GreenEsteem

New national advisory bodies launched across Austria, Bulgaria, and Poland to optimize co-creation strategies and overcome barriers to Nature-Based Solutions in GreenEsteem project.

As European cities increasingly grapple with the realities of climate change, Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) such as green roofs, sustainable drainage systems, and urban parks are recognized as essential lifelines for urban resilience. Yet, their implementation and long-term maintenance often fail due to a critical disconnect between urban planners, citizens, researchers, and local resources. To break down these silos and ensure urban greening initiatives thrive, the Horizon Europe GreenEsteem project has officially launched its Expert Support Groups (ESGs).

Designed to directly support the project’s mission, these new national advisory bodies across Austria, Bulgaria, and Poland will engage closely in project initiatives to optimize co-creation strategies and overcome implementation and maintenance barriers for Nature-Based Solutions (NBS). Following a comprehensive mapping of local and regional ecosystems, these groups have been assembled to include voices with diverse expertise ranging from researchers, policymakers, and local government officials to practitioners, local businesses, civil society representatives, and citizens.

Rather than acting as distant observers, the ESGs are deeply integrated into the initiative’s day-to-day efforts. Members will participate in key meetings and project events, including specialized trainings, expert roundtables, and symposia, ensuring a continuous and dynamic exchange of ideas. Their primary objective is to discuss, identify, and address key challenges and potential opportunities in translating NBS research into practice. By keeping the project team up-to-date on the latest environmental and policy developments, the ESGs will help optimize strategies to overcome local barriers, ultimately enhancing the long-term impact of green infrastructure across different urban contexts.

The Bulgarian Expert Support Group members are featured on the GreenEsteem project website.

Driving Change Through Shared Knowledge

While “urban greening” is the public goal, the real engine driving the ESGs is putting shared knowledge to work. GreenEsteem recognises that the biggest threat to green spaces isn’t a lack of initial funding, but a lack of the skills and resources needed to maintain them long-term. To solve this, the ESGs bring together experts from various sectors to translate academic theory into practical, community-supported solutions. By bridging this gap, the resulting Nature-Based Solutions become much more sustainable and deeply rooted in local communities.

A Four-Pillar Approach to Innovation

Established in Austria, Bulgaria, and Poland, the ESGs are national advisory bodies uniquely structured around the “Quadruple Helix” innovation model. This framework intentionally moves away from top-down planning. Instead, the ESGs are composed of independent leaders representing four critical sectors:

• Academia and Research: Providing scientific rigour, ecosystem service analysis, and educational insights.
• Public Authorities: Ensuring alignment with local governance, civic budgets, and municipal policy.
• The Private Sector: Supplying technical implementation expertise and sustainable business practices.
• Civil Society: Voicing community needs, youth perspectives, and grassroots environmental activism

Guiding the Green Transition

The core role of these national ESGs is to support the collaborative knowledge valorisation (CKV) of Nature-Based Solutions throughout the 24-month project. Operating as strategic sounding boards, these experts work closely with the GreenEsteem team to anchor the project in reality. They actively provide support by:

• Identifying key barriers and potential opportunities within diverse urban contexts.
• Sharing emerging policy trends and practical insights from their respective fields.
• Participating in national expert roundtables to validate project findings.
• Reviewing and refining targeted training modules, strategic roadmaps, and policy recommendations.

A Collaborative Blueprint for the Future

By continuously embedding stakeholder perspectives into the project’s DNA, the ESGs ensure that GreenEsteem’s outputs are not only evidence-based but genuinely responsive to national and local needs. They serve as the vital link that transforms abstract scientific knowledge into locally relevant, actionable, and socially supported solutions for sustainable urban environments

Co-creation in action: Residents and stakeholders brainstorm revitalisation plans for a local lake at a recent GreenEsteem Living Lab workshop. (Photo: TEAM SOFIA)

Links

Project Website: https://www.greenesteem.eu/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/greenesteem/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61582713119137

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/greenesteem_eu/

Keywords

Nature-based solutions, expert support groups, knowledge valorisation, quadruple helix collaboration, ecosystem-services, participatory planning, urban greening, climate resilience