When coordinating a Horizon Europe project as ambitious as RISERS, one quickly learns that success depends not only on the strength of the consortium, but also on the quality of the people around it – those who challenge us, inspire us, and make sure we always keep sight of the bigger picture. For us, that group is the RISERS External Advisory Board (EAB). As the project progresses, we have come to well understand that their contribution is not just helpful, but also of great essence.
From the very beginning of the project preparation, we knew we needed an Advisory Board that would not simply “tick a box”, but truly engage with the project. The aim was to find a valuable group of people who would provide high-level advice, offer feedback on key outputs, and support RISERS in shaping future policy and standardisation directions for industrial symbiosis. What these words cannot fully capture is how active, thoughtful, and constructive their involvement has already been.
Active voices in RISERS Plenary meeting
During the project’s November 2025 Plenary meeting in Brussels at EIT House, the Advisory Board brough an energy that is both supportive and challenging in the best way. They asked the questions we needed to hear, not the ones that are easiest to answer. Their feedback pushed us to rethink how we communicate certain technical elements of the project’s activities, not to make things more complicated, but to make them clearer and more usable for industry and policymakers, such as our differentiation between circular economy and industrial symbiosis case studies.
Guiding the RISERS proposal through the upcoming Circular Economy Act
One of the Advisory Board’s most impactful contributions so far has been their feedback to our policy-oriented work, notably the RISERS proposal linked to the Circular Economy Act. Many of our EAB members come from national and European standardisation bodies, innovation platforms, and industry networks. This means they understand what types of policy and standardisation tools can actually work on the ground.
Their experience was vital in the final refining of our positioning: what to emphasise, how to phrase certain recommendations, and what evidence policymakers will need. Their guidance ensured that our proposal stayed ambitious but also realistic and aligned with broader European priorities. One of the most rewarding things for me as a coordinator is watching how their comments on the Circular Economy Act sparked new discussions among the project partners.
Shaping the future standardisation roadmap
The Advisory Board is already helping shape the direction of our work on the Industrial Symbiosis standardisation roadmap. Their feedback ensures we stay focused on what truly matters: creating a roadmap that is practical, trustworthy, and ready for the future. Thanks to their insights, our recommendations gain the depth and credibility needed to resonate with both policymakers and standardisation bodies. As we enter a more active stage of developing the roadmap, we will continue to work closely with the Advisory Board to benefit from their insight.
A bridge into the wider ecosystem
Another area where the Advisory Board shines is in helping us connect with the right people. We aimed to have a board that will also advise us on stakeholders to involve in policy-making activities. In practice, this has been invaluable. They have pointed us toward organisations, networks and experts we might not otherwise have reached and in a project like RISERS, building these bridges is half the work.
An independent voice we trust
The Advisory Board members are fully independent from the consortium, and this independence is crucial. It ensures that their advice remains objective, balanced and rooted in what is best for the project and for society. As coordinator, I deeply value this impartiality. Their ability to look at our work without internal bias helps us stay on track and maintain high standards.
Looking ahead
We still have a long journey ahead, but with such an engaged and knowledgeable Advisory Board, we are confident that RISERS will not only meet but also exceed its expected impact.
Their contributions make our work sharper, our vision clearer, and our results stronger. On behalf of the entire RISERS team, I want to thank them for their ongoing commitment. We look forward to continuing this productive journey together.
