ENHANCING BIO-BASED INNOVATION AND PARTICIPATION IN UNDER-REPRESENTED REGIONS THROUGH CLUSTER MOBILIZATION AND COLLABORATIVE GOVERNANCE

2026-07-22

Regional clusters are the unsung heroes of sustainable development, driving innovation and economic growth by leveraging local ecosystems and fostering strong connections among businesses, research institutions, and stakeholders. This is even more valid for Clusters in Bioeconomy, where new knowledge is born constantly The project´s collective understanding is that Regional Bio-Economy Clusters are ideally suited to mobilise R&I ecosystems, due to their cross-sectoral nature of bioeconomy in different countries, their proximity to local enterprises, and their ability to reflect common bottlenecks and needs and link the local ecosystem with international knowledge and funding hubs. BIO-INSPIRE, an alliance of 14 transdisciplinary entities from 12 EU countries, demonstrates that regional bio-economy clusters are a valid answer to developing bio-based innovations, driving sustainable growth and fostering resilient local economies across the widening regions of Eastern and Southeastern Europe. BIO-INSPIRE will engage Regional Bio-Economy Clusters in 7 widening countries (Greece, Hungary, Slovakia, Lithuania, Romania, Bulgaria and Poland, ) and research and technology developers and clusters in 2 non-widening countries (Sweden, The Netherlands) to address systemic causes of underdevelopment across geographical boundaries. BIO-INSPIRE aims to contribute to the transformation of the widening regional bioeconomies by addressing existing bottlenecks and providing to the regions the necessary tools to advance their R&I capacity and their ability to broader their collaboration networks. At the heart of this project is the provision of a Governance Model framework, addressing the critical lack of established structures, norms, and procedures for sustainable collaboration. This framework is designed to be a long-lasting legacy, empowering also other regions to achieve sustainability and growth, and ensuring their effective and enduring engagement in the bio-based economy.

Greece, Belgium, Hungary, Portugal, Sweden, Netherlands, Slovakia, Lithuania, Romania, Bulgaria, Poland

2026-01-01