Scaling the Circular Bioeconomy: Bio-based Industries Consortium Leads the Charge
In the transition toward a more sustainable and circular economy, Europe is seeing growing momentum from startups, investors, and policy leaders alike. At the heart of this transformation stands the Bio-based Industries Consortium (BIC) — a key strategic partner of Tech Tour and one of the most influential forces in shaping Europe’s bioeconomy.
As Host Partner of Tech Tour Circular 2025, taking place in Ghent, Belgium on 23–24 April 2025, BIC will play a central role in bringing together leading innovators and investors focused on circular solutions. This collaboration continues a long-standing partnership built on a shared vision: connecting the right stakeholders to unlock scale, growth, and sustainable impact.
Bio-based Industries Consortium: A Catalyst for Europe’s Bio-based Future
Founded in 2013 in Brussels, the Bio-based Industries Consortium was established to represent the private sector in a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) with the European Commission. Its mission is to strengthen the bio-based industries in Europe through investment, innovation, and know-how.
BIC brings together companies and institutions from across the full value chain. From agriculture, aquaculture, and forestry to chemicals, bioplastics, and waste management, its members span a diverse set of industries. The consortium also includes associate members such as research organizations, universities, and trade associations, creating a well-rounded platform for collaboration.
This inclusive approach is one of the reasons BIC continues to be a leading force in building Europe’s circular bioeconomy. By connecting startups with large industry players, researchers, and public institutions, BIC helps ensure that innovation is not only developed—but also scaled and commercialized.
A Partnership Built on Results
The collaboration between BIC and Tech Tour is rooted in a shared belief that strategic partnerships are essential for scaling sustainable innovation. Over the past three years, BIC has co-developed the Tech Tour Bio-based Industries Programme, which successfully introduced around 90 startups and small SMEs to key investors, including corporates, VCs, and angel networks.
This track record highlights the value of events that do more than showcase ideas—they connect the right people to move those ideas forward. For BIC, supporting Tech Tour Circular 2025 is a continuation of its mission to build ecosystems where innovation can flourish.
Building Cross-Sector Collaboration for Circular Impact
One of BIC’s unique strengths is its cross-sector reach. As Europe’s only association that spans all bio-based industry sectors, BIC is committed to encouraging collaboration between organizations that might not otherwise meet. This includes fostering dialogue between startups and corporates, research institutions and technology providers, and stakeholders across agriculture, marine, construction, packaging, and more.
While formal pitching sessions at events like Tech Tour Circular are essential, BIC also sees tremendous value in the informal conversations that happen in between—over coffee, lunch, or networking receptions. These moments often serve as the starting point for long-term partnerships, joint ventures, or co-funded projects.
Beyond events, BIC also supports collaboration through its online networking platform, regular webinars for new member introductions, and annual in-person matchmaking events. These formats allow members to exchange knowledge, explore synergies, and connect on real opportunities. The year-on-year increase in participation demonstrates just how important and in-demand these connections have become.
Innovation Areas Driving the Bioeconomy Forward
The technology tracks at Tech Tour Circular 2025 align closely with BIC’s strategic priorities. Innovation areas such as alternative food systems, regenerative agriculture, biomanufacturing, circular construction materials, bio-based polymers, advanced recycling, water reuse, and resource recovery are all critical to Europe’s sustainability ambitions.
While Europe has no shortage of promising ideas and research results, many innovations remain stuck at pilot stage or fail to scale due to a lack of investment and market readiness. BIC continues to emphasize the need to close the gap between research and commercialization by supporting technologies that can be manufactured at scale and deployed across markets.
Accelerating this process is not only essential for competitiveness—it is also key to reducing Europe’s dependency on fossil resources and delivering tangible environmental and economic benefits.
Financing Circular Innovation: The Role of Public-Private Partnerships
BIC’s influence extends beyond networking and knowledge exchange. As a key player in the EU’s bioeconomy strategy, the organization works closely with the European Commission to direct funding toward impactful innovation.
Through the Bio-based Industries Joint Undertaking (BBI JU), BIC helped mobilize €3 billion in public and private investment to support 142 projects across Europe. Building on this success, the Circular Bio-based Europe Joint Undertaking (CBE JU) is now allocating another €2 billion toward scale-up and demonstration activities. For every €1 of public funding, nearly €4 of private investment is leveraged—proving the effectiveness of this collaborative funding model.
By focusing on flagship projects and first-of-a-kind production plants, these initiatives are helping to de-risk innovation and bring sustainable circular solutions to market faster and more efficiently.
Join Us in Ghent for Tech Tour Circular 2025
Tech Tour Circular 2025 is set to be one of the most important events of the year for startups, investors, corporates, and ecosystem leaders working in circular innovation. Taking place in the dynamic innovation hub of Ghent, the event will feature two days of expert-led discussions, startup pitches, and one-to-one meetings designed to accelerate partnerships and investment.
Attendees will have the chance to meet selected startups working on some of the most promising circular technologies in Europe. Investors will benefit from access to a curated pipeline of companies, while corporates can explore innovation partnerships aligned with their sustainability strategies.
With BIC’s leadership and vision helping to guide the agenda, Tech Tour Circular 2025 will offer a truly unique opportunity to engage with the people, ideas, and investments shaping Europe’s circular bioeconomy.
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