EBU Strengthens Partnerships for the Bioeconomy

European Universities Working Together to Advance the Bioeconomy

The European Bioeconomy University (EBU) is an alliance of eight European universities established in 2019 to promote the development of the bioeconomy through collaboration in research, education and innovation. The partner universities share knowledge, develop the skills of future professionals and work together to address the challenges associated with the sustainable use of biological resources.

The EBU brings together AgroParisTech (France), the University of Bologna (Italy), the University of Eastern Finland (Finland), the University of Hohenheim (Germany), BOKU University (Austria), Wageningen University & Research (the Netherlands), the Warsaw University of Life Sciences (Poland) and the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU, Sweden). SGGW and SLU joined the alliance in 2023.

EBU at the Global Bioeconomy Summit 2026

The Global Bioeconomy Summit 2026 (GBS 2026), held in Dublin, brought together representatives of the scientific community, public institutions and international organisations committed to advancing the bioeconomy. EBU’s participation was particularly significant in three key areas.

First, the alliance joined the newly established Global Bioeconomy Partnership as a founding partner, strengthening cooperation between academia and other stakeholders working to advance the bioeconomy.

Second, EBU co-organised a workshop dedicated to good practices in developing skills and fostering collaboration in university-level bioeconomy education. The workshop provided an opportunity to exchange international experience and discuss educational needs and the competencies required to advance the sector.

The summit also featured the presentation of the Global Bioeconomy Vision 2040 and the Dublin Global Bioeconomy Development Goals 2040. These documents set out a shared direction for bioeconomy development and may serve as reference points for future policies, investments, research initiatives and international partnerships.

The proposed priorities included developing educational programmes that respond to the needs of the bioeconomy sector and establishing global networks linking universities and research institutions. Both priorities are directly aligned with EBU’s mission.

The alliance’s presence at the summit provided an opportunity not only to establish new contacts and gain insights into global trends, but also to highlight the role of universities in developing skills, fostering innovation and building international cooperation. For SGGW, participation in EBU offers an opportunity to help shape these initiatives and strengthen the contribution of Polish science to Europe’s and the world’s transition towards a sustainable bioeconomy.