Global Bioeconomy Summit 2026 & International Bioeconomy Forum position the bioeconomy as a paradigm for the post-2030 development agenda

27/10/2026

The Global Bioeconomy Summit 2026 (GBS2026) took place in Dublin, Ireland, on 20–21 October 2026, as a key event of the Irish Presidency of the Council of the European Union. Supported through Horizon Europe funding, it brought together over 1,900 delegates (1,500+ in-person and 450+online) from more than 65 countries across policy, research, industry, international organisations, civil society and youth networks.

Under the theme “Bioeconomy for socio-economic transformation and climate action”, the Summit explored how bio-based innovation move from discovery to scale, how enabling policies, investment and markets accelerate deployment, and how international cooperation helps address shared global challenges. The programme culminated in the presentation of forward-looking 2040 Bioeconomy Vision and the Dublin Global Bioeconomy Goals.

The conference highlighted the bioeconomy as a prominent lever for shaping the post-2030 sustainable development agenda towards 2040. Participants underlined its potential to deliver circular and sustainable benefits for the economy, society and the planet, while supporting clean industries, climate action, nature protection, socio-economic development, and a fairer and more inclusive society.

The bioeconomy was also recognised as an opportunity to support farmers, foresters, fishers, and rural and coastal communities by creating new income streams, generating jobs and business opportunities, adding value locally, improving environmental sustainability, and strengthening resilience and regional development.

Participants also agreed on the central role of research and innovation in advancing sustainable bio-based solutions. By turning scientific knowledge into safe, scalable and circular products and processes, research and innovation can help support climate neutrality, biodiversity and economic resilience.

In addition, the conference pointed to the bioeconomy’s potential to create new opportunities for international cooperation through stronger global collaboration on sustainable bio-based value chains, bio-innovation and standards for bio-based products. This can help countries to use biological resources more efficiently while delivering shared economic, social and environmental benefits.

The Summit provided an important international platform to advance the implementation of the 2025 EU Bioeconomy Strategy. The Strategy focuses on scaling innovation and investment, building lead markets, ensuring sustainable biomass supply and harnessing global opportunities. The European Commission contributed to GBS2026 through Horizon Europe funding, plenary discussions, thematic workshops, and a dedicated exhibition presence.

EU and Irish bioeconomy strategies deliver on scaling up through policy, markets, innovation, and investment

Commissioner Jessica Roswall launched the Bio-Based Europe Alliance to drive stronger market demand on bio-based products by companies. The European Investment Bank (EIB) and the Bio-based Industries Consortium (BIC) underlined their role supporting the bioeconomy transition.

During the event, the Commission released a new Bioeconomy and Space video: ‘Innovation from Earth to orbit and back’. The video explores the links between bioeconomy research and space: from circular biological systems and sustainable food production in extreme environments to the use of Earth observation technologies to monitor ecosystems, detect environmental threats and support informed responses on Earth.

International cooperation through the International Bioeconomy Forum

The International Bioeconomy Forum, co-chaired by the European Commission and South Africa, held its 7th plenary meeting on 19 October, back-to-back with GBS2026. It provides a government-led Research & Innovation platform for strategic international cooperation and exchange on the development a sustainable global bioeconomy. The Forum adopted a strategic outcome document and dedicated R&I policy briefs by its four Working Groups. Furthermore, DG Research & Innovation’s Director James Morrison launched the International Bioeconomy Solutions Library (IBSoL), a digital repository developed by the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre in cooperation with DG Research & Innovation. IBSoL showcases bioeconomy solutions from around the world, facilitating knowledge sharing and replication.

IBF’s work on highly relevant international R&I topics, such as standards, biorefineries, microbiomes and forest innovations, was widely recognised. The IBF-led workshops during GBS showcased opportunities in international research cooperation and existing gaps to overcome.

Unlocking finance for market growth

The Global Bioeconomy Summit also hosted the second meeting of the Bioeconomy Investment Deployment Group (BIDG), bringing together public and private financial actors to discuss how to mobilise investment to support Europe’s bioeconomy. The European Investment Bank actively supports the initiative. Members agreed on a roadmap for the Group’s work over the coming year, building on its role in addressing financing gaps and strengthening the pipeline of investment-ready bio-based projects.

Bringing EU bioeconomy initiatives to the exhibition

The European Commission also participated through a dedicated exhibition stand, showcasing European bioeconomy policy, research, innovation, scientific evidence and the brand new IBSoL repository.

Bio-based products showcased at GBS2026 feature in a related article in Horizon Magazine, the EU research and innovation magazine, exploring how EU-funded projects are turning plants and organic waste into everyday products.

Looking ahead

Across the Summit and the related IBF activities, the Commission’s participation highlighted the importance of connecting research and innovation with policy, investment, markets and international partnerships to scale sustainable bioeconomy solutions towards wider deployment. In many regions of the world, promising bioeconomy solutions are being developed; political support and industrial entrepreneurship are needed to bring them to scale.

The next Global Bioeconomy Summit will take place in 2028 in Panama.

GBS2026 was organised by the International Advisory Council on Global Bioeconomy (IACGB) in collaboration with the Government of Ireland and supported through the Horizon Europe framework programme.