Mill. students!!!
 The Danube region is one of the regions in Europe
with the highest potential for further economic
development
 Biomass production could be increased by app.
30% in a sustainable way
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What can science, research and
academia do?
 Synergetic effects within and between the Danube Region
universities have to be strengthened
 Establishing firm long-term co-operations based on the
never completely cut links in academia in the region
 Development of higher eduction institutions
 Improve the technological basis for economic development
 Aiming at improving scientific infrastructure and chances
for young scientists
  fighting the brain drain  brain circulation
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An example:
ICA Regional Network for Central and
South Eastern Europe (“ICA-CASEE”)
 Is a network of Central and South Eastern European
Higher Education Institutions relating to the Life Science
disciplines (agriculture, food, biotechnology, natural
resources, rural development and the environment)
 Was founded by BOKU University, Vienna, in 2010
 The objectives of network are:
 to support the development and implementation of
the EU Strategy for the Danube Region (EUSDR)
 to strengthen research, education and University
Development in this region
 to develop joint research, educational and other
projects
www.ica-europe.info/casee
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ICA-CASEE
Geographical Coverage
09.07.2012
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Reasons for creating
the ICA-CASEE network
 Enormous challenges for university development
 Bologna process
 Excellence in research, education and university
management (increasing competition between higher
education institutions!)
 Specific challenges for life science universities to develop the basis for
the future development of mankind  Bioeconomy
 Food and water security, environmental protection
 Sustainable use of natural resources (soil, bioresources, water,..)
 Development of high-end technological methods in biotechnology
(biorefinery, renewable energy,....)
 Landscape development; urban and landscape planning
 And many more.....
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Joint educational activities in the ICACASEE network:
„Danube Master“
 Establishing a common master curriculum on
“Sustainability of Agriculture, Food production and
Food Technology in the Danube Region”
 Consortium of 5-6 life science universities in the Danube
region
 The curriculum will cover topics important for the further
development of the region with respect to agriculture and
the complete value chain.
 Students will stay at least at two different universities and
countries
 to learn more about regional challenges
 to foster the cultural understanding.
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Specific knowledge and skills
stimulated in the „Danube Master“
Focus areas:
 Intercultural Learning
 Sustainable Rural and Regional Development Policy
 Food Safety, Food Technology and Food Quality and
Consumer Sciences
 Biodiversity, Sustainable Use of Natural Resources and
Sustainable Agriculture
 Soil and Water
 Biotechnology
 Regional Specialities
 Sustainable Energy Systems
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DRC – Danube Rectors Conference
 Established in 1983
 Members: 54 higher education institutions from 13 countries
 General aims:
 improvement of higher education in teaching and
research in the region
 advancement of member universities by establishing
and facilitating bilateral and multilateral contacts
between the universities
 DRC Presidency changes annually
 Annual DRC Conference:
 Nov. 2011: at BOKU, Vienna
 Nov. 2012: at CULS, Prague
 Involvement in the Priority Area working groups of the EU
Strategy for the Danube Region
http://www.d-r-c.org
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CDR - Centre for Development Research
at BOKU University
 The CDR is a multi-disciplinary scientific unit located at BOKU,
founded 2009
 It brings together a multidisciplinary network of over twenty scientists
from BOKU
 The CDR engages in national and international networks such as the
AGRINATURA (The European Alliance on Agricultural Knowledge for
Development) and the Commission for Development Studies (KEF)
 The CDR collaborates with a wide range of partners in Africa, Asia
and Latin America
 It conducts applied development research and training in areas
related to sustainable natural resource management.
 The CDR works towards poverty reduction, food security, and wellbeing for the most vulnerable population
www.cdr.boku.ac.at
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General Conclusions:
The development of a European Bioeconomy requires new science
policies and important new skills, fostering:
 Integrated approaches of research, education and co-operation Academia
- Industry  innovation process
 Complementary partnerships between universities, research centres, …
 joint curricula
 Inter- and multidsiciplinary approaches
 …..
 Knowledge and technology transfer
 Development of sustainability as a big chance for economic development:
  Multidisciplinary integration of traditional approaches with highend (bio)technologies is a key issue in the development of a
European Bioeconomy
 Public awareness, communication science – society
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Universität für Bodenkultur Wien (BOKU)
University of
Natural Resources and Life
Sciences, Vienna
THANKS FOR YOUR ATTENTION!
Prof. Dr. Josef Glössl
Vice Rector for Research
and International Research Collaboration
josef.gloessl@boku.ac.at
www.boku.ac.at
09.07.2012
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09.07.2012
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