Highlights

Someone might ask whether this is an appropriate time to talk about the bioeconomy and future of regions when the world is focused on a microscopic, but powerful threat that has been able to halt humans' plans and actions temporarily, reduce access to financial resources and freeze development intentions. 

As defined in EUSBSR Action Plan, flagship is frequently the result of a policy discussion within a policy area or horizontal action. It fleshes out the ambition to achieve EUSBSR objectives in a specified field. Flagships in form of project and processes are being implemented by EUSBSR countries in cooperation with their non-EU neighbours.

The rapidly spreading COVID-19 pandemic is unprecedented in recent history. It is not only a public health crisis but also a humanitarian crisis that will impact the lives, health and livelihoods of people around the world. In the Baltic Sea region, Red Cross National Societies support national authorities in preparing and responding to the pandemic.

The concept of project platforms was introduced by the Interreg Baltic Sea Region Programme to support cooperation among partners of projects funded by Interreg and other funding programmes in different thematic fields. The overarching objective of this kind of collaboration has been to improve the utilisation of the results from individual projects on a wider scale.

The bioeconomy will play a significant role in the green transition as it enables a shift from a fossil fuels-based economy to one based on renewable biological resources. It has gained traction in numerous sectors and industries, which have shaped the world and will arguably have an even greater impact in the coming decade.

The pace of population ageing is much faster than in the past. According to World Health Organization statistics, the number of people aged 60 years and older outnumbers children younger than 5 years during 2020. Worth to mention, ageing issues are relevant in all local, national, regional and global levels keeping in mind the level of impact.