Four pilot projects from the RESOURCE project – SmartMoss, Cadiuco/ Bioreca Innovacion SL, CERFO and Biogas – had the unique opportunity to take centre stage at 𝗘𝗕𝗡 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗴𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱 (𝟭𝟴-𝟮𝟬 𝗝𝘂𝗻𝗲, 𝗕𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗸𝗮𝗹𝗱𝗼), engaging with a diverse audience of support organisations, investors, experts from across Europe and beyond. Their participation marked an important milestone in their circular economy journey and in the RESOURCE project’s commitment to visibility, networking, and investment readiness.
As part of the official Congress programme, each of the four pilots pitched their project or circular innovation to an expert audience, receiving valuable visibility. The dedicated pitching session was followed by private sessions with investors and technical experts from the EBN community. These tailored interactions enabled the pilot projects to answer questions, clarify their projects and their investment needs, and build strategic connections for future collaboration.
In addition to the pitch sessions, some pilot projects showcased their prototypes at the RESOURCE booth in the Congress exhibition area. The booth became a lively focal point for informal networking, peer exchange, and discussions with experts and industry stakeholders interested in circular economy solutions.
Participants reported the experience as highly beneficial, citing the exposure, expert guidance, and networking opportunities as significant accelerators for their development. For many, it was the first time presenting their solution in such a high-level international forum, and it sparked new perspectives and interest from potential partners.
The Congress also highlighted the added value of connecting local circular economy initiatives with pan-European networks such as the EU|BICs, reinforcing RESOURCE’s strategy of building bridges between regional pilots and the broader innovation ecosystem.
Importantly, RESOURCE also played a role in the EU|BIC Excellence Award 2025: Green Transition, with one of its representatives joining the expert evaluation panel. This year’s edition celebrated impactful incubation programmes advancing green and circular innovation. RESOURCE’s participation helped ensure that circular economy principles were reflected in the judging process, drawing from the project’s own experience benchmarking support methodologies and impact-driven strategies. The award, which saw five finalists pitch live at the Congress, is a powerful platform to scale learning, foster collaboration, and honour the work of EU|BICs driving the green transition.
As the RESOURCE project nears its final phase, this moment at EBN Congress represents both a culmination and a launching point—demonstrating the potential of circular startups when provided with the right visibility, support, and community.
Following the event, two pilot project shared a testimonial
Cadiuco / Bioreca Innovación SL testimonial (Fernando Mestre Sanchis):
“At Bioreca Innovación SL, we have had a very positive experience participating in the RESOURCE project, particularly during the Congress held in Bilbao. The initiative has provided us with increased visibility, valuable connections, and a favourable environment to advance our business ideas. During the Congress, we had the opportunity to showcase the development of our line of agricultural bioinputs, which began with the LIBAU project—a natural biofungicide aimed at controlling fungal diseases in crops. This project was submitted to a binational call between Spain (CDTI) and Argentina (MinCyT), in collaboration with the Argentine company BPAnalytical SA. This collaboration has since evolved into Lux-Fruit , a bio-disinfectant designed for the pre- and post-harvest control of fungi and bacteria in fruits and vegetables, which was officially presented in Bilbao. As announced at the Congress, our current focus is on securing funding for the joint development of a commercial pilot for Lux-Fruit in both the EU and Argentina, leveraging BPAnalytical’s strong client base to bring this innovation to market”
SmartMoss testimonial (Christian Garcia Cebollada):
“From Smart Moss we want to thank the Resource program for letting us expose before a European community of incubators and accelerators with multiple programs and even contact with international investors. We believe that bringing our solutions to events like this allows the networking with Europe community and facilitates a way out for high-risk projects like ours, adapting to our needs and applying individual solutions. Thank you very much for your efforts and hopefully we can continue to make this project come out in the best way and in the shortest possible time to the European market. Next time i would like to connect with the citizen too.