The SYMBIO consortium met in Klagenfurt (Carinthia, Austria) on January 20–21, 2026, for its fifth General Assembly, hosted by BABEG >, the partner from the region of Carinthia. The two-day meeting provided an important opportunity to reflect on progress, coordinate upcoming work, and prepare for the next phase of the project.
The central focus of the Assembly was reviewing the work carried out so far and ensuring alignment across the different work packages. Extended sessions particularly for ongoing activities within RP2 helped define workflows, refine the project roadmap, and clarify expected deliverables. The Consortium also discussed how activities fit together across project phases, the KPIs achieved to date and those still to be reached, agreed on how to integrate reviewers’ feedback and the defined the main exploitation actions planned for the coming year.
Day 1: Reviewing progress and strengthening connections
The first day was dedicated to taking stock and looking ahead. Updates were shared across work packages, milestones and results were reviewed, and the different strands of work were brought together to ensure a clear and coherent direction for the project’s final stage. The discussions helped clarify priorities and sharpen the roadmap toward the project’s grand finale.
In the afternoon, the group held a valuable exchange with the Advisory Board, followed by a “Coffee Connect” session with the Carinthian ecosystem. This provided an opportunity to engage with regional stakeholders, broaden the conversation, and strengthen local links.
After a full day of meetings, participants took part in a city walk through Klagenfurt a chance to continue conversations informally and reflect on the day’s discussions.
Day 2: Connecting project work with real-world practice
The second day moved beyond the meeting room and into the field, linking project work with practical examples on the ground.
Participants visited Waldaffe, where they explored how agricultural and forestry residues are transformed into new circular solutions a concrete example of how local biomass streams can be rethought and reused. The group also visited Wood KPlus, a research centre working across the wood value chain, from raw materials to advanced wood-based products, with a strong focus on applied R&D, pilot-scale facilities, and sustainable materials and processes.
These visits provided valuable insights for the next phase of SYMBIO and offered a fitting conclusion to the General Assembly connecting project planning with real facilities, real challenges, and tangible opportunities for implementation.
About SYMBIO
SYMBIO brings together eight partners from six EU countries (Italy, Austria, Slovenia, Croatia, Spain, and Belgium) committed to developing circular bio-based business models from the design stage through industrial symbiosis. The project supports companies in identifying additional circular value from their products and materials while reducing risks linked to raw material volatility, pricing, and supply. By enabling more circular solutions, SYMBIO promotes the wider adoption of sustainable industrial practices across Europe.
