Innovations in agricultural sector of economy are a core topic of EU 2020 strategy, which promotes the elaboration of products and processes that contribute to sustainable development of the society. The background of Bio-FIT project sharps the need for introduction of the innovative principles of green biotechnology to improve this sector. Bio-FIT target groups (VET teachers/trainers/tutors, and agricultural SMEs personnel) need specific training within the frame of green biotechnology and especially in very innovative, ecologically friendly technology - biofertilizers. This type of education contributes in bridge building between technology and farming, and introduces bio-innovations to reach sustainable development of the agricultural sector. In this context, the general aim pursued by Bio-FIT project is:- To develop an innovative educational programme based on biotechnology of biofertilizers applying EQF/NQF strategic system for organization of VET process and to offer a scheme for innovative training, reflecting the specific partners’ country needs.The project specific objectives are focused on:- showing the eco-innovative character of bio-fertilizer technologies and effect on environment;- targeting the types and quality of the biofertilizers for preventing and supporting bio-farming;- studying the influence of biofertilizer technologies in decrease material inputs, reduce energy consumption and emissions, and minimize waste;- greening the economy through raising competitiveness and employability in Bulgarian and European economy and making sure development of technical competence as well as training skills.- boosting the competence based blended learning to improve prospects for entrepreneurship.The number and profile of participation organizations in project consortium are based on shared understanding and consideration of the need for provision of VET to teachers/trainers/tutors, and agricultural SMEs personnel in bio-fertilizers. It involves six partners from different geographical regions (BG, CY, GR, and HU). The partnership comprises two training institutions, two SMEs, which field of activity encompasses implementation of GAP and promotion of green technologies/services market, and two organizations which core activities are devoted to increasing the role of R & D in introducing new knowledge into the field of education and training. The undertaken main activities are based on System Development Life Cycle (SDLC) concept, which divides the project lifetime into:- Managerial and administrative arrangements- Commencement and tools design- Methodology and work plan- Intellectual Outputs- Multiplier Events- Bio-FIT piloting- Dissemination & Use- Sustainability and impact- Final reportingDuring the project development three type of results are elaborated:i) Results concerning project operation: derived during project commencement and conceptual design; complementing the Bio-FIT Intellectual outputs; processing multiplier events; assisting Bio-FIT training programme piloting; related to project dissemination & use; linked with Bio-FIT impact provision.ii) Results – six Intellectual outputs:- National case studies, assessing the current state of the art in each partner country in respect to project subject area;- Bio-FIT Qualifications Passport describing the key competences for specialists, working in the project subject area;- Bio-FIT e-Training environment, a functional tool for delivery of free-access information resources and training opportunities;- Bio-FIT Training Programme, offering multilingual model for international transfer of acquired qualifications in the field of biofertilizers;- Bio-FIT Handbook for Trainers/Trainees, designed to assist in delivering/acquiring the Bio-FIT training content;- Bio-FIT ECVET Framework, identifying the ways, by which Bio-FIT project can integrate ECVET principles and instruments.iii) Results derived during performance of dissemination & use activities as well as impact and sustainability:- Multiplier Events supporting performance and popularization of all project results.. The impact of Bio-FIT project is due to the provision of new opportunities for making education more relevant to the needs of the labor market. The project develops competency-based training that empowers the end-users with green skills and competences. The b-learning programme is based on Learning Outcomes model and thus contributes to the implementation of the “new skills for new jobs” strategy at national and EU scale. Longer-term benefits.Building of links between stakeholders and sectors, Bio-FIT project contributes effectively to the spread of sector-oriented VET into project field. In long term perspective, through offering high quality VET pathways, Bio-FIT project can give better prospects for professional carrier and competence development. It promotes the joint qualifications description and relationship between different sectors and areas.

The BIOTECH-GO background is linked with circle economy approach and boosts innovations development as implementation of Bioinformatics in Biotechnology. The latter is an interdisciplinary field of science, developing methods and software for storing, retrieving, organizing and analyzing biological data. It combines computer science, statistics, mathematics and engineering, to study and process biological data. The rationale of BIOTECH-GO is to create a better understanding and application of Bioinformatics in Biotech industry. To address the necessity for use and integration of Bioinformatics resources in Biotech SMEs, BIOTECH-GO introduces blended learning in bioinformatics and gives opportunities for SMEs and other industry organizations to derive business benefit from introducing and developing this technology. In order to achieve this, BIOTECH-GO is focused on improving the skills and qualifications of VET professionals – the main training mediators of the bioinformatics’ progress (VET teachers/trainers/tutors, and biotech SMEs personnel) and further supporting their employment opportunities and recruitment cycle.The main objectives pursued reflect the specific partner country needs and are focused on: identifying the common strategies to bridge the gap of the labor market skill needs in bioinformatics; training the target groups in two basic directions: 1) How to study the peculiarities of biological resources, 2) What are the applications of bioinformatics in biotechnology; creating a virtual space and available training contents, enriched with visual elements and simulations; showing the innovative character of bioinformatics technologies and effect on biotech industry; studying the influence of bioinformatics on technologies in decrease material inputs, reduce energy consumption and emissions; boosting and greening the economy through raising competitiveness and employability via provision of technical competence and training skills.The project partnership is established with understanding for VET need to shift educational policy from “knowledge” to “competence” and for introduction of the concept of Learning Outcomes and ECVET within the Bioinformatics training. It unifies partners with different background, satisfying the project goal from BG, GR and TR, and comprises two SMEs, an NGO, and two Universities.The main activities are assigned by project methodology based on SDLC concept, which divides the project lifetime into 5 phases and 10 activities: BIOTECH-GO justification, Cooperation and communication guidelines preparation, Establishment of BIOTECH-GO managerial structure, Creation of BIOTECH-GO b-learning concept, Work methodology & management, Intellectual Outputs working out, Multiplier Events organization and performance, BIOTECH- GO impact, Dissemination & Use, Post-project sustainable actions.Results and impact attained: 3 different types of results were developed: i) Results concerning organization and performance of the overall project development, piloting of Intellectual Outputs (O) and Multiplier Events (E) specific activities associated with project Dissemination & Use ii) Intellectual outputs: a) BIOTECH-GO National Case Studies reviewing the status of current practices and national peculiarities in Bioinformatics training in project partners’ counties, b) BIOTECH-GO Training Design & Delivery Framework representing project blended training platform, c) BIOTECH-GO Joint Study Education Programme (JSEP) comprising multilingual blended education material in bioinformatics, d) BIOTECH-GO training modes, which foresaw establishment and functioning of a blended scheme for organization and operation of a training process in bioinformatics based on improved accessibility, e) Tutorials for trainees and training providers that represent user friendly material for the target groups to use the blended learning model; iii) Multiplier Events supporting performance and popularization of all project results.The impact of BIOTECH-GO is the innovative programme providing new practical guidance tools and training materials in Bioinformatics. It proposes opportunities to make education more relevant to the needs of the labor market. BIOTECH-GO b-learning based on Learning Outcomes (LOs) implements of the “new skills for new jobs” strategy at national and EU level. It is realized through the knowledge part of the ICT based LOs scheme and supported by the performance of multiplier events in each participating country.The longer-term benefits are anticipated by the application of competence-based approach for training of the target groups, realized and upgraded with new bioinformatics skills and competences, needed by both employers and society. Thus, the current challenge facing bio-scientists and biotech SMEs - to be able to manage and exploit the available information and transform it into new knowledge with a socioeconomic impact, is emphasized and durable project effect is achieved.

EU has established a long-term ambitious policy to promote innovation capacity of higher education (HE) and business, as outlined in EU Agenda and to facilitate the circular economy to achieve sustainable growth and climate solutions.The purpose of BIO-Save project is to bridge the gap between teaching in the academic/higher education world and continuous professional development in the biotech sector respecting climate change to promote best practices for its mitigation based on modern biotechnology approaches. The pillars, addressed by the project are:- Linking HE, research and business for excellence and regional development- Stimulating the development of entrepreneurial and creative skills and promoting innovation in HE through interactive learning environments- Improving skills for development of biotech sectorThe challenges of BIO-Save are grounded on the development of an original multilingual (EN, BG, GR, TR, IT) multidisciplinary modular education programme in the field of Modern biotechnology. It presents the latest innovations and tools in application of biotech approaches for climate change mitigation and adaptation in agriculture. The curriculum is created for students, professors, and practitioners. It is offered together with a learning model of cloud-based blended approach with the use of 3D imaging technology design. The model describes the innovative green qualification characteristics of learners based on EQF/NQF/HE and ECTS descriptors and considers national peculiarities. BIO-Save project will sustain the programme results during and in post project life ensuring vast measures for D&E.The long-term impact of the project is assured by both the development of BIO-Save new educational programme, adapted to the actual challenges and needs of biotech professionals and designed in dialogue with them; and fostering and sharing EU quality standards and diversity of professional practices and learning methods in European Biotech sector.