Hello, and welcome to the latest edition of White Research's monthly newsletter!

DE-CONSPIRATOR: first workshop completed, call for papers on FIMI research methods is now open!?

In a significant step towards understanding and mitigating the challenges of Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference (FIMI), White and the rest of the DE-CONSPIRATOR consortium recently concluded the first two-day workshop for senior officials and experts.?

The workshop featured productive discussions with senior officials from the European External Action Service (EEAS) and NATO . The goal was to better understand and contextualise how authoritarian regimes use information suppression (FIMI) and improve the understanding of how to safeguard fundamental rights against the misuse of information.? ? The insights gained from this workshop will play a significant role in shaping future policies and strategies to combat the misuse of information and disinformation. The DE-CONSPIRATOR consortium, at the forefront of this battle, is committed to educating, empowering, and involving everyone in this effort.?

In addition, the DE-CONSPIRATOR consortium is pleased to announce a call for abstract submissions for its upcoming workshop titled "Research Methods Workshop: Psychological, Social and Behavioural Approaches to Foreign Information Manipulation & Interference (FIMI) Studies.?

The deadline for extended abstract submissions has been set for April 30, 2024. The workshop will take place on June 3-4, 2024, at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel in Brussels and welcomes papers that explore the extensive and various dynamics revolving around FIMI and its ecosystem.?

For more information about the call and to submit your abstract, visit DE-CONSPIRATOR’s workshop page.

If you're interested in keeping up with important project updates and being part of this critical conversation, we urge you to follow DE-CONSPIRATOR's LinkedIn and X social media accounts.

Regional Inclusive Biobased Entrepreneurship Solutions, or simply the RIBES project???

Across Europe, most EU regions are still exploring their position regarding the bioeconomy. From complicated policy mandates to a limited understanding of the economy, many barriers get in the way. Most importantly, the need for more awareness of relevant market opportunities and a lack of knowledge, skills, and financial resources to set up sustainable business models result in bioeconomy innovation feeling far from straightforward for most rural stakeholders.??

With its kick-off meeting in beautiful Trieste in late March, the RIBES project unites twenty (20) partners from all around Europe to promote the use of bio-based innovations by developing new governance and business models that combine the circular bioeconomy, social innovation, and rural development.?

The overall objective of RIBES is to empower social entrepreneurs in rural communities to co-create inclusive and sustainable bio-based business models that use simple digital solutions to connect and inform stakeholders while also facilitating value chain development and market access for bio-based products and services.?

Coordinated by the Central European Initiative - CEI , the project boasts a diverse and robust consortium specialised in bioeconomy, sustainable economy, governance, rural development, business management, and research. White Research leads the dissemination and communication of the RIBES project messages and results and looks forward to showcasing and promoting the impact in these nine European regions.?

?For more information about the RIBES project, follow and subscribe to its LinkedIn, X and Facebook accounts!?

Co-creating strategies to effectively monitor food security impacts over time – by the ECOREADY project?

The co-creation workshop held by White Research on March 13th was a significant event for the Eco-Ready project. It provided an opportunity to directly engage with end-users and ensure that the Eco-Ready platform solutions are tailored to effectively meet their needs. With a wide range of stakeholders from the food system, the event fostered collaboration and built stronger connections.?

The workshop used the World Café format, promoting open, creative discussions in a casual setting. This allowed for in-depth conversations about monitoring food security impacts, understanding trends, and finding the best ways to display complex data on food security, biodiversity, and climate change. These discussions aimed at improving strategies and responses to food security challenges.?

Moreover, the workshop offered insights to enhance the platform and app, focusing on decision-support tools and user experience to enable informed decisions. Exploring data visualization methods was key to making complex information accessible and useful for stakeholders, linking food security with biodiversity and climate change.?

The goal is to create tools that aid decision-making and resilience, encouraging user engagement with the platform's resources. Such collaborative efforts can build a supportive community, boosting the impact of food security efforts.?

We're grateful to our partners and co-hosts - ?eská zemědělská univerzita v Praze , Wageningen University & Research , Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (AUTH) , and IFOAM Organics Europe - for their crucial roles in the workshop's success and the ECO-READY Observatory's design.?

Insights into Europe's energy future from a panel discussion organized by White Research

Charting a course for Europe's sustainable energy future was the topic of a compelling panel discussion titled "Re-Energising Europe," organised by White Research and guided by our colleague Dr. Dimitris Chapizanis . Leading minds came together to focus on harnessing what was learned from current research endeavours to expedite Europe's shift towards greener energy solutions.?

The panel consisted of representatives from various EU-funded projects like NRG2peers , UP-STAIRS Uplifting Energy Communities , W4RES - Women for market uptake of renewable heating and cooling , and BECoop H2020 . Each panellist shared valuable insights and methodologies on how to propel the adoption of renewable energy initiatives.?

The discussion provided insightful opinions on key aspects, including the implications of stakeholders' skill enhancement, approaches for leveraging created tools, and replicability of project methodologies. Furthermore, learning from the past was highlighted as a vital aspect of streamlining the path to sustainable energy while underscoring the importance of empowering communities in the transition to sustainable energy. This involves leveraging renewable sources, innovative technologies, and active community involvement.?

White Research is involved in diverse energy projects that advance sustainable energy transitions, making us experts and dependable collaborators in shaping Europe's renewable energy and sustainable development.??

For more information about the discussion, visit here.?

HumMingBird: Bridging Insights for Inclusive Migration Policies

Migration shapes the social, political, and global landscapes. With governments and societies worldwide prioritizing migration as a crucial policy issue, understanding its root causes, drivers, and patterns is paramount.?

HumMingBird Project d, through extensive research and data analysis, has been at the forefront of deciphering migration complexities. By studying migration flows, drivers and emerging trends, HumMingBird has unveiled valuable insights into the future implications of present policy decisions.?

On March 21st, 2024, HumMingBird took a step forward by consolidating 5 years of research into actionable insights. Through a series of dedicated sessions, policymakers and stakeholders were equipped with recommendations on how to navigate the landscape of migration governance.?

The success of HumMingBird's policy event underscores the importance of informed dialogue in shaping inclusive migration policies. As we anticipate the final event on May 27-28, 2024, in Leuven, Belgium, we remain committed to further exploring migration dynamics and communicating our findings!?

You can find the policy recommendations here.?

ALFA Successful completion of the Open Calls

The ALFA Project recently launched an open call, receiving 37 applications from 11 countries, both from EU and non-EU nations. Focusing on the project’s Hub countries, applicants range from livestock farmers to existing biogas plant owners and members of energy communities.?

White Research, serving as the Belgian ALFA Hub, is truly grateful for the strong interest shown by farmers, biogas plant owners, and industry experts in the open call. We are eager to offer our support services and help develop initiatives like this one that have a significant impact in facilitating investments in biogas installations using manure.?

ALFA project will launch the second round of Open Calls by the end of the year. You can stay tuned for more information here: https://bit.ly/4cWZblt?