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- The R&D Canvas: a design thinking tool for the management of R&D projectsPublication . Santos, José M.R.C.A.; Brandão, Ana SofiaResearch and Development (R&D) projects are inherently ambitious, complex, uncertain, and risky. On the one hand, they increasingly involve diversified groups of people and entities that gather around common goals, with different objectives for each one. On the other hand, science and technology policies promoted and implemented by public entities are gaining momentum, translating into more R&D funding opportunities but also into more competition and accountability for the use of public funds. Research managers and administrators are, therefore, faced with growing challenges when coping with all these aspects and leading teams of scientists, companies, users, and other stakeholders towards successful projects. Traditional project management frameworks have been used and adapted to help the R&D project manager. However, the potential of design thinking principles and practices in this context has yet to achieve its full potential. This is quite surprising bearing in mind that both R&D projects and design thinking share a central characteristic: the key role of creativity and co-creation in assuring successful initiatives. In this paper, the rationale for a new tool for R&D management based on design thinking principles is presented. The relevant literature is reviewed, and the concepts that previous researchers have suggested are analyzed. The interplay between classical project management approaches and the creativity-driven nature of every R&D initiative is rationalized. The findings are used to develop a conceptual framework for a tool which can help research managers and administrators in facilitating the successful development of R&D initiatives. The usefulness of the R&D Canvas to the research management and administration profession is centered on its multi-purpose usability as an effective planning and communication tool that facilitates the incorporation of creativity and co-development practices in the highly heterogeneous contexts characteristic of contemporary R&D endeavors.
- Sustainability from Policy to Practice: Assessing the Impact of European Research and Innovation Frameworks on Circular BioeconomyPublication . Brandão, Ana Sofia; Santos, José M.R.C.A.Europe leads in shaping circular bioeconomy (CBE) policies for sustainability, relying on dynamic research and innovation (R&I) projects to propel the transition. Increased European R&I investment, fueled by commitment and a societal demand for measurable project returns, lacks a comprehensive evaluation. This study provides an in-depth analysis of the alignment of European-funded R&I projects with CBE policy priorities and assesses their societal impact. Rooted in an interpretive paradigm, it employs content analysis through semi-structured questionnaires to survey project leaders. The study evaluates benefits using the triple bottom line concept and interprets results guided by the theory of change. Our results suggest that European-funded R&I projects actively cultivate a supportive ecosystem for CBE adoption, as evidenced by emerging themes such as knowledge sharing, capacity building, and collaborative learning, aligning closely with investment priorities and funding schemes. The societal impact focuses on the short and medium term, emphasizing the social dimension by committing to empowering individuals, fostering collaboration, and enriching knowledge. Long-term benefits primarily contribute to the economic dimension, highlighting the potential for positive impacts like promoting business growth, innovation, improving market efficiency, and fostering sustainability. This study seeks to enhance the impact of R&I projects and promote a paradigm shift towards sustainability by providing context-specific recommendations.
- Rural regions as key locations for the circular bioeconomy: insights from the northern interior of PortugalPublication . Brandão, Ana Sofia; Santos, José M.R.C.A.Rural areas have often been singled out as strategic locations for the implementation of the Circular Bioeconomy (CBE) concept. This study aims to carry out a detailed analysis of the northern interior of Portugal, focusing on its business dynamics within the CBE. Two representative case studies were selected and critically compared with successful cases from European Nordic countries. The results showed that, generally, waste is managed inefficiently and with little benefit. The cross-comparison with the Nordic CBE model revealed that there is a lack of synergies and collaboration between different stakeholders, from the most basic to the most advanced level. Also, investment in more applied education, as well as a culture based on trust and dialogue, would greatly contribute to the successful implementation of regional CBE policies. In short, innovation, not only in products and services, but mainly in partnerships is key to a sustainable economic growth in rural regions.
- On the societal impact of publicly funded Circular Bioeconomy research in EuropePublication . Brandão, Ana Sofia; Santos, José M.R.C.A.Europe has taken a world leadership position in setting policy priorities for Circular Bioeconomy (CBE) as a key determinant of economic, social, and environmental sustainability. Consequently, European R&D investment in this area keeps growing along with the societal pressure to demonstrate the return of investment of publicly funded projects. Thus, this work presents a pioneering exploratory analysis of the extent to which projects funded at the European level incorporate the policy priorities for which they are being designed in the context of CBE, and how can the impact they are having on society be assessed. Thence, project impact evaluation is carried out in the short- and medium-term, and categorized under Industrial Competitiveness, Sustainable Development, and Community and Public Policies. For this purpose, secondary information was gathered from the European projects database Cordis, as well as primary information through a questionnaire survey of project coordinators. The empirical data collected suggest that European Framework Programmes have been fulfilling their purpose, as they are increasingly societal challenges-driven and market-oriented. This is evidenced by market-related topics addressed in the projects analysed and by the active participation of companies that outnumber academic institutions. As far as impact is concerned, scientific publications continue to be the main result of this type of project in the short-term, whereas in the medium-term social and economic benefits were also identified. Notably, the creation of scientific jobs in the industry, of industrial joint ventures, and the generation of documents to support the improvement of public and EU policies on biobased products
- Valorization of pomace from craft cider: Nutritional value, chemical composition, and phenolic and mineral profilesPublication . Brandão, Ana Sofia; Caleja, Cristina; Dias, Maria Inês; Ben Salha, Asma; Rezouga, Feriel; Rodrigues, Paula; Ferreira, Isabel C.F.R.; Barros, Lillian; Santos, José M.R.C.A.Waste recovery, in a circular economy context, is associated with clear economic and environmental benefits. Although apple pomace has been extensively studied for many applications, the valorization of pomace from emerging craft cider production is a novelty. This work is intended to determine the nutritional value, chemical composition, and phenolic and mineral profiles of pomace from craft cider waste. Levels of moisture (79.3%) and sugar contents (54.0%) stand out in their composition. Ethanol (1.56%) has been identified. Also, malic acid (2.94%), as well as α‐tocopherols (0.4 mg/100 g) were detected. The phenolic profile showed six flavonoid compounds identified mainly quercetin derivatives. The mineral analysis revealed potassium as the major constituent (58.5 mg/g). In conclusion, it is envisaged that cider pomace could be an ideal substrate for biotechnological purposes, particularly as a sustainable and alternative, cheap source to produce glycerol for application in various industries such as food, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals.
- Circular bioeconomy strategies: from scientific research to commercially viable productsPublication . Brandão, Ana Sofia; Gonçalves, Artur; Santos, José M.R.C.A.The increasing volume of resources demanded by a growing world population, and the concomitant need for safeguarding nature, has led to the development of a second generation of technologies that use bio-waste as a resource for diverse industrial sectors. Bearing in mind the widespread availability and significant potential of agri-food and forest wastes in particular, this review intends to provide an overview of the current scientific, technological and commercial trends on valorization of these bio-resources. To that end, the specialized literature on circular bioeconomy (CBE), major high added-value product typologies, their feedstocks and respective processing technologies are reviewed and framed in face of relevant patent literature and commercial products. Scientific articles are focused on chemicals for varied industrial sectors, derived essentially from agri-food wastes by using biotechnological processes. Patents and commercial products focus is also on agri-food wastes but mainly on products for the food industry and using predominantly physical processes, seldom combined with chemical and biotechnological processes. Societal benefits of products and processes, including environmental perspectives, are most frequently cited and aligned with the CBE concept. Despite the significant evolution observed in the last two decades, and an increasing volume of related patents, CBE research is not yet significantly mirrored by the market, showing that its full potential is still far from being realized. For further progressing towards an impactful CBE, it is suggested that there is a need to develop further evidence that CBE-inspired products are indeed preferable to their fossil-based counterparts, from both the economic and societal points of view, including environmental sustainability, and to communicate extensively the findings to the society at large.
- A Multi-Dimensional Framework for Assessing the Societal Benefits of Collaborative R&I Projects Over TimePublication . Brandão, Ana Sofia; Santos, José M.R.C.A.This paper contributes to the ongoing discussion on assessing the actual societal benefits of collaborative research and innovation (R&I) projects, focusing specifically on Circular Bioeconomy (CBE) initiatives funded under European Interreg programs. Utilizing an abductive method aligned with a grounded theory approach, the study conducted a multiple case study of five cross-border CBE projects. Data from project leaders and secondary sources underwent inductive content analysis and were classified using the Triple Bottom Line (TBL) framework. Seven cross-cutting benefit categories emerged: capacity building, collaborative learning, community empowerment, networking, knowledge sharing, policy development, and sustainable business practices, identified as influencing results across TBL dimensions temporally. Findings reveal projects excel at generating short/medium-term outputs and outcomes strongly aligned with the social dimension, particularly through capacity building, collaborative learning, and knowledge sharing. Over time, long-term impacts demonstrate a more balanced distribution across all three TBL dimensions (social, environmental, and economic), indicating a trajectory towards broader benefits. Policy development and networking are emphasized as key drivers for achieving significant long-term, multi-dimensional impacts. This study introduces a novel, empirically grounded, multi-dimensional theoretical model. By inductively categorizing benefits and analyzing their temporal manifestation across TBL, it provides a practical framework for assessing comprehensive societal impact beyond conventional output metrics.