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Press Release: Bioeconomy Austria Summit 2023

A new era of bioeconomy in Austria

Dozens of pioneering research examples & support actions from the domestic bioeconomy presented – now available online.

St. Pölten – Network partners and key players from regional clusters & platforms, business, society, research, and politics are driving forward the vision of a sustainable economic system at today’s Bioeconomy Austria Summit in St. Pölten. As part of the event, 25 research examples and 12 support actions are being presented, which are pioneering for the Austrian bioeconomy. These can now be accessed online.

Federal Minister Norbert Totschnig is excited about the progress: “Bioeconomy Austria is a vital network that is currently focusing on the wood value chain. In doing so, it creates connections and jointly drives innovations in the bioeconomy forward. Today’s summit offers a taste of how we want to utilize the potential of agricultural residues and other areas of the bioeconomy in the future. Implementing sustainable innovations from renewable resources successfully – that is the Austrian way and the vision of the bioeconomy.”

Supported by the Austrian Forest Fund, the Bioeconomy Austria network has rapidly become the central hub of the Austrian bioeconomy with an initial focus on wood. This focus allows the summit to look beyond the horizon: “Innovation and tradition are closely linked to wood in the Alpine countries. Cross-border cooperation is of high importance so that a circular economy in construction can be established and the goals in the bioeconomy can be achieved,” explains Sonja Geier from the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences.

More than 250 organizations from regional clusters & platforms, business, research, politics, and society are part of this network, which will form into the Austrian Bioeconomy Cluster by the end of 2024. The summit offers the numerous participants a lively platform for discussion and the exchange of innovative ideas. The Bioeconomy Austria Summit 2023 thus symbolically represents the continuation and deepening of this nationwide cluster initiative and provides a taste of future focal points. Together, we work on optimally utilizing natural resources to protect our planet.

“The bioeconomy, circular economy, and economic growth are not contradictory. Through technical and social innovations, we establish resource-saving patterns of production and consumption: from leather made from mushrooms to wood-based energy storage to hydrogel from paper production residues, which is used in agriculture to retain moisture longer in the soil and at the same time fertilize – the innovation potential of the bioeconomy is endless. This is precisely where the Bioeconomy Austria network starts, creating additional space for networking and strengthening sustainable regional economic cycles. Together we are building an eco-social home for future generations, in which economy, environment, and society are in harmony. I am particularly pleased that our Lower Austrian ecoplus platform for Green Transformation and Bioeconomy is taking on the role of chief architect in this project,” says Deputy Governor Stephan Pernkopf in conclusion.

The platform www.bioeconomy-austria.at enables direct networking with all participating partners. It is the gateway to the bioeconomy in Austria. There, you can also find photos of the event. The growing network is open to all interested organizations.

Inquiries & Contact:

For the project:
Martin Hosner, MA
Projektkommunikation
+43 681 81462548
office@bioeconomy-austria.at