U.LUSOFONA / TRIE Leading forward looking research project was approved by EU Commission- value 1 million

On September the 14th, COCOON – Co-Creating greener futures; developing and transferring innovative bio-design modules for education to accelerate the green transition project was approved. It’s a 1 million euros research project led by COFAC – Ensino lusófona under the scope of TRIE – transdisciplinary research center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship ecosystems. The Project IR is Americo Mateus, TRIE board member and Lecturer at ISMAT – Ensino Lusófona Portugal.

Ensino Lusófona team members, Gabriel Patrocinio, Susana Leonor, Carla Paoliello, José Carvalho, Ana Cunha, David Palma (TRIE ISMAT), Carolina Godinho e Elsa Estrela is transdisciplinary – focus of TRIE research center, from the knowledge fields of: a) Strategic and Bio-Design; b) Management; c) Architecture; d) Circular Economy; e) Creative Technologies and f) Education (partnering with CeIED).

The project partners are really relevant players in the Strategic & Bio-design and biodiversity fields:

• AALTO University from Finland – One of the major Design (arts) references in Europe and worldwide.
• IAAC Barcelona – Institute for advanced architecture of Catalonia – One of the only existing Green Labs – Valldaura Self-sufficient Labs.
• FABLAB Reykjavik – One of the leading Fablabs in europe that is looking to make the transformation for a Green FabLab
• BIOPÓLIS Porto – The european CoE Center of Excellence with the higher EU funding ever, 130 million Euros, focusing in Environmental Biology, Ecosystem Research and AgroBiodiversity
• PUC – Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio de Janeiro – One Major University in Brazil and participating with awarded Biodesign Lab
• Newcastle University – One leading biotechnologies research Lab, HBBE – Biotechnology in the Built Environment.

Project Keywords

Green Transition, Biodesign, Biomaterials, Biotechnologies, Green Labs ecosystem

Project Theme and Proposal

Recognising climate change as one of the greatest threats to life on Earth, the EU pledged to be the first climate-neutral continent. Aligned with this challenge, COCOON aims to promote positive changes in industry and education. A large-scale project to accelerate transfer and co-creation of knowledge in the field of biodesign and biofabrication, CoCoon brings together a team of experts belonging to 7 institutions from 4 EU and 2 non- EU countries, committed to share experiences and develop new knowledge to contribute for a greener future.

The project will identify suitable living bio-based solutions used to produce materials that replace fossil based materials. CoCoon will develop methodologies, pilots and test processes for teaching bio-design to educators and students at universities, vocational schools and life-long learners; systematise procedures for implementation in the curricula of different learning systems.

The objective is to increase awareness of the most promising existing technologies globally and empower people to find alternative ways of making more environmentally sustainable products. It also advocates sustainable open access policy to workshops (green-labs) that enable the innovative use of bio-based products and materials.

By applying a “learning by doing” methodology, the project will: a) map the state of the art of bio and green labs; b) identify levels of safety and define terms of use; c) propose a best practice guide defining goals and strategies for infrastructure, human and material resources, maintenance, and knowledge update; and d) transfer knowledge to a broader audience of trainers, learners, makers, and the market. In addition, Cocoon’s policy observatory will: a) map related policies and stakeholders; b) develop and validate through participatory processes; and c) transfer resulting policy propositions through workshops and recommendations.