This paper contributes to the ongoing discussion on assessing the actual societal benefits of collaborative research and innovation (R&I) projects, focusing specifically on Circular Bioeconomy (CBE) initiatives funded under European Interreg programs. Utilizing an abductive method aligned with a grounded theory approach, the study conducted a multiple case study of five cross-border CBE projects. Data from project leaders and secondary sources underwent inductive content analysis and were classified using the Triple Bottom Line (TBL) framework. Seven cross-cutting benefit categories emerged: capacity building, collaborative learning, community empowerment, networking, knowledge sharing, policy development, and sustainable business practices, identified as influencing results across TBL dimensions temporally. Findings reveal projects excel at generating short/medium-term outputs and outcomes strongly aligned with the social dimension, particularly through capacity building, collaborative learning, and knowledge sharing. Over time, long-term impacts demonstrate a more balanced distribution across all three TBL dimensions (social, environmental, and economic), indicating a trajectory towards broader benefits. Policy development and networking are emphasized as key drivers for achieving significant long-term, multi-dimensional impacts. This study introduces a novel, empirically grounded, multi-dimensional theoretical model. By inductively categorizing benefits and analyzing their temporal manifestation across TBL, it provides a practical framework for assessing comprehensive societal impact beyond conventional output metrics.
