Businesses and researchers collaborate in long-term circular bioeconomy initiative

Cross-border development for strengthened competitiveness, increased resource efficiency and resilience in Sweden's green and blue industries. This is what the Biosociety research and innovation program will work for. A program office has now been established that will be run by the business community.

The program is funded by the Swedish Research Council Formas and co-financed by the Swedish Forest Industries Federation, the Swedish Food Federation, the Swedish Farmers' Union (LRF), the Swedish Innovation and Chemical Industries Federation (IKEM) and the Swedish Textile and Fashion Industries Federation (TEKO). The five trade associations will jointly run the program office that will lead the daily work of the research and innovation program. The program office will work to identify companies' knowledge needs and create business relevance for the program. Funds for research and innovation will be regularly announced by Formas.

The bioeconomy is a Swedish area of strength that will be developed and strengthened through this initiative. At the end of 2024, the Government commissioned Formas to create a new research and innovation program on the circular bioeconomy with the intention that the program will be long-term. Funding for the program office in the first phase is five years and will be half financed by the business community.

- Sweden has a wealth of knowledge about bio-based development. In the program, we can now identify the needs for research and development initiatives that the industry has in order to be able to take strategic steps together with research actors to develop fossil-free and circular solutions, says Sverker Danielsson, Program Manager for Biosociety at the Swedish Forest Industries Federation.

- With Biosociety, we are now laying the foundation for cross-sectoral research and development between the areas of food, forestry, agriculture, textiles and chemistry, so that Sweden can lead the sustainable development of the bioeconomy, says Katarina Buhr, Senior Research Officer at Formas.

- This is a major initiative that is now getting underway, where companies in different sectors, academia and institutes will meet and together achieve important solutions for the green transition, says Elisabet Rytter, Head of Research and Nutrition at the Swedish Food Federation.

Funding for the program

The budget for Formas' funding is estimated at SEK 25 million in 2025, SEK 35 million in 2026, SEK 60 million in 2027 and SEK 83 million in 2028. After that, the program is expected to continue to be funded at the same level. The business sector will provide corresponding funding.

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