Project overview
Circular BioEconomy Market Uptake and Policy Support in Central Europe
The bioeconomy concept seeks to replace fossil resources with renewable raw materials in as many areas and applications as possible. The BIOECO-UP project widely establishes this concept across central Europe. The partners will design new circular value chains for the bioeconomy and change consumer behaviour. They will also support the policy level to push ahead with the transformation.
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2,34m €
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Project Budget
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80%
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of the Budget is funded by ERDF
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8
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Countries
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10
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Regions
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12
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Partners
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2
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Pilots
Duration
Start date
End date
Project progress
Project partnership
Project partners
Lead partner
Ministry of Agriculture
Department for Agricultural Research and Agri-Environmental Management
1052 Budapest
Project partner
Division for Biotechnology/ Department of Biomass Production and Valorisation
Dipartimento di Chimica Industriale Toso Montanari
40136 Bologna
Faculty of Forestry and Wood Sciences
DEPARTMENT OF BIOECONOMY AND SYSTEMS ANALYSIS
Biotechnical Faculty
Department of Agricultural Policy, Innovation and International Cooperation
Roadmap
Challenge
Over the last decade, it has become increasingly clear that the challenges of our time – from climate change and biodiversity loss to environmental degradation and growing resource demands – cannot be addressed by a circular economy alone. If we want to build a truly sustainable future, we must fundamentally rethink how we produce, consume, and use our resources. This is where the bioeconomy comes into play. By replacing fossil-based raw materials with renewable resources such as biomass, the bioeconomy offers a powerful pathway towards achieving climate goals while creating new opportunities for innovation, business development, and regional cooperation. However, this transition can only succeed if bio-based value chains are strengthened, public awareness is increased, and policymakers fully recognize the crucial role of biomass in the green transition. The BIOECO-UP project set out to contribute to this transformation. Through a wide range of programmes and activities, the project inspired and supported citizens, businesses, and policymakers alike to engage with and commit to the development of a sustainable bio-based economy, helping to turn the vision of a greener future into practical action.
Empowering citizens to become active in circular bioeconomy
How can citizens become active players in the bioeconomy – not only as consumers, but also as a producer? One of the key objectives of the BIOECO-UP project was to provide practical answers to this question. To support this goal, the project developed 17 educational factsheets covering a wide range of bioeconomy topics, helping to raise awareness and expand knowledge about the bioeconomy in an accessible way. Across the seven participating countries, a total of 18 citizen workshops were organized, offering participants the opportunity to explore a variety of exciting and innovative solutions. They discovered, for example, how to make cider or cosmetic products at home, how to cultivate mushrooms, and what plant-based alternatives exist to replace for example cocoa beans. Participants also learned how to attract and support bumblebees in their gardens and how discarded railway sleepers can be given a second life through creative reuse. One of the project's most innovative activities was the implementation of the Living Lab methodology, which enabled citizens to actively participate in the development and testing of bio-based products. These hands-on experiences were further enriched through a study visit to Italy, where participants gained insights into edible algae production and explored a biorefinery utilizing by-products from the wine industry. BIOECO-UP also placed great emphasis on engaging the wider public. One of the project's flagship events was the four-day Bioeconomy Fair, organized as part of Hungary's largest agricultural and food exhibition, OMÉK. Hosted on a 150 m² exhibition stand, the fair showcased bio-based innovations and products developed by 19 companies from Central and Eastern Europe. For those considering a future role in the bioeconomy not only as consumers but also as producers or entrepreneurs, international online workshops provided valuable insights into the strategies, products, challenges, and success stories of pioneering companies. The publications, DIY videos, and educational materials developed during the project are available both in English and in the national languages of the participating countries. Explore the results of BIOECO-UP and discover how you, too, can become an active part of the bio-based economy!
Create circular bioeconomy corss-sectoral value chain
How can bio-based innovations be transformed into viable, market-ready, and sustainable value chains? One of the key objectives of the BIOECO-UP project was to answer this question by developing practical tools to support collaboration among stakeholders across the bioeconomy. Building on the mapping of the bioeconomy potential in the participating countries, the project tested cross-sectoral collaboration models supporting the development of bio-based value chains through seven transnational pilot initiatives. Based on the results of these pilots and international expert evaluations, the project produced a validated, user-friendly, step-by-step methodology that helps stakeholders identify local bioeconomy potential, design viable value chains, test collaborative approaches in practice, and assess their sustainability and growth potential. The methodology is complemented by a practical toolbox containing templates, business modelling tools, and other supporting resources designed to help transform bio-based innovations into real market opportunities. One of the project's most significant achievements is that it not only mapped key bioeconomy stakeholders and facilitated the creation of new international collaborations, but also developed practical tools that can support the long-term development and international integration of bio-based value chains across Central and Eastern Europe.
Mainstreaming of circular bioeconomy policies
How can policy decisions accelerate the transition towards a sustainable bioeconomy? One of the key objectives of the BIOECO-UP project was to provide practical and evidence-based answers to this question and support the development of effective bioeconomy policies in Central and Eastern Europe. The project assessed the biomass potential of the eight participating countries and used these findings to develop a regional bioeconomy vision, strategy, and action plan. By linking bioeconomy development to the future of the European Union's Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), BIOECO-UP identified policy measures and priority areas that could support the bioeconomy transition beyond 2027. These recommendations were shaped through extensive national and transnational expert consultations and contributed to the mission of the BIOEAST Initiative, one of the key drivers of bioeconomy policy development in the region. The project's achievements culminated in the BIOECO-UP Final Conference, where the project's key results were presented and leading European experts and representatives of the BIOEAST Initiative explored the opportunities, challenges, and future directions of the bioeconomy in Central and Eastern Europe. Curious to learn more? Watch our final project video and discover the ideas, innovations, and collaborations that shaped the BIOECO-UP journey and the future of the bioeconomy.
News
Events
Pilot actions
Outputs
Final intersectoral cooperation procedures for bioeconomy value chain design
Protocol for human-centered testing of bioeconomy products in living lab by citizens
CE Bioeconomy Strategy and Action Plan
Project videos
Project documents
Info Sheets about bioeconomy for citizens
Education materials to create biobased products
REPORT ON THE UPTAKE OF BIOECO-UP PROJECT OUTPUTS AND DELIVERABLES BY BIOEAST INITIATIVE
Project images
BIOECO-UP
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