On the 7th and 8th October 2024, the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK) hosted the symposium “Research, develop, scale, transform – shape the bioeconomy together for sustainability and competitiveness” in Berlin. The event brought together key stakeholders from industry, research, and government to discuss the future of bioeconomy and its role in sustainability and competitiveness. 

 The symposium opened with Dr. Antje Grobe from DialogBasis, who set the stage for in-depth discussions. Parliamentary State Secretary Michael Kellner delivered the keynote address, emphasizing Germany’s leadership role in shaping Europe’s bioeconomy. He underscored the importance of regulatory frameworks and market adaptation to promote sustainable innovations, especially in transitioning to renewable sources in the chemicals and agricultural industries.

The key presenters on Day 1 included Dr. Niels Pörksen, CEO of Südzucker Group, who discussed the current landscape of the bioeconomy. He pointed out how bio-based products can significantly reduce dependency on fossil fuels and transform key industries. Marco Schuldt from the Federal Ministry of Economics and Climate Protection also spoke, highlighting Important Projects of Common European Interest (IPCEI) and their potential to drive transnational bioeconomic investments while fostering European competitiveness. 

Significant workshops were also conducted during the symposium, which included the following topics:

• Regulation and Circular Biomass: This session explored the complexities of biomass regulation in Germany and Europe, with participants advocating for a cascading use approach, prioritizing material applications of biomass before energy consumption to enhance sustainability. 
• Certificate Trading: This workshop addressed the introduction of certificates of origin for bio-based products and renewable carbon. These certificates would ensure traceability, promote sustainable investments, and foster a circular bioeconomy. 

 Apart from these workshops, attendees participated in an interesting floor session on key topics and directives related to scale-up, biogenic resources, incentivation and regulation, discussing the most pressing issues for the future development of the bioeconomy at large.

The second day involved panel discussions in a fishbowl format, discussing key issues identified throughout Day 1. As closing remarks, Ministerialrat Max Kroymann stressed the importance of continued collaboration between government, industry, and research institutions to ensure that bioeconomic innovations are scaled effectively. He reaffirmed that the discussions from the symposium would inform future policies, with a focus on creating a coherent strategy for integrating bio-based processes into mainstream industries, while also addressing environmental responsibility and regulatory support.

The second day involved panel discussions in a fishbowl format, discussing key issues identified throughout Day 1. As closing remarks, Ministerialrat Max Kroymann stressed the importance of continued collaboration between government, industry, and research institutions to ensure that bioeconomic innovations are scaled effectively. He reaffirmed that the discussions from the symposium would inform future policies, with a focus on creating a coherent strategy for integrating bio-based processes into mainstream industries, while also addressing environmental responsibility and regulatory support.