The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development aims at increasing human wellbeing, prosperity and social justice, while ensuring the lasting protection of the planet and its natural resources. It asks for fundamental changes in the way that our societies produce and consume goods and services in order to secure prosperity, mitigate climate change, reduce waste and pollution and face depletion of fossil and non-renewable materials. The circular bioeconomy is key element in this societal transformation and European cities and regions have the opportunity and the responsibility to implement, as they can mobilise society in place-based transformational efforts, leverage competitive advantages to make the best of available natural resources in order to satisfy societal demands.

European regions are very diverse and they have different natural resources, biomass availability and economic structures. In consequence, the bioeconomy takes different shapes in different regions through innovative and tailored combination of biomass production and processing capacities, agro-ecological developments, green infrastructure and nature-based-solutions. Frequently however they face similar challenges and much can be learned from each other’s experiences and approaches.

In these context, the FOREST BIOECONOMY REGIONS FORUM (BIOREGIONS FORUM), hosted by the Region of Catalonia and co-organised by CTFC, EFI, Region of North Karelia (Finland), ERIAFF and the Committee of the Regions, will provide an opportunity to share knowledge and experiences among regions and actors in the policy-science-society interface.

This forum is complemented by the Biocities Forum, which will take place the following day, November 14th, in Fira Barcelona, within the framework of the Smart City Expo World Congress.

With the support of the Obra Social “la Caixa”.