Fraunhofer Center for International Management and Knowledge Economy IMW
EU project for the development of qualification measures for biomass consultancy / Competencies for tomorrow’s energies: A qualification scheme for biomass consultancy
Duration: November 2012 to October 2014
Since November 2012, the Leipzig Fraunhofer Center coordinated the European project Q-BICON (Competences for tomorrow’s energies: a qualification scheme for bioenergy consultancy). A declared goal of European politicians is the massive expansion of renewable energies in order to achieve a significant reduction in CO2 emissions, which are harmful to the climate. Among renewable energies, biomass already constitutes the most important energy source in many European countries today. Nonetheless, experience shows that it is specifically the lack of qualification options available that is hindering a sustainable and comprehensive expansion of bioenergy in the EU states. In this respect, against the background of planning and investment decisions, consultants and multipliers play a prominent role in the future utilization of bioenergy. In order to be able to make constructive decisions for the long term, these actors rely on adequate organizational and technical expertise. This is where Q-BICON came in, with the aim of developing a specific and innovative qualification framework for the part-time further education of consultants and multipliers in the bioenergy sector.
Q-BICON was funded by the EU’s Lifelong Learning Programme. The project consortium included six partners from four European countries with experience in knowledge transfer and advanced training as well as in the field of bioenergy and sustainability.