A new Horizon Europe project, STRONGBIONET, has officially launched with a kick-off meeting in Seville, Spain. The initiative brings together 19 partner organisations from 14 countries.
The project aims to build a stronger, more connected European bioeconomy ecosystem. Over the next 36 months, the consortium will engage stakeholders from research, industry, policy, education, finance, and civil society. STRONGBIONET has a total budget of €4.4 million.
Europe already benefits from a wide range of bioeconomy initiatives, but many operate independently. STRONGBIONET addresses that gap through what it calls a network of networks approach. The project will connect existing initiatives, encourage collaboration across sectors and countries, and create new opportunities for innovation, capacity building, and policy dialogue.
One of the project’s main outcomes will be a digital collaboration platform. It will serve as a central hub for the European bioeconomy community, offering spaces for networking, education, skills development, investor engagement, and science-policy dialogue.
Beyond the platform, STRONGBIONET will establish thematic Communities of Practice. It will also support education and training activities, strengthen links between innovators and investors, and facilitate evidence-based policymaking. The project aims to contribute to a more resilient and competitive European bioeconomy, aligned with the EU Bioeconomy Strategy.
The kick-off meeting allowed partners to align on governance, work plans, and first activities. They also exchanged views with European Commission representatives on stakeholder engagement, international cooperation, and science-based policymaking.
STRONGBIONET, short for Strengthening and Connecting Bioeconomy Networks, is a Horizon Europe Coordination and Support Action. It is coordinated by SPRING, the Italian Circular Bioeconomy Cluster.
