On March 17, 2025, the bio-based economy Blueprint of the Delta Region was officially launched during a webinar as part of the Dutch National Week of the Circular Economy. The initiative aims to drive innovation, collaboration, and market demand for biobased materials in the provinces of Zeeland and North Brabant.
Speakers included representatives from the public and private sectors, ICLEI, Wageningen University & Research, and the European Commission.
Key announcements included North Brabant’s new fiber economy strategy and new subsidies for testing circular biopolyesters (STCB). Zeeland highlighted its biobased building initiatives, including the “Land tot pand” commitment for biobased insulation.
With 38 participants from academia, industry, policymakers, and investors, the event marked an important step toward integrating bioeconomy opportunities into broader economic transitions. The organizers now call for further dialogue and partnerships to implement the strategy and strengthen the Delta Region’s leadership in the circular bioeconomy.
Towards a bio-based economy in the Delta Region in the Netherlands
The blueprint, co-created with over 40 stakeholders from Brabant and Zeeland, highlights key priorities such as cross-province and cross-border collaboration (e.g., strengthening funding applications and closing value chains between the Netherlands and Belgium), facilitating innovation and scale-up (by improving data accuracy, enhancing skills, and supporting market awareness), and enhancing market demand (encouraging private sector adoption of bio-based materials).
Positioned at the intersection of agriculture, industry, and major port infrastructure, the Delta Region has the potential to become a frontrunner in Europe’s green transition. This effort calls for better alignment of regional policies and European ambitions to strengthen bio-based value chains, close material loops, and drive investments in circular innovation.
The full blueprint is available to read by signing up here.
It is now time to present the results of many months of work on developing regional strategies for a bio-based economy, which we call blueprints.
Through close collaboration with local and regional stakeholders, researchers, and decision-makers, we have created concrete action plans that pave the way for a more sustainable and circular economy in six pilot regions across Europe. We have created real plans to help this happen in six areas of Europe; Delta Region (Netherlands), Nitra Region (Slovakia), Normandy Region (France), Northern Sweden (Sweden), Tuscany Region (Italy), and Western Macedonia Region (Greece).
These blueprints serve as strategic tools, connecting the economic, social, and environmental opportunities of each region with innovation and sustainable development. Based on local conditions – from forestry and agriculture to marine resources and waste management – we have developed solutions that strengthen bio-based value chains and promote innovative governance models. We look forward to seeing the diverse approaches we have developed inspire many regions across Europe.
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Delta Region – Netherlands
- The blueprint focuses on common regional challenges, solutions, and lessons learned. It identifies key priorities and shares existing solutions for developing the bio-based economy.
- It also highlights collaboration opportunities between the Netherlands and Belgium.
- Ultimately, it serves as a guide for building a bio-based economy in the Delta Region by turning stakeholder needs and goals into a clear vision, strategic objectives, and practical next steps for the provinces in this area.
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Nitra Region – Slovakia
- Collaboration among stakeholders, including local municipalities, the Bioeconomy Cluster, and the Association of Municipalities for Waste Management in Nitra, is essential to successfully implement strategy focus on transforming waste management in the region.
- The blueprint emphasizes community engagement and educational initiatives to foster responsible waste practices and stimulate local participation.
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Normandy Region – France
- The document scope is to set out how bioeconomy strategy in Normandy has been defined and what the foundations of this strategy are.
- The stakeholders evaluated the strategy after 18 months of development months a co-creation workshop. The results of the discussions identify the barriers and opportunities for this bioeconomy strategy in Normandy, as well as the priorities that could be added to the strategy in its next scheduling.
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Northern Sweden
- The blueprint provides a common vision for northern Sweden, also in line with the proposed national bioeconomy vision and objectives as well as other national strategies that include bioeconomy.
- The document can be used as a foundation for the four northern politically steered regions in their work to revise and update strategies and policies pertinent to the bioeconomy sector.
- The scope of this Blueprint focuses on the forestry bioeconomy.
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Tuscany Region – Italy
- Strengthening partnerships among stakeholders through formal networks is essential.
- Investments in research and innovation are necessary to develop new technologies in bio-based industries.
- Public awareness campaigns should be launched to highlight the benefits of the bioeconomy, while educational programs must align with the evolving needs of industries.
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Western Macedonia Region – Greece
- One of the fundamental functions of the Blueprint is to advocate for sustainable resource management.
- Economic diversification and innovation are central themes of the Blueprint. It aims to reduce the region’s reliance on traditional sectors by fostering the development of bio-based industries.
- Stakeholder engagement is another key function of the Blueprint. Effective governance in the bioeconomy transition requires the active participation of various stakeholders, including local communities, businesses, research institutions, and non-governmental organizations.
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Would you like to read these blueprints? Sign up here to gain access to the full library for download.
Warmly welcome to participate in this online workshop, organized under the Biomodel4Regions project. We will highlight the achievements and experiences of the six Pilot Regions in developing their blueprints for sustainable bioeconomy. Each region will present their journey, focusing on challenges, successes, and actionable insights for policymakers. You will gain insights into the transferable case studies developed, enabling replication in other regions with similar geographical, climatic, and socio-economic conditions. Let’s Advancing Europe’s Bioeconomy together!
Which are the six pilot regions and partners?
- Normandy Region (France) – Partner: AQUIMER
- Delta Region in Southwest Netherlands – Partner: HOLLAND CIRCULAR HOTSPOT
- Slovakia – Partner: BIOECONOMY CLUSTER
- Sweden – Partner: BIOFUEL REGION
- Western Macedonia (Greece) – Partner: CLUSTER OF BIOECONOMY AND ENVIRONMENT OF WESTERN MACEDONIA
- Tuscany and Whole Italy – Partner: SPRING
Date: Tuesday, 15 April
Time: 10:00 -11:30AM (CEST)
For whom? Stakeholders in bioeconomy, policymakers, and interested parties from across Europe.
Location: Online link on teams HERE
Registration: Here
Agenda:
- Welcome and Introduction (5-10 minutes)
- Welcome and Objectives of the Workshop (APRE)
- Blueprints development methodology (ICLEI)
- Presentations by Pilot Regions (60 minutes)
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- Normandy Region (France) – Partner: AQUIMER
- Delta Region in Southwest Netherlands – Partner: HOLLAND CIRCULAR HOTSPOT
- Slovakia – Partner: BIOECONOMY CLUSTER
- Sweden – Partner: BIOFUEL REGION
- Western Macedonia (Greece) – Partner: CLUSTER OF BIOECONOMY AND ENVIRONMENT OF WESTERN MACEDONIA
- Tuscany and Whole Italy – Partner: SPRING
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- Q&A Session (10 minutes)
- Open discussion with participants.
- Closing Remarks (5 minutes)
- Summary of key takeaways.
- Next steps and future events.
We hope to see you there!
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SLIDES AVAILABLE HERE!
All the presentations from the speakers are avaiable here!
Tuscany, Italy – Leonardo Gaiani, Cluster SPRING – Presentation
Normandy Region – Mélanie Monjanel, AQUIMER – Presentation
Delta Region, Netherlands – Heyd Más, Holland Circular Hotspot – Presentation
Slovakia – Tatiana Bullova, Bioeconomy Cluster – Presentation
Sweden – Eleonora Borén, RISE Processum AB – Presentation
Western Macedonia, Greece – Angeliki Foutri, CLUBE – Presentation
ICLEI – Jurijs Grizans – Presentation
Today marks a significant milestone in Sweden’s bioeconomy journey as the latest statistics are unveiled to help all regions monitor their progress. The event highlights years of collaboration and aims to provide valuable insights into bioeconomic development across the country.
Then followed the introduction of an inspiring example of a regional bioeconomy blueprint for northern Sweden. This blueprint has been developed within the BioModel4Regions project, where northern Sweden is one of six pilot regions in Europe working to advance sustainable bioeconomic practices.
The presentation of our work to the diverse webinar audience of 36 people was a great pleasure. The webinar was attended by strategists from the EU level through to the national level and, above all, regions from across Sweden. Leading innovation clusters were well-represented. Participating Analysts and Communicators will help exploit the results.
“The main achievement of the event is that we have brought together bioeconomy stakeholders and given them two important tools to further boost the bioeconomy in Swedish regions,” says Magnus Matisons”, BioFuel Region.
Towards a bio-based economy in Northern Sweden
The blueprint is a strategic framework for northern Sweden’s transition to a competitive, sustainable and resilient bioeconomy based on then national ambitions.
The methodology used has highlighted the key areas that our region can and should develop. Which are cross-sector collaboration, financing, infrastructure, product development and market, natural resources, education and skills and policy and strategies. Connected to the key areas it offers a smorgasbord of actions to inspire the development of the bioeconomy.
The scope of this blueprint focuses on the forestry bioeconomy, but the recommendations can be applied to the other bioeconomy sectors. The blueprint can be used as a foundation for the four northern politically steered regions in their work to revise and update strategies and policies pertinent to the bioeconomy sector.
The full blueprint is available to read by signing up here.
The “BioFUTURE – Knowledge sharing for unlocking the potential of bioeconomy in Europe from the regional policy perspective” online event brought together a diverse range of actors working to advance the European bioeconomy.
The European projects – BIOMODEL4REGIONS, BIOTRANSFORM, ShapingBIO, and ROBIN (coordinated by CTA) – organised the event, which successfully engaged over 85 participants from the quadruple helix, fostering knowledge exchange and policy discussions
A highlight of the event was the participation of two key representatives from the European Commission:
- Sarianne Tikkanen (EC, DG Environment), who provided insights into the EU policy landscape and the update of the Bioeconomy Strategy.
- Tomasz Calikowski (EC, DG Research), who discussed the Green Transition and Bioeconomy Governance, emphasizing the role of bio-based sector R&D.
BIOMODEL4REGIONS, as one of the presenting projects, contributed to the discussions by showcasing its approach to regional policy advocacy in the bioeconomy sector. The event focused on four top-priority themes identified across the participating projects:
- Governance and policy alignment
- Social and regional challenges and public awareness
- Cross-sectoral collaboration and stakeholder engagement
- Environmental impact and resource efficiency
By bringing together representatives from different EU-funded initiatives, policymakers, and stakeholders, the workshop created a platform for exchanging best practices, strategies, and practical tools. Participants gained valuable insights into identifying, analyzing, designing, and implementing regional policies and governance models that can enhance bioeconomy initiatives across Europe. The event ensured that all stakeholders, including BIOMODEL4REGIONS, could actively contribute to shaping future regional strategies for a sustainable bioeconomy.
After years of collaboration, research, and innovation, we are thrilled to share the latest BIOMODEL4REGIONS newsletter, summarizing key results from the project!
- Six Regional Bio-Based Economy Strategy Blueprints – Customized to align with the distinct characteristics of the pilot regions. Do you want to access and read the regional bioeconomy strategies? Register here!
- Innovative Bio-Based Business Models – Strengthening sustainable businesses through strategic frameworks and decision-making tools
- Expanding Networks & Knowledge Exchange – Engaging in alliances like Rural Bioeconomy Alliance (RBA), major European conferences, and mutual learning workshops
- Upcoming Dissemination Events – Join us at regional and EU-level conferences, including the final event in Brussels this May!
Next up: BioFUTURE Workshop – February 19! A deep dive into regional bioeconomy governance and knowledge sharing. Sign up here!
Let’s continue driving the bioeconomy forward together!
Read the newsletter here: Newsletter no 3 – Biomodel4Regions
What an exciting year it has been, with many advancements in the project, especially in our work developing regional blueprints across six pilot regions.These are now nearing completion and will soon be ready to present — so stay tuned!
Don’t forget to follow us at LinkedIn to be the first to see our progress!
Patrizia Circelli, Project Leader of Biomodel4Regions, will participate in a panel discussion at the workshop “Bioeconomy Policy Making on a Regional Basis”, organized by the EU-funded project ShapingBio.
The workshop will take place on December 2, 2024, at the Sheraton Brussels Airport Hotel as part of the Pitch-Perfect and Boosting Connections event, running from December 2–4.
During the panel discussion, Patricia Circelli will represent Biomodel4Regions and deliver a brief presentation about the project. She will also share insights and perspectives on the development of bioeconomy blueprint at a regional level. The discussion will highlight essential strategies for fostering and accelerating bioeconomy innovation through effective policymaking and collaboration across different EU levels.
ShapingBio is an EU-funded initiative aimed at supporting and accelerating bioeconomy innovation in Europe. By enhancing the understanding of the bioeconomy innovation ecosystem and engaging key stakeholders, the project contributes to shaping policy recommendations and promoting matchmaking, networking, and knowledge transfer between regions and member states.
Read more about the workshop here: ShapingBio – Bioeconomy Policy Making on a Regional Basis.
On October 2, 2024, the Fondazione Golinelli in Bologna hosted the Bioeconomy Marketplace Workshop, jointly organized by the RuralBioUp and Biomodel4regions projects. The event, held from 2:30 PM to 5:30 PM alongside the IFIB International Forum on Industrial Biotechnology and Bioeconomy 2024, showcased the achievements of nine RuralBioUp regional hubs and six Biomodel4regions pilot regions.
Agenda Highlights:
- 14:15 – 15:00: Presentation of results from the ROBIN, BIOTRANSFORM, BioINSouth, CEE2ACT, and BioRuralprojects.
- 15:00 – 17:30: Mutual learning workshop in a marketplace format, led by RuralBioUp Hub Contact Points and Biomodel4regions partners.
- 16:30 – 17:00: Networking coffee break.
The workshop was an excellent opportunity to connect with the ROBIN project and other key initiatives in the bioeconomy sector. The innovative use of the “marketplace” engagement methodology proved highly successful. Each region had its own dedicated space to showcase what works—and what doesn’t—in expanding the bioeconomy within their local contexts. This approach was further enriched by the sharing of typical regional foods, which were “served” at the marketplace stands, creating a practical and interactive setting for knowledge exchange.
The event successfully brought together a vibrant community of stakeholders, sharing best practices and fostering collaborations to advance the bioeconomy.
On September 24, 2024, Bioeconomy Cluster hosted a workshop titled “From Waste to Value” at the MIKADO Hotel in Nitra, Slovakia.
The meeting attracted over 50 representatives from various stakeholders in the municipal waste management sector! In the bioeconomy, municipal waste serves as crucial biomass, yet it is often landfilled without recovery, leading to unnecessary emissions of harmful greenhouse gases!
The event aimed to explore effective waste management strategies in the Nitra region, including the use of quality compost and innovative circular economy models.
A special thanks to presenters, who delivered engaging contributions and fostered a stimulating platform for discussion.
As a good practice example, the regional model of Association of municipalities for waste management in Nitra region was showcased, demonstrating how to effectively engage the community and support infrastructure for successful waste management.
A key takeaway from the workshop is that the biggest challenge in waste management is #COLLABORATION. Together, we can move towards a more sustainable future!
As part of the Biomodel4Regions project, Bioeconomy Cluster team is working on a strategic document focused on a regional waste management model. We came away with many valuable insights from the workshop.
BIOMODEL4REGIONS
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