CBE JU Executive Director, Nicoló Giacomuzzi-Moore speaks at the opening session
Publication date:
CBE JU brought together national and regional stakeholders in Brussels on 10 October 2025 for a workshop dedicated to enhancing synergies with national and regional funding instruments. The event showcased best practices and explored collaboration opportunities to boost the impact of bio-based innovation across Europe.
The discussions focused on how to most effectively leverage national and regional funding programmes, addressing key challenges and identifying opportunities to maximise support for Europe’s bio-based transition. Participants explored how stronger coordination with local and national funding sources could support CBE JU flagship first-of-their-kind biorefineries that drive industrial innovation, strengthen local bioeconomy ecosystems and advance regional economic development.
The workshop gathered more than 45 participants and inspired open and dynamic discussions, ranging from the identification of pressing challenges to the exploration of innovative solutions. The discussions contributed to the implementation of the new CBE JU Synergies Strategy, which aims to foster more effective collaboration between the joint undertaking and funding programmes at EU, national and regional levels.
Attendees included members of the CBE JU states’ representatives group, funding authorities, national and regional bioeconomy clusters, representatives of umbrella organisations such as the European Regions Research and Innovation Network, the Council of European Bioregions, and the European Bioeconomy Cluster Association .
Key highlights and outcomes
During the event, the CBE JU programme office presented the new Synergies Strategy, setting the scene for interactive sessions that allowed participants to exchange ideas and experiences. The discussions led to several important outcomes, including:
A shared vision on strengthening synergies among funding sources.
Identification of best practices in leveraging national and regional funding to support bio-based innovation scale up and replication.
Recognition of challenges and barriers that currently limit effective synergies between programmes.
Initial proposals for collaboration models to improve coordination and maximise funding impact.
Participants emphasised the importance of sustained cooperation between European, national and regional actors to unlock the full potential of the bio-based sector and deliver tangible benefits for local communities and the environment. As part of the interactive session, four roundtable discussions allowed participants to explore key aspects of synergy building in greater depth:
Challenges hindering synergies between European and national/regional funding.
Best practices and potential collaboration models in the use of national and regional funding in the bio-based sector.
During these sessions, participants identified key barriers and opportunities and proposed best practices to address them. The outcomes of the discussions were summarised at the conclusion of the event and will undergo further analysis to be translated into concrete action measures.
The workshop marked an important step in CBE JU’s efforts to build stronger synergies between different funding instruments and governance levels. By fostering collaboration and knowledge exchange, CBE JU aims to accelerate the deployment of funding for sustainable bio-based solutions across Europe, strengthen regional innovation ecosystems and contribute to the EU’s transition to a circular, climate-neutral economy.
