TransBIB presents: Euroregion Flanders

From strategic vision to industrial reality

Within a decade, the Flanders region has developed from a traditional industrial and agricultural region into one of the most dynamic locations for the bioeconomy in Europe. This has been made possible by strategic political impetus, an excellent research landscape and close links between science and industry. With a turnover of around 53 billion euros and over 150,000 employees, the bioeconomy is now a central pillar of the Flemish economic structure.

Diversity instead of a standardised model: regional priorities in Flanders

The Flemish bioeconomy is highly decentralised and differentiated along regional competencies:

• West Flanders boasts intensive food production, horticulture, dairy farming and meat processing.

• East Flanders has developed into a centre for industrial biotechnology and the circular economy.

• Limburg is a leader in forest-based industry, paper production and bioenergy.

• Flemish Brabant focuses on research and innovation in sustainable packaging, food technology and bio-based chemistry.

• Antwerp, the industrial heart of the region, focuses on green chemistry, bioplastics and bio-based raw materials.

This diversity enables specialised value chains and promotes a resilient, innovation-driven bioeconomy ecosystem.

Political awakening and institutional development

Although the first biotechnological projects were already initiated in the 1990s - particularly by universities such as Ghent and KU Leuven - the decisive impetus came in 2013 with the official introduction of the Flemish Bioeconomy Strategy. This laid a strategic foundation for the first time and prepared the ground for targeted funding programmes, pilot plants and cooperation platforms.

One milestone was the founding of Bio Base Europe Pilot Plant in Ghent: a multifunctional pilot infrastructure that supports companies in scaling up bio-based processes on an industrial scale. At the same time, the Flanders Biobased Valley was created as a network that strategically brings together research, industry and start-ups in the field of bioeconomy.

Research, networks and industrial implementation

Scientific excellence in Flanders is a key driver of the bioeconomy. Institutions such as:

• VIB (Flemish Institute of Biotechnology),

• VITO (Flemish Institute for Technological Research),

• ILVO (Institute for Agricultural and Fisheries Research),

• sowie die Universitäten in Gent, Leuven und Antwerpen

are international leaders in areas such as industrial biotechnology, bio-based chemicals, sustainable agriculture and the circular economy.

Close collaboration with industrial players such as Sappi Lanaken Mill, AVR, Proviron, Citrique Belge, Vandemoortele, Inbiose and Oleon enables the effective translation of scientific findings into marketable products. Industrial implementation is increasingly taking place in large-scale plants - for bioplastics, biofuels and green chemicals, among others.

Economic significance and political flanking

With around 152,000 employees and an annual turnover of 53 billion euros, the bioeconomy makes a significant contribution to Flanders' industrial value creation. Around 10% of industrial production is now accounted for by bio-based sectors. The Flemish government is providing targeted support:

• the establishment of pilot and demonstration plants,

• cluster structures and

• the networking of research and industry.

This systematic promotion has significantly increased regional innovation capacity and put Flanders in a pioneering position in Europe.

Outlook: Focus on the circular economy and scaling

The strategic focus is currently on the integration of industrial by-products and waste streams into new bio-based value chains. In addition, the expansion of large-scale plants for bio-based materials, the refinement of recycling systems and the strengthening of international knowledge transfer are being driven forward.

Flanders is thus positioning itself not only as an industrial realiser, but also as an international trendsetter in the further development of sustainable bioeconomy structures.

Timeline: Milestones of the bioeconomy in Flanders