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On 1 September 2026, the Albanian partners of the B4CVET project welcomed representatives of the Deutsche Bundesstiftung Umwelt (DBU – German Federal Environmental Foundation) for a meeting hosted at the Professional School of Elbasan. The meeting brought together representatives from the four Albanian B4CVET partner organisations: A&I Services & Consulting (Albania), Agriculture High School “Mihal Shahini” (Albania), Professional School of Elbasan (Albania), and AgriNet – Albania. It provided an important opportunity to present the progress of the B4CVET project, discuss the contribution of the Albanian partners, and exchange perspectives on the future development of vocational education and sustainable skills in Albania. During the discussion, the DBU representatives showed particular interest in learning more about how the B4CVET project is progressing and how the different partner organisations contribute to its implementation. The Albanian partners presented their respective roles and highlighted the importance of cooperation between vocational education institutions, businesses, civil society organisations, and other stakeholders in creating a stronger and more responsive VET ecosystem. The conversation also went beyond the current project activities. Participants exchanged views on Albania’s future development, the challenges and opportunities facing the country, and the role that vocational education and training can play in supporting a more sustainable and competitive economy. Particular attention was given to the importance of international cooperation and the opportunities that foreign and European funding programmes can create for Albanian institutions. The meeting also opened a valuable discussion on potential areas for further cooperation and future initiatives. Building strong international partnerships can support Albanian organisations in accessing knowledge, expertise, innovative approaches, and funding opportunities that contribute to long-term institutional development and sustainable impact. For the B4CVET partnership, exchanges of this kind are particularly valuable because they connect the work being carried out within the project with a broader international perspective. They also create opportunities to build new networks and explore how the results, experience, and partnerships developed through B4CVET can contribute to future initiatives in Albania. We would like to sincerely thank the representatives of the Deutsche Bundesstiftung Umwelt (DBU) for visiting the Professional School of Elbasan and for their interest in the B4CVET project and its Albanian partners. The open and constructive discussion was highly appreciated, and we look forward to exploring opportunities for continued dialogue, international cooperation, and future collaboration. DisclaimerCo-funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.

Research, Development and Demonstration (RD&D) activities play a critical role in accelerating the transition to a low-carbon, circular economy. Through a portfolio of national and European projects, the Irish Bioenergy Association (IrBEA) is working with industry, researchers, landowners and communities to develop innovative solutions that unlock greater value from biomass resources.  IrBEA’s RD&D programme focuses on transforming agricultural, horticultural and forestry residues into high-value products, renewable energy and carbon removal solutions. Through projects such as Interreg NWE’s CASCADE, C5, VALORANT, EU Just Transition Fund BIOCHAR and PPS BIOCHAR, IrBEA is investigating how biomass can be used more efficiently across multiple sectors including agriculture, horticulture, forestry systems, construction and biomaterials, biogas, biofuels, urban greening, water management and carbon negative energy systems.  Research activities provide the scientific foundation for understanding feedstock quality, carbon impacts and sustainable value chains. Development work then translates this knowledge into practical technologies and processes, including biochar production systems, circular construction materials, nutrient recovery pathways and decision-support tools.  A key aspect of IrBEA’s approach is demonstration. Working with partners across Ireland and Europe, the association is validating these innovations in real world settings. Current demonstration activities include biochar and bio-nutrient trials in commercial horticulture, biomass-to-biochar conversion systems, and the development of new circular construction materials derived from agricultural feedstocks. These pilots demonstrate the cascading use of biomass with the renewable energy system as a key component for residual biomass utilisation, a cornerstone of the bioeconomy. They also help assess technical performance, environmental benefits and commercial viability while supporting stakeholder confidence and market uptake.  Knowledge transfer and capacity building are central to all project activities. Through training programmes, workshops, stakeholder engagement and international collaboration and projects like the B4CVET, IrBEA is helping to build the skills and networks needed to support the growth of a sustainable bioeconomy. By connecting research with practical deployment, it’s RD&D activities are creating pathways for innovation that deliver environmental, economic and societal benefits across rural and regional communities. Through IrBEA’s RD&D activities, it has become evident over the last decade that there is an ongoing need for upskilling, knowledge transfer, continuous professional development and vocational education training to ensure that future generations of farmers, foresters, engineers and project developers are equipped with the relevant skills to continue to deliver on the opportunities that the bioeconomy can provide when exploring biomass to biochar value chains.  DisclaimerCo-funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.