How can the EU bioeconomy become not only more competitive and sustainable, but also more territorially balanced? This question was at the centre of our TIA workshop in Brussels on ‘A Strategic Framework for a Competitive and Sustainable EU Bioeconomy’. The workshop was hosted by the European Committee of the Regions, carried out on behalf of ESPON and moderated by Erich Dallhammer and Roland Gaugitsch.
The discussion highlighted just how cross-cutting the bioeconomy is, linking agriculture, forestry, industry, innovation, energy, climate, regional development and many other policy fields. A key issue emerging was how to ensure that the benefits of the bioeconomy reach all types of territories, and do not mainly strengthen regions that are already more industrialised or better positioned. This places a strong role at the local and regional level in their ability to translate EU-level ambitions into place-based action. The workshop report will be published at the beginning of July.
