Dive Into Key Learnings from Ten CEE2ACT Bioeconomy Hubs in Central and Eastern Europe

As Europe aims for a circular, bio-based economy, the key question remains: how can we make it work on the ground? The bioeconomy hubs of our CEE2ACT project offer real-world learnings from Central and Eastern Europe and how these countries are actively shaping their bioeconomy pathways.

With the EU-funded project coming to an end, the message from the ten National Bioeconomy Hubs (NBHs) is clear: bottom-up collaboration works, even in complex and diverse national contexts.

Established in Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Greece, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia and Slovenia, the hubs were created to bring together actors from research, academia, government, industry and civil society. In many of these countries, the bioeconomy is still an emerging concept and governance remains fragmented. Yet, despite delays in national strategies, institutional overlaps and competing priorities, the hubs have successfully built shared understanding, mobilised stakeholder networks, and increased the visibility of the bioeconomy in national and regional policy debates.

Dr. Nevena Čule, Senior Research Associate at the Institute of Forestry in Belgrade, Serbia highlights: “Serbia now has not only a roadmap but also a working hub, an open coordination space to turn shared priorities into action.”

Our CEE2ACT project team shares some of the key learnings after four years of work on the ground:

Trust is the main ingredient: Across all hubs, face-to-face engagement, regular dialogue and inclusive formats proved far more effective than formal, top-down approaches alone. In Serbia, Bulgaria and Slovakia, sustained personal interaction on a regular level was essential to overcome initial unfamiliarity with the bioeconomy concept.

Pragmatig collaboration: Rather than creating new structures from scratch, the hubs built on existing initiatives, clusters and networks. Practical tools such as Memoranda of Understanding (MoU), bilateral cooperation agreements, thematic clusters, living labs and knowledge-sharing platforms helped consolidate fragmented landscapes and align stakeholders around shared goals. Demonstrations, thematic roundtables, and concrete use cases consistently proved more impactful than abstract policy discussions.

Flexibility and adaptation: Strict requirements for the set-up of collaborative formats like the bioeconomy hubs following a “one-size-fits-all” approach can impede success. Incorporating a degree of flexibility and giving the national hubs some wiggle room was a key success factor.

What comes next?

The ten hubs face common challenges that also point to future opportunities. Securing sustainable funding, strengthening institutional anchoring and formalising cooperation frameworks will be key to maintaining momentum beyond CEE2ACT. At the same time, there is strong potential to scale joint initiatives across Central and Eastern Europe – from cross-country projects and shared policy positions to coordinated advocacy for stronger EU-level support.

The CEE2ACT project has demonstrated that National Bioeconomy Hubs can act as powerful catalysts for collaboration, policy alignment and long-term capacity building. Building on this foundation, the hubs are well positioned to continue their work and explore new partnerships for future bioeconomy initiatives in Europe.

Are you as keen as we are in using successful formats like our CEE2ACT hubs to advance bioeconomy? Then, reach out to Kartika Anggraeni to get the conversation started!