The SITES–ICABR 2026 Summer School invites applications from PhD students, early-career researchers, and professionalsinterested in the economics of sustainable rural development, with a particular focus on the role of  bioeconomy and biotechnological innovation within a One Health framework.

The Summer School is grounded in the recognition that human, animal, and environmental health are deeply interconnected, and that agriculture and rural territories play a central role in addressing global challenges related to food security, climate change, biodiversity, and public health. The One Health approach provides the overarching conceptual framework through which bioeconomy strategies, innovation pathways, and policy interventions are analysed.

The Summer School aims to serve as a premier technical incubator where researchers bridge the gap between micro-level biotechnological shifts and macro-economic policy frameworks. By mastering integrated CGE and  econometric modeling, participants gain the specific analytical toolkit required to lead multilateral bioeconomy initiatives for sustainable development.

The Summer School is built around the recognition that bioeconomy transitions and One Health governance challenges are inherently systemic. Agricultural production systems, ecosystem services, technological innovation, and human and animal health are interconnected through complex economic, ecological, and institutional relationships.

Understanding these interdependencies requires analytical tools capable of capturing multi-sectoral interactions, behavioural responses, and long-term policy trade-offs.

Economic modelling therefore plays a crucial role in evaluating the potential impacts of bio-based innovations and policy interventions. Approaches such as Computable General Equilibrium (CGE) models, agent-based modelling (ABM), and other simulation frameworks allow researchers to analyse how technological change, environmental constraints, and institutional arrangements jointly shape development trajectories.

By combining the One Health perspective with advanced economic modelling techniques, the Summer School aims to equip participants with analytical tools that can be used not only in academic research but also in policy analysis, international organizations, and applied professional contexts. Participants will learn how these methods can inform the design and evaluation of sustainable bioeconomy strategies at local, national, and global scales.

The Summer School is designed for a diverse and interdisciplinary group of participants, including:

• PhD students and postdoctoral researchers
• early-career academics
• professionals working in public institutions, international organizations, NGOs, consulting, and the private sector
• policy analysts and practitioners engaged in sustainability, agriculture, bioeconomy, and environmental governance

Participants are expected to have an interest in economic analysis, policy evaluation, and sustainability transitions, although prior experience with advanced modelling techniques is not required.

The programme is structured to encourage interaction between academic researchers and professionals, creating an environment in which theoretical perspectives and applied policy experience can inform one another.

The Summer School will take place in Ravello, on Italy’s Amalfi Coast, a location long associated with international intellectual exchange and cultural dialogue.

Ravello provides an inspiring environment for academic discussion, combining historic heritage, natural beauty, and a tradition of hosting international cultural and scientific events. Its setting encourages informal interaction among participants and faculty, fostering a collaborative and stimulating learning atmosphere.

The International Consortium on Applied Bioeconomy Research (ICABR) is a global research network that brings together economists, scientists, policymakers, and stakeholders working on the economic and institutional dimensions of biotechnology and the bioeconomy.

Since its foundation, ICABR has played a leading role in fostering interdisciplinary dialogue on issues such as:

• biotechnology innovation and regulation
• sustainability transitions in agriculture and food systems
• the economic impacts of bio-based technologies
• governance of emerging bioeconomy sectors.

ICABR’s annual conferences and associated training initiatives have become a key international forum for discussion of the economic, environmental, and policy implications of bioeconomy development.

The SITES–ICABR Summer School extends this mission by providing advanced methodological training and intellectual exchange for the next generation of researchers and professionals working on bioeconomy and sustainability challenges.

The Società Italiana degli Economisti dello Sviluppo (SITES) (https://www.sitesideas.org/) is the leading Italian scientific association dedicated to the study of development economics. It brings together scholars working on a wide range of issues related to economic development, including poverty and inequality, structural transformation, sustainability, global value chains, agricultural and rural development, and the role of institutions and policies in shaping development trajectories.

SITES promotes high-quality research and fosters dialogue between academia, policy institutions, and international organizations. Its members are actively engaged in both theoretical and applied work, often with a strong empirical focus and a commitment to addressing real-world development challenges. The Society also plays an important role in supporting early-career researchers through conferences, workshops, and training initiatives.