The European Summit of Industrial Biotechnology (esib) 2024 took place in Graz, Austria, bringing together leading experts, researchers, and innovators to explore the latest advancements in industrial biotechnology. As part of the conference, a standout side-event, the “Green Transition Experiences: Best Practices & World Café”, was held on 13 November 2024. This dynamic session served as a platform for knowledge exchange, fostering critical discussions on sustainability and innovation.
The Green Transition World Café – A Collaborative Dialogue
Designed to share experiences, lessons learned, and success factors for achieving a sustainable green transition, the World Café, moderated by Susanne Resch from BNN, welcomed around 50 participants from diverse sectors, including HealthTech, Pharma, and Biotechnology.
The core of the session was the World Café, where participants engaged in three rounds of 15-minute discussions at topic tables. Each table was led by a host focusing on a pressing theme related to sustainability and innovation:
- Arkeon: CO2 as a Resource – Discussions explored the potential of CO2 utilization for sustainable production processes.
- BNN: Safe-and-Sustainable-by-Design (SSbD) – Participants delved into enabling sustainable innovation through the SSbD framework.
- Bisy: Bio-based Products and Corporate Sustainability – Insights centered around bio-based innovations and strategies for achieving sustainability within companies.
- PAYER: Circular Economy and Corporate Carbon Management – Key discussions focused on product innovation, waste reduction, and managing corporate carbon footprints.
- ZETA: Energy Efficiency and Sustainable Manufacturing – Participants addressed strategies to improve energy efficiency and sustainability in production environments.
The session concluded with a wrap-up led by the table hosts, where the key outcomes and insights from the discussions were shared. Participants identified common challenges, opportunities for collaboration, and practical solutions to drive the green transition across industries.
In its role as coordinator of the Austrian Advanced and Innovative Materials Community “ATIMA”, BNN engaged with other national and international materials experts,promoting and strengthening the collaboration and dialogue towards a safer and more sustainable future.
The Green Transition World Café was one of the many highlights of esib 2024 conference, offering a valuable opportunity for sustainability facilitators and industry leaders to exchange ideas, share best practices, and inspire actionable strategies. The event emphasized the importance of collaborative dialogue and innovative approaches to achieving a sustainable and resilient future.
