Call for expression of interest "Low-tech in Bourgogne-Franche-Comté"

Published on 18 February 2025

France

Bourgogne

About this good practice

In spring 2024, the local French Agency for Ecological Transition (ADEME BFC) and its partners launched a call for expressions of interest (named “AMI Low-tech BFC 2024” and mentioned as “AMI” then) to accelerate the deployment of low-tech approaches in the region area. This call was open to any regional organization (associations, local authorities, SMEs) that are developing or would like to develop low-tech approaches.

The targeted projects could lead to (re)design a specific product or service while integrating low-tech principles or to integrate low tech within an organization.
The foremost priority is to provide tailored support, based on the specific needs of each selected organization, as well as high-visibility and networking to enable the selected organizations to help each other, and to share and cooperate in carrying out their projects.

Several objectives behind the AMI:
- To identify a first pool of low-tech ambassadors in the BFC region,
- Beyond the support of the selected organizations, the ADEME BFC used the AMI as a learning tool to raise the awareness of low-tech within the co-organizers.

A few words on low-tech approaches:
- Low-tech are the techniques, technologies, services and know-hows to cover what societies consider essential needs,
- The concept not only confines to technical objects but especially a design approach not only centered on technology,
- Based on several principles: useful, accessible, sustainable, technical appropriation…

Expert opinion

Low-tech solutions often have a smaller environmental impact overall, as they typically rely on renewable resources and minimize waste. They usually require fewer resources and less energy to implement, making them accessible to a wider audience. This makes them more adaptable to local contexts, allowing communities to tailor approaches to their specific environmental and social needs. For instance, rainwater harvesting systems can be designed to fit the unique climate and rainfall patterns of an area. Low-tech solutions also promote self-sufficiency and local economies. By encouraging practices like community gardening or local food production, they can reduce dependence on external supply chains, which often have a larger carbon footprint. This good practice demonstrates a successful method of accelerating the deployment of low-tech solutions in the region, and it can be replicated by other EU regions.

Magda Michaliková

Works at Interreg Europe Policy Learning Platform

Resources needed

- To identify the institutions or organizations providing various kind of supports in one’s area
- Project pilot / coordinator (here, ADEME BFC)
- Drawing up specifications and guidelines
- Setting up a jury
- Communication strategy
- Skills in measuring environmental performance

Evidence of success

34 applications received, 18 selected (https://www.ademe.fr/presse/communique-regional/ami-low-tech-18-laureat…), of which :
- 7 small enterprises,
- 8 associations
- 2 public institutions
- 1 without an organization yet
- Various fields of activity (solar-powered solutions, agriculture, resource efficiency, mobility...)

Voluntary adhesion of selected organizations to cooperate on co-building the regional low-tech strategy (ongoing in 2025)

Potential for learning or transfer

This action could be replicated and adapted in any region of Europe, as long as a clear coordination is determined and the call for expression of interest is designed in cooperation with local institutions and organizations and answer the essential needs of the local initiatives