“Bioeconomy Austria” brings together companies, research, politics and society. The aim is to exchange knowledge, use synergies, close loops and develop and implement joint projects along the value chain.
With the approval of “Bioeconomy Austria”, the Austrian Forest Fund lays the foundation for a national bioeconomy cluster. Over the next three years, this lighthouse project of the federal government’s bioeconomy strategy will establish a broad-based network to promote the regional economy as well as cooperation along joint value chains. The first focus is on wood as a raw material.
“The use of wood as a building, material and energy source is an essential pillar of a bio-based social and economic system. Wood use in the sense of the bioeconomy is not only an active contribution to climate protection and secures jobs, but also contributes to our independence from fossil raw materials. There is still a lot of potential in the wood-based bioeconomy and we want to boost it now. By setting up a nationwide bioeconomy network, we are making a significant contribution to this,” says Minister of Agriculture Norbert Totschnig, outlining the idea behind the new platform.
“The climate crisis, raw material bottlenecks and dependencies on fossil resources show how important the targeted and sustainable use of our regional resources is. The ‘Bioeconomy Austria’ network will moderate the different goals and interests of the groups involved and enable viable solutions for the economy, climate protection, biodiversity and land use. In this way we will create security of supply and sustainable living conditions for future generations,” says Climate Minister Leonore Gewessler.
The network is open to all interested organisations. Initial partners of the network are ecoplus. Niederösterreichs Wirtschaftsagentur (project management), Business Upper Austria, Innovation Salzburg, Holzcluster Steiermark, proHolz Tirol, Österreichische Energieagentur, Zentrum für Bioökonomie an der Universität für Bodenkultur Wien, BioBASE, Umweltbundesamt and the Ökosoziales Forum Österreich & Europa.