Symposium of the ‘Industrial Bioeconomy’ dialogue platform

On 28 October, the symposium of the ‘Industrial Bioeconomy’ dialogue platform of the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy took place in Berlin. This year, the event was hosted by the Bavarian Representation in Berlin. Under the title ‘Research, Develop, Scale, Transform – Shaping the Bioeconomy for Sustainability and Competitiveness Together!’, participants came together to discuss the results of the dialogue platform’s working groups and select topics for the coming year.  

Highlights included a speech by Gitta Connemann, Parliamentary State Secretary at the BMWE, and a high-profile panel discussion with representatives from politics and industry, including Kristin Schreiber (European Commission), Dr Beate Baron (BMWE), Dr Klaus-Peter Potthast (Bavarian State Ministry of Economic Affairs), Dr Eva Wilke (BASF SE), Dr Joachim Schulze (BioConsulting GmbH) and Dr Fabian Fischer (Volkswagen AG). In her speech, Ms Connemann emphasised the role of biotechnology as a strategic field of innovation for Germany. 

The presentations on concrete results and recommendations for action from the working groups of the dialogue platform were particularly enriching. The working groups presented their findings on quotas, certificate trading, the circular economy and GMO legislation. The current status of the process to initiate an IPCEI biotech was also presented. 

Subsequently, the process of identifying topics for the dialogue platform’s activities in 2026 was launched. Possible topics derived from a previous survey were presented in short pitches. Four topics were ultimately selected and explored in depth in subsequent fishbowl discussions and breakout sessions. Priority was given to the following areas: I) Raw material management and maximisation of added value, II) Circular carbon strategy and CCU, III) Financing strategies and scaling IV) Market incentives and fair competition conditions.   

The day was rounded off with an outlook from Max Kroymann (Head of the Bioeconomy Division at the BMWE) and a dinner speech by Dr Christian Patermann.