Governance plays two key roles in fostering a sustainable circular bioeconomy. First, it has a safeguarding function, which involves establishing explicit safeguards to ensure economic, social, and ecological sustainability through appropriate governance approaches. Second, it has an enabling function. Beyond ensuring sustainability, the governance framework must also ensure fair competition for bioeconomy processes and products. This, in turn, facilitates efficient decision-making between alternative technologies and the use of biogenic and non-biogenic resources in the marketplace.

Focus on functional distribution of space based on degree of ruralilty / urbanisation (rural – semirural – peri-urban – urban)

Examine the natural, geographical, economic, social, political features of the region

Examine the central control and the hierarchical organisation of networks within space

Examine how the regional ecosystem is affected by spatial planning policies (regional development plans, urban development plans, etc.)

Deeper understanding of existing bioeconomy governance practices and models in Europe

Enhanced understanding of the bioeconomy’s benefits amongst all stakeholders (including primary biomass producers as well as consumers)

Improved regional governance models with increased stakeholder engagement accelerating the circular bioeconomy transition of European regions

Better informed bioeconomy strategies creating conducive conditions for investments in sustainable business opportunities offered by local bio-based economies

Improved environmental footprint of bio-based products and services

Increased cross-regional coordination under the CCRI reinforcing the EU science-policy interface for addressing Sustainable Development Goals