Presentations from the 2013 Stakeholders Conference - Bioeconomy in the EU: Achievements and Directions for the Future

A link to 25 presentations from the bioeconomy conference organised by EC DG Research and Innovation and held in Dublin in February 2013

Over the last decade, the European Commission has recognised the importance of investing in R&D to support the EU Bioeconomy. It is expected that new bio-processing technologies and approaches will deliver a sustainable and vast array of renewable, value-added biobased products from biological waste streams including agro-food and forestry residues. The production of these biobased products will contribute to economic growth and jobs within the EU - whilst at the same time limiting any negative impacts on the environment and reducing our dependency on fossil resources.

To support the development of the Bioeconomy in Europe, specific research activities and programmes have been launched by the EU and Member States. Conferences have been organised and several important policy documents have been produced at community level.

Regular Bioeconomy Stakeholder Conferences are foreseen within the Action Plan. These Conferences are an essential mechanism to engage with civil society and promote informed public debates on the development of an EU bioeconomy, associated research and innovation activities and the societal implications. Stakeholder discussion platforms involving scientists, entrepreneurs, policy makers and civil society at large will form a large part of these Stakeholder Conferences.

This conference took place over one and half days on 14th and 15th February, 2013 at Dublin Castle. In the future, a Stakeholder Conference will be held annually and the 2014 event is already scheduled to be held in Rome. It is anticipated that these yearly meetings of EU stakeholders would be mirrored by smaller national /regional events which could take place during what could be dubbed the EU Bioeconomy Week.