Our work
Europe’s regions are diverse in many ways – their natural resources, cultural traditions, and economic realities – yet they face many challenges in transitioning to a circular bioeconomy.
Approach
These guide the Bioregions Facility’s approach by sharing European experiences where regions can collaborate to overcome barriers and transform society.
Building on this shared foundation, the strategic objectives of the Bioregions Facility are designed to achieve all corners of society: supporting the regional government to develop policies on the bioeconomy, catalysing innovation and growth in business and industry, raising awareness among the public, and attracting new regions, businesses and civil society to strengthen the bioeconomy transformation across Europe.
Policy learning
Innovation
Social awareness tool
Regional partners
Business Joensuu
Business Joensuu offers services for businesses, entrepreneurs and investors by providing solid expertise and knowledge about networks, local conditions and opportunities – services are used daily by 120 organisations and more than 2,500 people. We help our customers with investments and relocation to the Joensuu region. We also assist in setting up a business, growth and internationalisation. In addition, the office space and event services offered by the Science Park can be accessed through us.
Eusko Jaurlaritza Gobierno Vasco
The Basque Government’s Department of Economic Development, Sustainability and Environment focuses on speeding up economic reactivation to create jobs. It sees digital, ecological and socio-health transformations as an opportunity to bolster the competitiveness of the productive structure. Environmental criteria are integrated into all sectoral policies, not as a restriction but as a way to create value. Internationalisation, technological and industrial innovation, entrepreneurship and agri-food development are the main elements of development. All of these elements will progress in a continuous and permanent relationship with the industrial economic engine while also striving to meet sustainability and environmental protection goals.
NEIKER
NEIKER, under the Ministry of Economic Development, Sustainability, and the Environment of the Basque Government, is a technological centre specialising in creating innovative solutions for the agro-food and forestry sectors. NEIKER creates scientific knowledge and transferable solutions that contribute wealth and well-being to society and the environment. It also contributes to the development of an agro-livestock and forestry sector in the Basque Country, the preservation and sustainability of the natural environment, and the development of policies that drive the circular bioeconomy in the Basque Country.
Regional Council of North Karelia
The Regional Council of North Karelia is a centre of development in Finland’s easternmost region. It is a politically guided municipal coalition responsible for regional planning and general coordination of regional development programs related to national and EU structural funds. It also looks after the interests of the people, municipalities, organisations and enterprises, speaking on their behalf regarding national and international questions. The forest bioeconomy is the strongest sector for research and expertise in North Karelia. Companies, national and international actors, and educational organisations employ experts in this field.
Wald und Holz NRW
Wald und Holz NRW is part of the state forest administration of North Rhine-Westphalia, working on behalf the Ministry for Environment, Agriculture, Conservation and Consumer Protection of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia (MULNV).
Wald und Holz NRW is taking on sovereign tasks, managing the state own forestlands and providing advice for the private and communal forest owners. Another task is to strengthen the forest-wood value added chain and to enhance the utilization of wood.
The Zentrum Holz
The Zentrum Holz in Olsberg, Germany, is a platform and economic development centre for the forest and wood sector. Clusters, educational institutions, research and public administrations are developing synergies for the raw material wood in terms of employment and value-added as well as sustainable development and climate protection.
European network
Bio-based Industries Consortium
BIC is a non-profit organisation representing the biotech and bioeconomy private sector in a Public-Private Partnership with the European Commission, also known as the Bio-based Industries Joint Undertaking (BBI JU). BIC members cover the entire bio-based value chain and comprise large industries, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), regional clusters, European trade associations, and European Technology Platforms. BIC hosts a bioeconomy platform for regions and industries to bridge the gap between bio-based investment opportunities and financial incentives at a regional level.
The Bio-based Industries Joint Undertaking
The BBI JU is a Public Private Partnership between the EU Commission and the Bio-based Industries Consortium (BIC). The BBI JU is driven by the Vision and Strategic Innovation and Research Agenda (SIRA), which aims to reduce Europe’s dependency on fossil-based products, help meet climate change targets, and lead to greener growth. The European Forest Institute and the BBI JU signed a memorandum of understanding in October 2020 to support a science-informed dialogue and actions to advance towards a sustainable European bioeconomy.
European Committee of the Regions
The CoR is a political assembly acting as the voice of regions and cities in the European Union (EU). It represents local and regional authorities across the European Union and advises on new laws impacting regions and cities. The CoR brings EU citizens closer to the EU by involving regional and local representatives and inviting citizens to participate in events and debates. The CoR also promotes dialogue and cross-border cooperation across regions. Particularly relevant is the work covered by its Commission for Natural Resources (NAT Commission). The Bioregions Facility Steering Group granted the Committee of Regions Observer status in 2021.
European Circular Bioeconomy Fund
ECBF is a leading venture capital fund dedicated to growth-stage investment in the circular bioeconomy, including the Blue Economy and the Bio-based Industries in Europe. ECBF cooperates with regional partners to identify and select investment targets and finance while supporting growth companies on a pan-European level. ECBF target fund volume of EUR 250m will contribute to filling a funding gap in the European bioeconomy, bringing Europe’s expertise in circular technologies to market.