Press release: CLIB and SPRING sign Memorandum of Understanding

Cluster Industrial Biotechnology CLIB strengthens tie with bioeconomy cluster in Italy 

14.02.2023 

CLIB 

Two leading bioeconomy clusters in Europe will strengthen their collaboration. During the CLIB International Conference CIC2023, the Italian circular bioeconomy cluster SPRING and the German Cluster Industrial Biotechnology CLIB have signed a Memorandum of Understanding in the presence of Luis Cavalieri, Consul General of the Italian Republic in Cologne and Dr. Kirsten Bender, Department Head for Innovation and Markets of the Ministry for Economic Affairs, Industry, Climate Action and Energy of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia.  

 Both clusters share the approach of connecting academia, SMEs, industry, and other stakeholders in the field of bioeconomy, to initiate new collaborations and implement projects. With this MoU, they will strengthen their ties on an operational level.  

Dennis Herzberg, Cluster Manager of CLIB, points out: “For CLIB, the bioeconomy has always had a strong international dimension. Although the bioeconomy always has a regional perspective and must be implemented locally in the regions, it also needs strong international cooperation. Only through close collaboration, especially with our European partners, can we succeed in implementing the bioeconomy. We have been cooperating with Italian stakeholders for a long time already. SPRING has been at the forefront of bioeconomy advocacy at European and global level for over a decade. It brings together a large number of relevant stakeholders from business and science in Italy, shares our strategic approach, and is thus a natural partner for CLIB. Through this cooperation, we want to create additional added value for our respective members, develop joint projects, and thus advance the bioeconomy.” 

Mario Bonaccorso, Director of SPRING, said, “We are honored to sign this MoU with CLIB, one of the leading bioeconomy clusters at world level. We will work together with CLIB in the frame of the European bioeconomy to exchange information and explore synergies between both our clusters and our members. Our collaboration will identify opportunities for joint projects at EU level. We share the same vision and strategy to make the circular bioeconomy happen, starting from basic research to the commercialization of new innovative bio-products, which need a coherent and stable regulatory framework to be successful.  

I look forward to the results of our cooperation with CLIB, such as increased visibility for the bio-based industries and new value chain partnerships. It would be great to see joint initiatives in Brussels to boost the European bioeconomy as one of the main pillars of the EU Green Deal and achieve the ambitious target to reduce net greenhouse gas emissions to zero by 2050, while at the same time ensuring economic and social sustainability. It’s really time to deliver!” 

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 CLIB – Cluster Industrial Biotechnology is an international open innovation cluster for bioeconomy with a focus on industrial biotechnology. The over 100 cluster members are large (multinational) companies, SMEs, universities, and academic institutes, as well as other stakeholders active in the bioeconomy. Founded in 2007, CLIB has >10 years of experience in connecting stakeholders along and across value chains; in helping to set up project consortia, in developing tech transfer strategies, in providing policy advice and in promoting industrial biotechnology as a key driver for a sustainable bio- and circular economy. 

Contakt: Cluster Industrielle Biotechnologie e.V. CLIB 

E-Mail: info@clib-cluster.de  Web: www.clib-cluster.com  Tel: +49-211-418 737 27 

 

SPRING is the Italian Circular Bioeconomy cluster. It gathers more than 130 members across the value chain: Italian and multinational companies of all sizes, universities, private  and  public  research  centers,  investors,  regional  clusters, industrial associations, farmers associations, etc. SPRING, officially recognized by the Italian Ministry of Research, works on all themes related to the production and valorisation of bio-based resources (agriculture, forestry, marine resources or co-products and residues) for food, feed, industrial and energy purposes. It is a member of the National Coordination Group on Bioeconomy set up within the Italian Presidency of Council. 

 Contact: Cluster italiano della Bioeconomia Circolare – SPRING 

E-mail: info@clusterspring.it  Web: www.clusterspring.it  Tel: +39 02 97677 220