This report provides a comprehensive overview of the bioeconomy sector in Catalonia, Spain, offering an in-depth analysis of its current landscape and growth potential. Catalonia, with its rich biodiversity and diverse climates, is ideally suited for bioeconomy endeavors. The region’s abundant natural resources, including forests, grasslands, and marine ecosystems, form the foundation for bio-based innovation.

Catalonia’s strong tradition in research and development, supported by a network of universities and research institutes, combined with a robust industrial sector, creates an environment conducive to the advancement of bioeconomy initiatives. The region’s commitment to sustainable growth is clearly articulated in its Bioeconomy Strategy of Catalonia 2012-2030 (EBC2030), which sets strategic objectives aimed at catalyzing economic activity, strengthening knowledge networks, and preparing society for the transition to a circular bioeconomy.

The EBC2030 outlines a roadmap for leveraging Catalonia’s biological resources to drive economic development while minimizing environmental impact. The bioeconomy sector in Catalonia is expected to continue growing, with collaboration across various industries and sectors being crucial to unlocking its full potential.

This report is a valuable resource for policymakers, investors, businesses, and researchers interested in engaging with Catalonia’s bioeconomy sector. It helps identify investment and collaboration opportunities, contributing to the collective effort toward building a sustainable and resilient future.

This report provides a comprehensive overview of the current state of Bioeconomy development in Europe, outlining key practices, methodologies, and roles essential for advancing bioeconomy projects. It is structured into three main sections:

1. Bioeconomy Development in the EU: This section covers the historical and policy context of bioeconomy in Europe, general trends across regions and cities, and the definition, characterization, and impact of bioeconomy. It draws from the EU Bioeconomy Strategy and its 2018 Progress Report, along with a review of existing literature.
2. Bioeconomy Project Development Methodology: This part details a proposed methodology for bioeconomy project development, tailored by the BioBoost Bioeconomy Project Accelerator. It is based on the CCRI methodology and includes an analysis of best practices and key challenges faced in EU bioeconomy projects.
3. Role of the BioBoost Bioeconomy Project Accelerator: This section outlines the function of the BioBoost Bioeconomy Project Accelerator Office and its potential for replication in other regions. It aims to unlock bioeconomy potential and contribute to 2050 goals.

The report is designed to assist Bioeconomy Project Facilitators and Promoters in designing, deploying, and implementing bioeconomy projects, engaging stakeholders, and aligning with EU and local policies to maximize social, economic, and environmental benefits.

This report provides an overview of the methodologies and tools used for engaging stakeholders and expanding the project pipeline for bioeconomy projects. It highlights the importance of stakeholder involvement, the various engagement methods employed, the outcomes of these methods, and the challenges faced.

The report focuses on two types of bioeconomy projects:

• Large investors or enterprises with existing bioeconomy projects.
• Small local bioeconomy projects.

A key feature of the report is a stakeholder analysis methodology, including a table that categorizes stakeholders into four groups: academia, industry, public administration, and European bioeconomy-related projects. This table details each stakeholder’s role, their contribution to the Bioboost project, communication methods, and expected impacts.

Involvement of public administration stakeholders ensures alignment with the political agenda and government support. Industry stakeholders, including energy companies and investors, are crucial for financial sustainability and commercial viability.

The report aims to demonstrate that these bioeconomy projects are economically and environmentally profitable, with potential for positive territorial impact, scalability, and long-term sustainability.

This report provides a comprehensive overview of the bioeconomy sector in Catalonia, Spain, examining its current landscape and growth potential. Catalonia’s rich biodiversity and diverse climates make it an ideal location for bioeconomy initiatives. The region’s natural resources, including forests, grasslands, and marine ecosystems, form the basis for bio-based innovation.

Catalonia also benefits from a strong tradition in research and development, supported by a network of universities and research institutes. Combined with a robust industrial sector, this creates a favorable environment for advancing bioeconomy projects. The region’s commitment to sustainable growth is articulated in the Bioeconomy Strategy of Catalonia 2012-2030 (EBC2030), which outlines objectives to catalyse economic activity, strengthen knowledge networks, and prepare society for a circular bioeconomy.

The report presents updated information on key sectors, beginning with those highlighted in the EBC2030 due to their connection to the primary sector, such as forestry, food production (including agriculture, food transformation, and distribution), and the maritime industry. It also covers other bio-based industries crucial to the bioeconomy, such as the paper and biochemical industries. For each sector, the report provides a description, an overview of current resource recovery routes, and insights into the potential and opportunities for biomass recovery.

The primary goal of this report is to identify and analyze the legal and regulatory barriers encountered during the initial phase of the Bioboost project and to provide recommendations for facilitating the development and growth of bioeconomy projects in Catalonia. The report is structured into three parts:

1. Part I offers a brief legal analysis of the most relevant policies, strategies, and legislation at the EU, national, regional, and local levels.
2. Part II outlines the main legal and regulatory barriers to bioeconomy development in Catalonia identified so far during the Bioboost project, acknowledging that other barriers may arise in the future.
3. Part III identifies legal opportunities and proposes recommendations and solutions to overcome the identified barriers, with the understanding that additional legal options or recommendations might be suggested if deemed necessary.

This report serves as an example of the legal and regulatory challenges a bioeconomy project may encounter during its establishment in Catalonia, while acknowledging that other financial, technical, or governance barriers might also exist and are not covered in this document.