BioFarms Cluster

Programme 2021 - 2027 Interreg VI-B IPA Adriatic-Ionian

Date of latest update: 2026-01-29

Description

Description (EN):

The Biofarms Cluster (BFC) is a 36-month collaborative project involving nine partners across four European Union (EU) countries (Italy, Slovenia, Croatia, Greece), three countries participating in the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA) program (Bosnia-Herzegovina, Serbia, Albania), and 12 associated partners. The main objective of BFC is to establish a transnational cluster capable of enhancing the development and implementation of jointly developed approaches based on transnational Smart Specialization Strategies in the nutraceutical and pharmaceutical sectors, while facilitating technology transfer and capacity building at the Adrion level. BFC will implement virtuous technology transfer processes for the efficient and effective exploitation of agri-food by-products and wild plant species to produce vegetable extracts with innovative applications for the nutraceutical and biopharmaceutical market. By creating joint solutions, the technology transfer process will cover the entire value chain. To streamline this process, monitoring and standardization of processes will be implemented, and new business models will be developed to enhance market access for 35 SMEs and improve their resilience. Seven local Nodes, acting as contact points in each country, will facilitate networking, support Cluster members, carry out marketing functions, and attract new public and private members. The project targets vital sectors essential for the transition to a sustainable economy, such as agriculture, food production, Life & Food Science sectors, Green Chemistry, and Circular economy. These sectors play a pivotal role in driving innovation within industries and fostering social innovation. In this way, the project results aim to offer competitive advantages to the involved companies and regions, contributing to their sustainable growth and development. The BFC Cluster will also operate as living labs, providing 'real-world' platforms for landscape ecological studies to inform the development and testing of methods and tools, the design of incentives to encourage biodiversity management by farmers, and the sharing of information and data for systems analysis. Target groups include local, regional, and national public authorities, sectoral and regional development agencies, universities, research facilities, business support organizations (such as chambers of commerce, business innovation centers, and technology information centers), SMEs, and industrial hubs and parks.

Actual Achievements (EN):

The activities carried out in the first Work Package (WP1) were essential to initiate cooperation and ensure the effective implementation of the project. In the project's initial phase, each partner defined its specific needs, expertise, and contribution to project execution. A series of operational online meetings, both joint and one-to-one, were conducted under the coordination of designated task leaders for each activity and deliverable. Under UMG's coordination, three key deliverables were prepared, including a shared Work Programme, the Methodology for Fine-Tuning, with the establishment of a discussion panel and scientific-technical board. These were set up based on the partners’ specific know-how, fostering a concrete, functional collaborative framework. Due to organizational and logistical reasons, the Kick-off Meeting (D.1.1.3) was held towards the end of WP1. While this slightly delayed the start of some tasks, it allowed partners to meet in person with an already active cooperation base. The meeting served to assess ongoing progress, address emerging issues, and strategically plan the next stages. Under the leadership of PP2 GOEL, Activity 1.2 (Knowledge Transfer) and its deliverables were successfully completed. This included evaluating extraction technologies, their potential for scale-up, and defining selection criteria for raw materials to be tested in pilot phases. These findings are crucial for the planning of WP3 piloting actions, where technical feasibility data will be cross-referenced with the market demand study (Activity 1.3, D.1.3.1) and the biodiversity and circularity survey (Activity 1.4, D.1.4.1). For Activities 1.3 and 1.4 all partners jointly worked on defining objectives and methodologies. Data was collected from local nodes on native aromatic and medicinal plants (MAPs), agro-industrial by-products, and regional/national policies promoting biodiversity and circular economy practices. The collected information serves as the basis for two comprehensive final documents, taking into account both internal project dynamics and broader stakeholder relevance. The objectives and structure of the Toolkit (Activity 1.5 – D.1.5.1) were also defined, and the final document layout was drafted, providing an important starting point as a strategic resource for SMEs in the bio-farming, nutraceutical, and pharmaceutical sectors. The Toolkit supports aims the sustainable use of agricultural by-products and wild plants in line with circular economy principles, promoting innovation, commercialization, and cross-border cooperation in accordance with the EU green economy agenda, while fostering resource efficiency and sustainable growth in the Adriatic-Ionian region. In parallel, communication and dissemination efforts (Activity 1.6, D.1.6.1 and D.1.6.2) were also initiated, establishing goals, dissemination methods, and channels including LinkedIn, the official website, and newsletters. A content creation timeline was agreed upon among the partners involved. The framework for the Training Programme (Activity 2.2, D.2.2.1) was also outlined. This included identifying modules, mapping partner contributions based on competencies, and defining trainer selection criteria. In conclusion, despite some initial delays in joint operations, this first phase enabled the establishment of a solid and collaborative partnership. All partners effectively contributed their expertise, laying a strong foundation for the project’s next steps.

Project outputs: Meta Cluster to boost jointly developed solutions and support the exploitation of natural resources in the nutraceutical and biopharmaceutical fields.(EN)
BFC Joint Strategy(EN)
Validation of new processes and protocols for the selection and characterization of plant species, scaling-up extraction processes, and their potential nutraceutical and pharmacological applications.(EN)
New Operative Manual for the development and standardization of the nutraceutical and pharmaceutical value chain through transnational cooperation(EN)
Website: https://bfc.interreg-ipa-adrion.eu/

Thematic information

SME and entrepreneurship Knowledge and technology transfer

Priority: (VI-B_IPA-A_1) Supporting a smarter Adriatic Ionian region

Priority specific objective: RSO1.1. Developing and enhancing research and innovation capacities and the uptake of advanced technologies

Priority policy objective (Interreg specific objective): PO1 A more competitive and smarter Europe by promoting innovative and smart economic transformation and regional ICT connectivity

Type of intervention: 026 Support for innovation clusters including between businesses, research organisations and public authorities and business networks primarily benefiting SMEs

Partners (9)

Lead Partner: Università degli studi Magna Graecia di Catanzaro

Partner’s ID if not PIC: 02157060795

Department: Health Sciences - food sciences and nutraceuticals

Address: Viale Europa, 88100 catanzaro, Italy

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Higher education and research organisations

Total budget: EUR 178 487.60

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 151 714.46

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 85.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 26 773.14

Agjencia për Zhvillim të Qëndrueshëm

Name: Agjencia për Zhvillim të Qëndrueshëm

Department: Department of Environment and Agriculture

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 907008589

Partner’s ID if not PIC: L51411452W

Address: Teodor Keko, 10001 Tirana, Albania

Legal status: private

Organisation type: Local public authority

Total budget: EUR 97 800.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 83 130.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 85.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 14 670.00

THE FACTORY Ι.Κ.Ε.

Name: THE FACTORY Ι.Κ.Ε.

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 893366703

Partner’s ID if not PIC: EL801301320

Address: Valtetsiou & Tripoleos Str , 41336 Larissa, Greece

Legal status: private

Organisation type: SME

Website: https://joistpark.eu/en/

Total budget: EUR 154 920.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 131 682.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 85.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 23 238.00

Asocijacija FabLab B&H

Name: Asocijacija FabLab B&H

Department: 3D BioLabs

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 890075493

Partner’s ID if not PIC: 4202763800004 | Number of our organization, registered in Bosnia and Herzegovina at national level. (EN)

Address: Zmaja od Bosne, 71000 Sarajevo , Bosnia and Herzegovina

Department address: Zmaja od Bosne, 71000 Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Legal status: private

Organisation type: Infrastructure and (public) service provider

Website: http://www.fablab.ba

Total budget: EUR 139 380.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 118 473.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 85.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 20 907.00

Regionalna Agencija Za Ekonomski Razvoj Šumadije I Pomoravlja

Name: Regionalna Agencija Za Ekonomski Razvoj Šumadije I Pomoravlja

Department: NA

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 952966413

Partner’s ID if not PIC: 100559100

Address: Kralja Petra I, 34000 Kragujevac, Serbia

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Sectoral agency

Website: http://www.redasp.rs

Total budget: EUR 134 595.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 114 405.75

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 85.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 20 189.25

Gospodarska zbornica Slovenije

Name: Gospodarska zbornica Slovenije

Department: Association of Chemical Industries of Slovenia

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 999780165

Partner’s ID if not PIC: SI 73354376

Address: Dimičeva, 1000 Ljubljana , Slovenia

Department address: Dimičeva, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia

Legal status: private

Organisation type: Sectoral agency

Website: https://www.gzs.si/

Total budget: EUR 137 416.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 116 803.60

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 85.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 20 612.40

Veleučilišta u Križevcima

Name: Veleučilišta u Križevcima

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 949341523

Partner’s ID if not PIC: HR75480885018

Address: Milislava Demerca , 48260 Križevci , Croatia

Legal status: public

Organisation type: National public authority

Website: https://www.vguk.hr/

Total budget: EUR 172 700.80

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 146 795.68

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 85.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 25 905.12

PORA Regionalna razvojna agencija Koprivničko-križevačke županije

Name: PORA Regionalna razvojna agencija Koprivničko-križevačke županije

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 935449280

Partner’s ID if not PIC: HR72579334383

Address: Florijanski trg, 4800 Koprivnica, Croatia

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Regional public authority

Website: https://pora.com.hr/?lang=en

Total budget: EUR 105 828.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 89 953.80

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 85.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 15 874.20

GOEL società cooperativa sociale

Name: GOEL società cooperativa sociale

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 949834283

Partner’s ID if not PIC: 02898550807

Address: Via Peppino Brugnano, 89048 Siderno, Italy

Department address: Italy

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Other

Website: https://en.goel.coop/who-we-are

Total budget: EUR 179 804.40

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 152 833.74

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 85.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 26 970.66

Contractors:

Name: Manfredi Francesco
VAT registration or tax identification number: IT03082060793

Partners map

Partners and Projects info

Agency for Sustainable Development

BioFarms Cluster

Partners and Projects info

THE FACTORY I.K.E.

BioFarms Cluster

Partners and Projects info

Association ‘Digital Fabrication Laboratory’- FabLab B&H

BioFarms Cluster

Partners and Projects info

Regional Economic Development Agency for Sumadija and Pomoravlje

BioFarms Cluster

Partners and Projects info

Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Slovenia

BioFarms Cluster

Partners and Projects info

Križevci University of Applied Sciences

BioFarms Cluster

Partners and Projects info

PORA Regionalna razvojna agencija Koprivničko-križevačke županije

BioFarms Cluster

Partners and Projects info

GOEL social cooperative

BioFarms Cluster

Partners and Projects info

University Magna Graecia

BioFarms Cluster

Lead partner

Project partner

Summary

Project name (EN): BioFarms Cluster

Project acronym: BFC

Project ID: IPA-ADRION00232

Project start date: 2024-09-01

Project end date: 2027-08-31

Project status: ongoing

Relevant linked projects:

EMBRACE (EN) | Circular Business Model Toolkit (EN), ECOREG (EN) | Fine-tuning of methodologies and instruments to assist SMEs within their ecoinnovation processes and business models re design; preparation of training content for the activities addressed to SMEs, Intermediaries and Policymakers (EN), CLUSTER4GREEN (EN) | Supporting both the entrepreneurs and the local authorities responsible for the creation of an adequate green business environment and sustainable investment alliances established forging Public-Private Partnerships at the national and
international scales. (EN), BESTMEDGRAPE (EN) | Providing new methodologies for the development of the extracts and/or using the data of their research in our production context (EN), BLUEfasma project (EN) | Circularity Self-Assessment Tool (EN), MedSNAIL (EN) | Fostering the enhancement and development of small-scale traditional agro-food value chains that will offer increased business opportunities and more socioenvironmental sustainability (EN), ADRION Thematic Sub-cluster on Biodiversity Preservation and Protection (EN) | Cluster focuses on the conservation of nature and ecosystems, as well as on agro-ecological transition (EN), ECOVINEGOALS (EN) | The project helps develop strategies, action plans, tools and capacities for the agro-ecological transition of viticulture areas towards low input and low emission management systems. (EN)

Total budget/expenditure: EUR 1 300 931.80

Total EU funding (amount): EUR 1 105 792.03

Total EU funding (co-financing rate): 85.00%

Co-financing sources:

Investments, deliverables, policy contributions

(bullets are inserted automatically and may be incorrectly placed)

Deliverables:

Work Programme
Methodology for the Fine-Tuning
Kick-off
Meeting
Assessment of the process, protocols and know-how
List of matrix for
exploitation
Market demand Study
Survey
BioFarms Toolkit
BioFarms Newsletter/posts
Articles
Transnational Project Meeting
Work Programme
Training Programme
Training Course
Training Programme
Training Course
Study
Awareness Programme
Awareness workshops
Nodes Conferences
BFC Joint Strategy
Transnational Conference
BioFarms Newsletter/posts
Guidelines
Press releases
Project meeting
Work Plan
Guidelines for testing processes and protocols
Test the exploitation of new vegetable species and material
Test Micropropagation methods and scaling-up
Draw Guidelines for exploitation of the selected vegetable matrices
Test the scaling-up of new new eco-friendly extraction processes
Extract analysis and characterization
Evaluation of the extracts for nutraceutical and pharmaceutical application
Guideline with operative protocols for value chain development and transnational cooperation
Performance analysis.
Development and uptake of new models business.
Upskilling and digitalization training
Digital transformation
Study of innovative business models through Networking and transnational collaboration
Pilot assessment report
Memorandum of Understanding
Guideline for the new processes and protocols uptake at operative level
Workshops
BioFarms scientific and divulgation articles
Policy Brief
Transnational final conference
Newletter and social campaing

Contribution to wider strategies and policies:

EuropeanGreenDeal The European Green Deal aims to boost the efficient use of resources by moving to a clean, circular economy and stopping climate change, reverting biodiversity loss and cutting pollution. The project will test a model potentially able to halt biodiversity loss and the overexploitation of resources. In particular, projects contribute to the new circular economy action plan (CEAP), one of the main building blocks of the European Green Deal, by reducing pressure on natural resources and creating sustainable growth and jobs. According to this strategy, the project promotes circular economy processes and innovative solutions and encourages sustainable production to ensure that waste is prevented and the resources used are kept in the EU economy for as long as possible
EUStrategyAdriaticIonianRegion For the 2021-2027 programming period, the approach looks at the strengthening the Smart Specialisation to encompass the sustainability dimension, moving from S3 to S4 (Sustainable Smart Specialisation Strategies). From this point of view, the Smart Specialisation Strategies that the EUSAIR endorses would align with the SDGs, the European Green Deal, and the Green Agenda for the Western Balkans. According to this strategy, the proposal is focused on priority critical sectors for the transition to the green economy, such as the Life&Food Science sectors (RI3S). Moreover, through BioFarms, a replicable innovative methodology and related tools will be developed to re-design patterns of production and companies business models. Underlining the long last experience and competencies of GOEL, the president has been invited on 16/18 May 2022 to attend the “Farm to Fork as key for agri-food system transformation in EUSAIR countries” round table in the context of the 7TH EUSAIR FORUM. It was an excellent opportunity to contribute to defining a new strategy supporting the transition of the Agri-food sectors to the circular economy patterns.
Other Sustainable Development Goals. Ensuring sustainable consumption and production patterns is the n.12 SDG Goal "Responsible consumption & production", reinforcing the connection between development and sustainability, enhancing the combination of the economic dimension with the social and environmental ones. According to the strategy, our proposal aims to improve resource efficiency, consider the entire life cycle of economic activities, and reduce food loss and waste to contribute to environmental sustainability by lowering production costs and increasing the efficiency of food systems. To sustainably manage forests, combat deserti¬fication, halt and reverse land degradation, and halt biodiversity loss is the n.15 SDG Goal. Our proposal also contributes to this SDG by testing new solutions enabling sustainable production patterns while facing biodiversity loss issues and promoting new business patterns that respect the Planet's conservation and land consumption.
Other The Territorial Agenda 2030 aims to promote an inclusive and sustainable future for all places and help achieve Sustainable Development Goals in Europe, contributing to the key European objective of a Green Europe that protects common livelihoods and shapes societal and economic transition. The proposal may contribute to this strategy by addressing priority key sectors for the transition to the green economy, such as agriculture and food production and Life&Food Science sectors (RI3S) and providing tailor-made responses that focus on promoting sustainable land use, testing innovative sustainable models, creating value chain and transnational coalitions, encouraging the strengthening of innovation capacities in the involved regions, diversifying local and resilient economies to reduce vulnerability to external forces while assisting economic transition processes.
Other EU Strategy for the Alpine Region Strategy SO “Enhancing protection and preservation of nature, biodiversity and green infrastructure, including urban areas, and reducing all forms of pollution” and SO “Developing and enhancing research and innovation capacities and the uptake of advanced technologies. EUSALP aims to improve the framework conditions for developing research and innovation activities in the Alps induced by clusters and their SMEs and initiate trans-regional cluster-to-cluster cooperation involving quadruple helix actors. The project’s dissemination strategy will also share results with EUSALP territories contributing to boosting the uptake of innovative circular economy solutions, improving capacities and synergies of quadruple helix actors and strengthening the cooperation among local Nodes and Clusters.
Other Euroclusters, funded through the Single Market Programme, are cross-sectoral, interdisciplinary, trans-European strategic initiatives gathering industry clusters and other economic actors to implement the EU Industrial Strategy. One of the project activities provides the institution of a European Meta Cluster to build the economic and scientific environment for innovative partnerships and new opportunities for SMEs and stakeholders, integrating them into European and global strategic value chains. The Cluster could contribute to the implementation of the European Commission's New. Industrial Strategy for Europe, as well as its updated Strategy published in May 2021, and the SME Strategy for a Sustainable and Digital Europe, adopted in March 2020, by building resilience and accelerating the transition to a green and digital economy. Among the main cluster activities is the innovation for strategic autonomy to build capacity in their ecosystems' most critical supplies and technologies

Programme Common Output Indicator:

RCO 084 - Pilot actions developed jointly and implemented in projects, Measurement unit:
RCO 116 - Jointly developed solutions, Measurement unit:
RCO 083 - Strategies and action plans jointly developed, Measurement unit:
RCO 087 - Organisations cooperating across borders, Measurement unit:

Programme Common Result Indicator:

RCR 084 - Organisations cooperating across borders after project completion, Measurement unit:
RCR 104 - Solutions taken up or up-scaled by organisations, Measurement unit:
RCR 079 - Joint strategies and action plans taken up by organisations, Measurement unit:

Project part of European Union Macro-Regional or Sea Basin Strategy: EUSAIR

EUSAIR Priority (Policy) area / Horizontal action:

EUSAIR Degree of compliance:

Information regarding the data in keep.eu on the programme financing this project

Financing programme

2021 - 2027 Interreg VI-B IPA Adriatic-Ionian

Latest month of project-partner-call data publication

2026-01

No. of projects in keep.eu / Total no. of projects (% of projects in keep.eu)

70 / 70 (100%)

No. of project partnerships in keep.eu / Total no. of project partnerships (% of project partnerships in keep.eu)

653 / 653 (100%)

Notes on the data

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BioFarms Cluster

Description

Thematic information

Partners (9)

Partners map

Summary

Investments, deliverables, policy contributions

Information regarding the data in keep.eu on the programme financing this project

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