From innovation to market: what can the forest bioeconomy learn from the European Innovation Act 

Rodrigo Mendes on September 28, 2026

Three blue European Union flags in front of a dense forest of green pine trees under a bright blue sky to symbolize the European Innovation Act

Europe has a world-class research and innovation ecosystem, but turning scientific excellence into successful products and services remains a challenge. This is also true in the forest bioeconomy, where bringing new forest and bio-based innovations to market often requires substantial investment in physical infrastructure and involves high technological and market risks. 

As a result, many innovations struggle to cross the so-called valley of death, a phase between early-stage R&D and commercial viability, where limited public funding and high private investment risks can hinder scale-up and commercialisation.  

However, this is not a challenge for the forest bioeconomy alone.

European Innovation Act 

In September 2026, the European Commission adopted the European Innovation Act. The proposed Regulation aims to strengthen the Single Market for innovation by tackling two barriers to commercial success: R&D procurement and intellectual property valuation.  

The Act proposes a harmonised EU framework for R&D procurement to strengthen public procurement as a driver of innovation. The framework aims to create greater legal clarity and a critical mass for investment in cutting-edge solutions, and to help new technologies reach the market faster across borders. 

It also proposes an EU-wide framework for intellectual property valuation, enabling access to finance. The framework aims to support IP-backed finance and create an EU-wide marketplace for commercialising IP assets.  

The European Commission identifies a broader challenge: structural barriers in the Single Market can slow down the journey from laboratory to market, from start-up to scale-up, and from invention to industrial strength. In addition, it remains overly dependent on suppliers outside the Union to buy innovative products and services. 

EFI Bioregions’ work 

EFI Bioregions has explored the challenges innovators face through a series of reports and activities, including events, open challenges, and workshops. 

An earlier EFI Bioregions and European Investment Bank report, “Overcoming investment barriers in the forest sector: lessons learned from nine cases in Europe,” looked at the challenges that investment projects across the forest sector are facing. 

It identified barriers, including complicated regulation, fragmented ownership, market failures, uncertainty and risk, limited access to finance, reduced liquidity, and low returns. 

The key messages reinforce the need for an innovation ecosystem that can help promising ideas become investment-ready and commercially viable. The European Innovation Act brings this aspect to innovation finance. 

In addition, the report “Scaling up forest-based innovations in Europe: overcoming the valley of death” identifies five areas where action is needed: 

  • Create a supportive financial framework for scale-up  
  • Maximise the impact of open-access scaling facilities  
  • Build strategic partnerships to catalyse scaling up  
  • Ensure coherent regulation to enable market development  
  • Invest in capacity building and training to create cross-sectoral profiles.  

These recommendations highlight that successful scale-up requires more than funding research. Finance, infrastructure, partnerships, regulation, skills and market conditions all need to come together. 

EFI Bioregions’ work on green public procurement explores how public authorities can use their purchasing power to create demand for bio-based solutions. 

The report “Bringing bio-based into green public procurement: lessons from Catalonia and Zeeland” shows how public procurement can support climate goals, strengthen regional economies and reduce dependence on fossil-based inputs.  

This connects with the European Innovation Act’s proposed framework for R&D procurement. It can help create the conditions for innovative solutions to be tested, adopted and brought to market. 

Explore our reports 

To learn more about scaling forest and bio-based innovation, overcoming investment barriers and using public procurement to support the bioeconomy, download our reports and follow EFI Bioregions on LinkedIn to stay up to date on the forest bioeconomy and what European regions are doing to move the green transition forward. 

Bringing Bio-Based into Green Public Procurement: Lessons from Catalonia and Zeeland
Overcoming investment barriers in the forest sector: lessons learned from nine cases in Europe 
Scaling up forest-based innovations in Europe: overcoming the valley of death

Featured image: Yaroslav Danylchenko, Canva and Regan Dsouza, Pexels 

Discover the Forest Innovation Spotlight

EFI Bioregions on September 24, 2026

Front page screenshot of the forest innovation spotlight website

The Forest Innovation Spotlight is a platform that brings together and showcases innovative solutions across the forest bioeconomy in Europe and beyond.

Conceptualised by EFI Bioregions and drawing on years of work with innovators, the platform highlights emerging technologies and services, including novel bio-based solutions, sustainable forest management techniques, and advanced digital forestry tools.

Why it matters

As Europe accelerates its transition toward a climate-neutral and nature-positive economy, the Forest Innovation Spotlight highlights forest and bio-based solutions that can contribute to this transformation.

This platform serves as a launchpad for sharing forest and bio-based solutions that deserve wider visibility, bringing them to the attention of buyers, partners and policymakers driving Europe’s green transition.

How to use it

The Spotlight provides a structured view of the current innovation landscape, making it easier to explore what is emerging across the forest-based and bio-based sectors.

Each entry can be searched and filtered according to biomass type, innovation type, and impact sector, making it easy to discover innovations relevant to specific interests or challenges:

How the innovation is delivered or sponsored

Product output Government initiative

Where the innovation creates value and impact.

Forest management and operations Renewable energy Green building and construction Transport and mobility Textiles, cosmetics and fashion Industry and manufacturing Food and feed Packaging Biotech and green pharma Water management Circular economy Payment for ecosystem services Green finance and investment Recreation, wellbeing and eco-tourism Interior design and furniture Forest risk management

How the solution is delivered or experienced.

Product innovation Service innovation Social innovation

Primary biomass sources utilised

Primary wood Ecosystem services Non-wood forest products Forest residues Industry side streams Post-consumer biomass

Innovators, investors, and stakeholders across the forest bioeconomy are invited to explore the platform and connect with the innovators featured on it.

Explore the platform

The Spotlight is intended as a living resource and will continue to evolve as new innovations emerge and additional information becomes available.

Supported by European regions

The Forest Innovation Spotlight is an initiative of the EFI Bioregions. Its development has been made possible through the generous support of the network’s member regions, which are working together to drive transformative changes towards a forest-based bioeconomy.

Meet our members

This fall: Bioeconomy Austria Summit & Tech Tour Forest Bioeconomy 2026

EFI Bioregions on August 30, 2026

Bioeconomy Austria’s flagship Summit takes place on 5 October at the Seifenfabrik in Graz, bringing together its 400+ network partners from industry, agriculture, forestry and research to explore the bioeconomy as an economic driver, covering regional value creation, supply security and market opportunities for bio-based products.

The programme includes keynotes on timber construction and Austria’s bioeconomy footprint, company presentations across the forest, agriculture and aquatic value chains, and a financing panel with the European Circular Bioeconomy Fund and the Bio-based Industries Consortium (in English). Free for Bioeconomy Austria network partners.

Check out the agenda

The following day, 6 October, Holzcluster Steiermark, the Bioregions and Bioeconomy Austria host the back-to-back Tech Tour Forest Bioeconomy in Styria, showcasing innovative companies along the forest-based value chain. The event is held in English, so international participants are welcome.

Learn more and register

Bioeconomy Austria

As a member of the EFI Bioregions, Bioeconomy Austria represents regions across the country and supports collaborative efforts among regional governments, research institutions, and industries to foster innovation and sustainability in the bioeconomy sector.

Read more about the region

Government of Catalonia joins the BETA Foundation Board, boosting circular bioeconomy research

Rodrigo Mendes on July 30, 2026

Lush green forest in Catalonia. Logos of the Government of Catalonia and Beta Foundation

The Government of Catalonia has joined the Board of the BETA Foundation (UVic-UCC), strengthening its commitment to circular bioeconomy, sustainable agri-food systems and ecological transition. The agreement establishes a new cross-departmental collaboration between the areas of agriculture, environmental transition and research, backed by €875,000 in funding for 2026.

A key objective is to accelerate innovation and knowledge transfer in nutrient circularity – promoting the conversion of organic waste streams into high-value biofertilisers and reducing dependence on imported fertilisers – while further supporting applied research and industrial demonstration capacities in Catalonia, including the Centre’s new facilities at the FERTIEBRO site in Soses.

Read more

Government of Catalonia

As a member of the EFI Bioregions, Catalonia continues to build the applied research and cross-sector partnerships that underpin its regional bioeconomy strategy, and this new governance role at BETA is a further step in that direction.

Read more about the region

Featured image: carlosanchezpereyra, Getty Images

How can regions help bio-based innovations reach the market?

Rodrigo Mendes on July 14, 2026

A blend of forest trees and business charts, showcasing data visualization with bar graphs and pie charts symbolizing bio-based innovations

To move from successful demonstration to commercial deployment, innovative bio-based solutions need the right partners, significant investment but also regional support. European funding programmes play an important role in supporting research and innovation and in scaling up the bioeconomy sector and bio-based innovations. But many promising projects need follow-up investment, regional support and links to other funding sources to reach deployment.

In this interview, Virginia Puzzolo, Head of Programme at the Circular Bio-based Europe Joint Undertaking (CBE JU), explains why stronger collaboration between European programmes and regional authorities can help innovative companies take the next step. Watch the full interview below or explore the key questions and answers.

By clicking “Play”, content from YouTube will be loaded. This means that your personal data (such as your IP address) may be transmitted to YouTube and that YouTube may set cookies on your device. You can find more information in YouTube’s Privacy Policy.

Multiple national European flags displayed on flagpoles in front of a modern building in Brussels under a blue sky with clouds symbolizing the role of regions in bio-based innovations

Why are regions important for scaling up bio-based innovations?

Each year, CBE JU receives more proposals than it can fund within the available budget. So high-quality proposals submitted but not funded by the CBE could benefit from other funding mechanism.

In particular, for projects aiming at developing first-of-their-kind industrial biorefineries, regional funding can be vital to ensure that promising projects are not lost, while allowing regions to retain investment and strengthen their local bioeconomy.

“Regions can be the next step to ensure that these excellent projects are not lost.”

What happens after a project successfully demonstrates its technology?

Over the past decade, CBE JU has supported numerous projects that have successfully demonstrated new bio-based technologies and production processes.

However, demonstration is only one step of the journey. Many projects still need support to deploy industrial-scale production, particularly in areas such as bio-based chemicals, materials and feed ingredients.

Many of these innovations are led by small and medium-sized enterprises that often lack the investment capacity needed to commercialise their technologies.

Why are partnerships between Europe and regions important?

Creating the first industrial production facility often requires investments far beyond the capacity of a single company, especially if this is an SME.

Virginia Puzzolo notes that these first-of-its-kind biorefinery projects can require investments worth hundreds of millions of euros. Industry typically contributes part of the financing, while additional public and private funding is needed to complete the “financing puzzle.”

Regional authorities can play an important role in bringing together these different funding mechanisms and supporting companies through the scale-up process.

How can regions support projects and companies?

Regions can provide direct financial support for industrial innovation or offer indirect support by:

  • facilitating permitting procedures;
  • creating favourable fiscal conditions;
  • attracting innovators to the region; and
  • helping deploy demonstrated industrial-scale innovations.

These actions complement European funding programmes and help embed innovations in regional economies.

What are the benefits for the regions supporting bio-based innovations?

Supporting industrial bio-based innovations benefit more than individual companies. Stronger regional support can:

  • keep innovative companies in Europe;
  • create economic opportunities in rural regions;
  • strengthen regional bioeconomy; and
  • help younger generations remain and prosper in rural areas.

Ultimately, better cooperation between European programmes and regional authorities can help create a competitive and viable European bioeconomy.

Major collaboration agreement between regional bioeconomy networks

In July 2026, CBE JU signed a Memorandum of Understanding with European Forest Institute (EFI), European Regions Research and Innovation Network (ERRIN), the Vanguard Initiative, and the European Regions Network for Innovation in Agriculture, Food and Forestry (Eriaff).  The agreement aims at strengthening cooperation with European regions active in the bioeconomy and supports closer links between European, national and regional funding opportunities.

From EFI Bioregions’ prospect, this agreement strengthens also our role in accelerating the forest bioeconomy, bio-based innovations and uniting key stakeholders.

Read the press release

Featured images: Pgiam & Mutlu Kurtbas, Getty Images Signature

CBE JU signs collaboration agreement with regional bioeconomy networks

CBE JU on July 10, 2026

green leafy forest canopy

The CBE JU has signed this week a Memorandum of Understanding with four organisations representing the regional dimension of the bioeconomy. The joint agreement establishes a formal framework for structured dialogue and cooperation, with the aim of accelerating the deployment of bio-based innovation at regional level across Europe.

The agreement between CBE JU and European Forest Institute (EFI), European Regions for Innovation in Agriculture, Food and Forestry (ERIAFF), European Regions Research and Innovation Network (ERRIN) and Vanguard Initiative reflects a shared vision on the deployment of bioeconomy opportunities across regions. While CBE JU implements a European-level research and innovation programme, the other signatory parties represent networks of regions with one or several focus areas dedicated to circular bioeconomy.

From forest floor to digital twin: how Joensuu, Finland, is building a world-class forest innovation ecosystem

EFI Bioregions on June 29, 2026

Modern buildings and a brightly lit bridge reflected in a calm river at dusk, surrounded by trees and greenery in Joensuu, Finland

Joensuu, in North Karelia, is Finland’s fourth-largest municipal forest owner, managing around 9,000 hectares of forest. These forests are more than a natural resource – they have become living laboratories for research, innovation, and sustainable forest management. 

Here is a selection of recent articles published by the City of Joensuu showcasing how the region is using its forests to advance research, data science, energy innovation, and urban planning. 

Forests as a breeding ground for innovation in Joensuu

Joensuu’s forests serve many purposes, from Marteloscope observation sites for virtual learning and tree selection training to pilot grounds for continuous-cover forestry and forest-fire prevention using artificial intelligence. A particular strength of the city is the integration of the forest bioeconomy and photonics, which underpins its RDI activities. The city’s Forest Joensuu innovation ecosystem, active since 2023, is focused on turning this expertise into exportable solutions and new jobs, with a particular focus on high-value side streams, biomass valorisation, and sustainable wood processing. 

Read more

World-class forest data 

Joensuu is home to a growing cluster of remote sensing companies and research institutions, including the Finnish Forest Centre and Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke), that are pushing the boundaries of tree-level data, biodiversity monitoring, and eventually fully automated forest digital twins.

Digital twins for forest roads 

Aerial view of Joensuu with a mix of modern and historical buildings, green parks, and a bustling square surrounded by trees.
Aerial view of Finnish town Joensuu. Photo: dudlajzov, Adobe Stock

Finland has approximately 160,000 kilometres of forest roads, making its network one of Europe’s densest. The Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke) is creating digital twins of these forest roads in Joensuu, working with companies and research organisations. Road weather stations gather real-time data on temperature, moisture, and load capacity, which feed into predictive models. These models assist in planning wood harvesting, transportation, and maintenance more effectively, leading to potential cost reductions and enhanced safety in the sector. 

Robots analyse the quality of the wood for energy 

At Savon Voima’s heating plant in Joensuu, a sampling robot analyses the quality of incoming wood material, ensuring that excessively moist biomass is not burned inefficiently but is blended into drier fractions. The system uses LiDAR cameras, automated core sampling, and moisture-prediction algorithms to improve energy efficiency and sustainability traceability, with wood traceable back to the forest stand from which it was harvested. 

Data for climate-resilient urban planning 

The University of Eastern Finland (UEF), together with Karelia University of Applied Sciences and the City of Joensuu, has developed the Weather Vulnerability Index (WVI). It is a model that identifies the most vulnerable areas in a city and supports sustainable urban planning. The model combines solar exposure, wind speed, building stock data, and vegetation indices to map climate risk at the neighbourhood level and is designed as a universal method applicable to cities worldwide. 

Want to connect with other regions working on the forest bioeconomy? 

EFI Bioregions brings together regions to exchange knowledge and accelerate innovation in the forest bioeconomy. We would love to hear from your region. Have a news story, initiative, or success from your region worth sharing? Get in touch at bioregions@efi.int. 

Featured image: Rami Saarikorpi

Is your project ready for the next step? Four opportunities for forest innovators 

Rodrigo Mendes on June 25, 2026

Three stacks of coins with growing green plants symbolize financial growth and investment success against a blue background.

Whether you are developing a new forest ecosystem service, building with underutilised wood, or looking to unlock private investment for your bioeconomy initiative, there are currently several open calls offering funding, expert support, and market access across Europe. 

Here is a roundup of four opportunities for forest innovators. If you know of others worth sharing, please let us know. 

Forest & Nature Tech Pitching Competition 2026

Forest and nature tech pitching competition opportunities for forest innovators

Who is it for? Teams developing solutions that promote a sustainable forest bioeconomy, halt biodiversity loss, and strengthen nature’s resilience. 

What’s in it for you? Selected applicants will have the opportunity to pitch their solution as part of a two-stage competition.  

The first stage of the competition takes place at Forest Industry Days (Metsäpäivät) on 22 October 2026, where participants can meet leading experts, companies, and decision-makers in the forest sector and pitch their solutions. 

In the second stage, the four top teams will advance to the final at the Slush side-event, Y-Science, on 18 November 2026, where they will connect with investors, innovators, and global networks. 

The winning team receives €5,000 to accelerate development. 

Apply by 11 September. 

Learn more

WoodStock grants up to €50,000 for zero-waste wood construction solutions

WoodStock grants opportunities for forest innovators

Who is it for? SMEs, start-ups, and non-profit organisations (individually or in consortia) working on circular wood construction to make better use of underutilised wood in construction and develop climate-smart wood construction solutions beyond Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 5.  

What’s in it for you? Four projects will be selected and receive up to €50,000 each to test, validate, and scale up innovative zero-waste solutions in real-world contexts.  By joining the WoodStock project, grant recipients will contribute to activating the European wood construction market and to demonstrating the feasibility and scalability of circular approaches across the value chain. 

Apply between 15 September 2026 and 15 December 2026. 

Learn more

INTERCEDE offers free expert support for forest ecosystem services financing 

Who is it for? Landowners, forest associations, and public-private partnerships developing market-based instruments for forest ecosystem services, including payments for ecosystem services (PES), carbon credits, and biodiversity credits. 

What is in it for you? Selected initiatives receive up to 60 hours of advisory support between September and December 2026, with five of the strongest progressing to a six-month accelerator in 2027, receiving up to 100 hours of expert support. 

Apply by 31 July 2026.

Learn more

ForestValue2 workshop: how to pitch in front of investors

10 September 2026 | 10:00–11:30 CET | Online 

ForestValue2 has been selected for support through the Horizon Results Booster programme, which will deliver a free online workshop on pitching project results to investors and funding bodies. 

What’s in it for you? The session covers what investors expect from a pitch, how to structure a compelling five-minute presentation, and storytelling techniques to support commercialisation and scale-up. It will also serve as the first step towards a follow-up simulated pitch session for two selected projects. 

Who is it for? While primarily intended for the four ForestValue2-funded projects, SOSFOR, TiREX, iFORPLAN, and CRESTIMB, representatives of ForestValue2 funding organisations are also warmly invited. 

Registration details will be shared in the coming weeks.

Learn more

Are you a forest innovator wanting to strengthen your investment pitch? Start here. 

EFI Bioregions has developed a free three-part webinar series, Preparing Early-Stage Innovations for Investment Readiness, delivered by META Group, a European leader in research commercialisation and innovation finance. The series covers: 

  • Webinar 1: Understanding the investor landscape: who investors are and how they differ 
  • Webinar 2: Getting investor ready: what readiness looks like at different stages 
  • Webinar 3: Understanding the investment process: from term sheets to due diligence 

All three sessions are available to watch on demand. 

Watch the series

Featured image: nattanan23, Pixabay

DP-FOBI launch event introduced a new doctoral programme for advancing the forest-based bioeconomy

Satu Helenius on May 27, 2026

Row Of Young Adults At Work Photo

The University of Eastern Finland has launched the Doctoral Programme for Advancing Forest-Based Bioeconomy, DP-FOBI, a new international doctoral training programme co-funded through the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions COFUND scheme.

The programme will recruit 15 doctoral researchers to four-year, fully funded positions at UEF. The application period opens on 11 June 2026 and closes on 10 August 2026, with selections planned for December 2026 and appointments by March 2027. DP-FOBI was introduced at a launch event held on 22 May 2026 at the Carelia building on UEF’s Joensuu campus, with the possibility to participate remotely.

The event presented the programme’s research themes, doctoral training model, recruitment process and collaboration opportunities. Guest speaker Saara Suurla, CEO of SpringDNA, also contributed to the event with a talk on moving from research to action.

Guest speaker Saara Suurla, CEO of SpringDNA, discussed how research can be translated into action. (Photo by Helen Reijonen)

Interdisciplinary research for sustainable forest-based solutions

DP-FOBI is designed to support doctoral research that addresses major sustainability challenges linked to forests, wood-based value chains, and the wider bioeconomy. The programme brings together expertise from across UEF, including forest sciences, chemistry, geography, law, public health and clinical nutrition, humanities and business studies.

The research themes reflect the broad and interconnected nature of the forest-based bioeconomy. They include forest inventory and ecosystem modelling, artificial intelligence and simulation-optimisation in forest management planning, laser scanning for tree structure and wood quality assessment, dead wood dynamics, forest plantations and ecosystem services, novel forest-based products, biomass-derived chemical fractions, enzymatic biomass conversion, forest-based food and functional resources, intellectual property rights, market behaviour, consumer choices, sustainability assessment and forest-related discourses.

Through this wide thematic scope, the programme aims to strengthen research-based solutions for resource-efficient and climate-smart wood-based value chains, non-extractive forest use, novel non-timber forest product innovations, and the commercialisation of new bioeconomy solutions.

Training future experts through research, mobility and collaboration

DP-FOBI is closely connected to the UEF Forests and Bioeconomy Research Community, providing doctoral researchers with an interdisciplinary research environment and opportunities to work with academic, public-sector and industry partners.

The FOBI Research Community connects forests, technology, and society to advance sustainable bioeconomy solutions.

The programme includes customised doctoral training that supports knowledge exchange between doctoral researchers, supervisors, mentors, companies and other stakeholders. Training activities will include biannual DP-FOBI workshops, summer schools on interdisciplinary and intersectoral collaboration, a forest-based bioeconomy hackathon, a stakeholder social lab, and a workshop on intellectual property rights and commercialisation.

Each doctoral research project will also include international mobility, such as secondments or short research visits to universities, research institutes or industry collaborators. These opportunities are intended to strengthen global career readiness and help doctoral researchers connect their scientific work with practical applications and societal needs.

A programme rooted in regional strengths and international networks

Professor Jouni Pykäläinen presented the new DP-FOBI doctoral programme at the launch event on UEF’s Joensuu campus. (Photo by Anu Laakkonen)

The launch event highlighted the role of UEF and eastern Finland as a strong environment for forest bioeconomy research and innovation. DP-FOBI builds on regional, national and international networks, including research institutes, innovation ecosystems, companies, policy actors and international research networks.

Read more about the DP-FOBI research themes and how to apply here.

Contact us

For further information, please contact:

  • Jouni Pykäläinen, Professor (forest economics and forest policy), Director of the Forests and the Bioeconomy research community, Scientific Coordinator of the DP-FOBI project, University of Eastern Finland, jouni.pykalainen@uef.fi, tel. +358 50 382 6094
  • Tommi Laukkanen, Professor (marketing and consumer behaviour), Director of the Marketing and Consumer Behaviour Research Group, Scientific Coordinator of the DP-FOBI project, University of Eastern Finland, tommi.laukkanen@uef.fi, tel. +358 50 438 7423
  • Helen Reijonen, University Lecturer, Impact Manager of the DP-FOBI project, University of Eastern Finland, helen.reijonen@uef.fi, tel. +358 50 435 2408

Featured image: Matthew Henry / Burst

The new Sustainable Forest Management Strategy is presented to reduce the risk of large fires and boost the forestry sector

CTFC on May 26, 2026

man in a forest with a machine to cut wood, saw

Originally published on the CTFC website in Catalan.

The Department of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Food (DARPA) and the Department of the Interior and Public Security have presented the new Sustainable Forest Management Strategy for Catalonia, a roadmap that lays the foundations for strengthening the prevention of large forest fires, adapting forests to climate change and boosting the bioeconomy and the forestry sector.

In this sense, sustainable forest management acts directly on 65% of the Catalan territory and is a key element in guaranteeing the safety of people, the protection of the territory, the preservation of the natural environment and the development of the rural environment, in a context marked by the growing impact of the climate crisis.

In addition, the objectives of the Strategy foresee an increase of 36.8 million euros in investment, which consolidates sustainable forest management as a structural public policy for the country, aligned with people’s safety, fire prevention and rural development.

The new sustainable forestry strategy employs a prevention model based on three levels of intervention proposed for the short, medium and long term. The first is the protection of inhabited areas through protective strips and preventive infrastructure in urban-forest interfaces. In February, the Department opened a call for 2 million euros for local entities to draft forest fire prevention plans (PPI) and delimitation plans (PD), with the call scheduled to be renewed annually. The second level is the strategic management of forest massifs, with the consolidation of Priority Protection Perimeters (PPPs) as key planning instruments. The third is the definition of 14 fire containment axes, designed to limit the spread of large fires between massifs and improve the safety of the population and emergency services. This approach makes it possible to anticipate extreme fire scenarios and reduce the intensity and capacity for spread of fires, enabling a safer and more effective operational response in the short, medium and long term.

The Sustainable Forest Management Strategy incorporates, at the proposal of the Catalan Fire Brigade, what are known as fire containment axes as new strategic prevention infrastructures, aimed at limiting the spread of large forest fires between massifs and improving the safety of the population and emergency services. These axes act through the forestry and agroforestry management of wide, continuous strips to modify fire behaviour in extreme fire conditions and facilitate containment and extinguishing tasks.

Thus, in Catalonia, 14 lockdown axes have been demarcated, covering more than 223,000 hectares and protecting more than 872,550 people. Its deployment will be carried out progressively, prioritising the most strategic sections, and complementing the protection strips of inhabited areas and the management of forest massifs: A-2, Berga – Alp, C-25, Cardener, Conca Tremp – Segre, Empordà, Gironès – Ardenya – Gavarres, La Bisbal del Penedès – Argençola, Lladurs – Biosca, Montsec, Montseny – Montnegre, Priorat – Prades, Segre – Rialb, Vall de l’Ebre.

Acting on 34,194 hectares, they could protect 2,121,630 hectares of forest. Priority will initially be given to 5 containment axes that the Fire Department has identified as priorities after assessing the potential protected area and the population to be safeguarded.

The axes with the highest degree of efficiency are: Igualada-Martorell-Sta.Coloma de Cervelló, Perafita-Manresa, Girona-Celrà, Argentona-La Roca and Rasquera-Perelló. To date, works worth €2.85 million have been contracted, and work has started on 700 hectares. These 5 axes increase protection across 666,000 hectares, where 531,000 people live. Work will begin imminently in the Igualada and El Perelló areas of the Terres de l’Ebre.

On the other hand, the works that have been carried out in El Bruc are located in the Igualada-Martorell axis, included in the Priority Protection Perimeter of Montserrat, and are carried out by the Special Group for the Prevention of Forest Fires (GEPIF) of Forestal Catalana, in coordination with actions by the Forest Property Centre (CPF) and controlled burns by the Fire Department.

In addition, the strategy is committed to professionalising and modernising the forestry sector, promoting generational change, promoting mechanisation, promoting extensive livestock farming as a tool for managing the territory, and promoting green public procurement, using wood and bioproducts of forest origin in building and public works. The initiative is aligned with the future General Forest Policy Plan of Catalonia and with other strategies in the field of biodiversity, nature restoration and land management.

Featured photo: CTFC

CTFC publishes a manual on the use of decomposer fungi to remove forest stumps in a sustainable way

Rodrigo Mendes on May 26, 2026

Originally published on the CTFC website in Catalan.

The Centre for Forest Science and Technology of Catalonia (CTFC) has published a new manual on the sustainable management of the biological uprooting of forest species with decomposing fungi, prepared within the framework of the DESCOMPFONGS demonstration action, an activity co-financed by the European Union through intervention 7201 of the Strategic Plan of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) 2023-2027. The initiative addresses the need for alternatives to conventional strain management techniques in poplar plantations, which disturb soils and aquifers and affect local biodiversity.

After using wood from a poplar plantation, it is necessary to control stump regrowth. Traditional management involves the use of heavy machinery or chemicals, with negative effects on soil, water and ecosystems. For this reason, decomposers represent a natural alternative: they are organisms capable of biologically degrading wood, thereby reducing reliance on aggressive mechanical techniques and chemicals.

The manual includes the methodology used and the results obtained from several experimental plots at the Escarp i Serós Farm, where this management technique has been tested. The document is available in digital format on the CTFC website and is aimed at technicians, forest managers and plantation owners who want to adopt more sustainable, environmentally friendly management practices.

Read the manual

Featured image: Andreas Ebner / Pexels

​Open Call to support primary producers’ participation in the Bioeconomy Bootcamp

BIOECONOMY GIANTS on May 25, 2026

​The BIOECONOMY GIANTS project is pleased to announce the official launch of its Open Call I on June 1st 2026, aimed at supporting primary producers across Europe through travel vouchers that will enable their participation in the BIOECONOMY GIANTS Bioeconomy Bootcamp, organised within the “Pitch Perfect and Boost the European Bioeconomy” event.

​About the Bioeconomy Bootcamp

​The Bioeconomy Bootcamp will provide participants with the opportunity to:

  • ​Access cutting-edge knowledge and innovative solutions in the bioeconomy sector
  • ​Network with industry actors, clusters, researchers, and innovation stakeholders
  • ​Explore future collaboration opportunities within the BIOECONOMY GIANTS ecosystem

​Who can apply?

​The Open Call is addressed to:

  • ​Farmers and agricultural producers
  • ​Forestry producers
  • ​Cooperatives of primary producers
  • ​Other organisations representing primary production activities

​Applicants must be able to participate in English.

​Funding support

​Through Open Call I, BIOECONOMY GIANTS will provide travel vouchers of €500 per participant to support participation in the Bioeconomy Bootcamp. ​In total, 40 vouchers will be available, corresponding to a total budget of €20,000. ​This support aims to reduce barriers to participation and facilitate the active involvement of primary producers in European bioeconomy networking, sustainability initiatives, and collaborative opportunities.

Apply here

Full application details and supporting documents are available at the BIOECONOMY GIANTS website.

​Info Day: guidance for applicants

​To support potential applicants, an Info Day will take place on 15 June 2026 (10:00–11:00 CET). ​Participants will receive detailed information on:

  • ​The objectives of Open Call I
  • ​The Bioeconomy Bootcamp programme
  • ​Eligibility and evaluation criteria
  • ​The application and selection process for travel vouchers
  • ​The session will conclude with a Q&A segment, allowing direct interaction with consortium partners
Register here

​About BIOECONOMY GIANTS

​BIOECONOMY GIANTS aims to unlock the potential of Europe’s unutilised biomass by integrating primary producers and other rural actors into the bioeconomy value chain, promoting cooperative and circular bio-based business models (CCBBMs), and fostering new forms of collaboration between rural actors and bio-based industries.

​The ultimate goal is to create a more sustainable, prosperous, and competitive bioeconomy in which primary producers play a central role in driving innovation and value creation.

​The project is supported by the Circular Bio-based Europe Joint Undertaking (CBE JU) and its members and is funded by the European Union.​