How can European regions help develop the bioeconomy?
Regions play a crucial role in advancing the bioeconomy across Europe. Their closeness to local communities, businesses, and ecosystems gives them a distinctive advantage in aligning bioeconomic initiatives with regional socio-economic and environmental priorities.
This local perspective allows regions to develop tailored approaches that address their areas’ specific needs, resources, and potential, whether that involves supporting rural development, enhancing sustainability in agriculture and forestry, or creating new market opportunities in bio-based industries.
European regions are empowered to create and implement targeted policy instruments, regional bioeconomy strategies, and financial mechanisms that can tackle structural challenges, such as fragmented value chains, limited innovation uptake, and skills gaps.
By leveraging EU funding programmes, mobilising local stakeholders, and investing in capacity building, European regions can serve as catalysts for sustainable economic development and transition toward a more circular and resource-efficient economy.
European regions and their strategies
In the EU Member States, 194 regions either have or are developing strategies related to the bioeconomy. This highlights the significant role of regions in promoting the bioeconomy in Europe.
One example comes from Catalonia, Spain. The Catalan Bioeconomy Strategy (EBC2030) aims to promote the sustainable development of the region’s economy by fostering the production of biological resources and local, renewable processes. Forests are included in two of the four value chains that drive the Action Plan 2022–2024: improving forest management, utilising forest resources, and providing ecosystem services.
Additionally, Flanders, Belgium has set targets to develop a competitive bioeconomy by 2030. Some of the region’s strategic objectives include establishing a comprehensive Flemish policy that promotes and enables the development of a sustainable bioeconomy and enhancing the competitiveness and market growth of bioeconomic sectors in Flanders.
In Austria, the national bioeconomy strategy focuses on key players in agriculture, forestry, water and waste management, processing, and retail sectors. Regional governments, businesses, and research institutions work together to promote sustainable practices and speed up the transition to a bio-based economy.
Regions and cross-sector collaboration
“The bioeconomy is the production, utilisation, conservation, and regeneration of biological resources, including related knowledge, science, technology, and innovation, to provide sustainable solutions (information, products, processes and services) within and across all economic sectors and enable a transformation to a sustainable economy.”
The bioeconomy includes different sectors along the value chain, from forestry and agriculture to biochemistry, biotechnology, and construction.
Understanding European regions’ unique perspective and expertise becomes an opportunity to foster innovation and develop new technologies.
For example, the Bioeconomy Council of North Rhine-Westphalia is an independent body that brings together experts from science, industry, and civil society to assist the state government in shaping a sustainable and innovative bioeconomy strategy for Germany.
So, forests can be used to create products and services that help the economy replace fossil-based materials, and that’s where forest-based bioeconomy comes in.
As the bioeconomy increases, the demand for forest goods and services increases economic opportunities for the sector, for example, bioenergy, wood construction, packaging products, chemicals, and textiles.
In the Basque Country, Spain, where forests cover more than 54% of the land surface, the government is working to advance a forest-based bioeconomy through partnerships with tech hubs and research centres. This initiative promotes training, entrepreneurship, research, development, innovation policy, and specific clusters.
Still on innovation, Castile and León’s Bioeconomy and Circular Economy Vertical Accelerator’s goal is to promote innovative projects that contribute to the economic and sustainable development of the region, strengthening its business network with talent and projects that contribute to job creation.
Thus, the Institute for Business Competitiveness of Castilla y León (ICECYL) and the Cesefor Foundation will support companies. Some support includes mentoring, access to financing, specialised training, and the opportunity to establish strategic alliances with key players in the sector.
Advancing bioeconomy in European regions
Regions also face different challenges and require tailored solutions, which is important for creating a cohesive and competitive European bioeconomy.
However, implementing bioeconomy strategies at the regional level continues to be a challenge. Many stakeholders still lack the knowledge to convert their strategy into region-specific solutions that align with their resources, infrastructure, and national goals.
Therefore, fostered cooperation and knowledge sharing can be powerful tools for developing the bioeconomy. Initiatives like the BIO2REG Consortium, ERRIN, the Vanguard Initiative, ERIAFF, and the Bioregions Facility can help connect regions and stakeholders.
The Bioregions Facility: working with European regions
For five years, the Bioregions Facility has been working with European regions to accelerate the transition to a sustainable, forest-based circular bioeconomy through knowledge sharing, stakeholder engagement, and innovation support.
Governed by a multi-donor trust fund and facilitated by the European Forest Institute (EFI), the Facility is a hub for European regions to co-learn, align visions, and enhance their bioeconomy strategies.
In 2025, we welcomed three more regions: Austrian regions, Castile and León (full members), and Flanders (Observer). These regions will join the Basque Country, Catalonia, North Rhine-Westphalia (full members), and the Committee of the Regions – NAT Commission (observer).
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Featured image: AvigatorPhotographer from Getty Images & European Map from mapchart.net / Edited in Canva