Typology of Circular Bioeconomy Governance Models
Creators: name: Stylianidis, Efstratios
name: Partalidou, Maria
name: Natos, Dimitrios
name: Theofilou, Asterios
name: Skondras, Alexandros
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2022

description: The circular bioeconomy is based on the idea of applying biological principles and processes in the

economy to replace fossil-based raw materials with bio-based materials, principles, and processes.

The innovative and sustainable use of bio-based resources, through a bio-based transformation of

the economy, provides opportunities for sustainability, enabling the achievement of various

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This requires governance structures and models that

ensure the development of sustainable, bio-based transformations.

Governance has two important functions for a sustainable circular bioeconomy: First, a safeguarding

function, i.e., there is a need for explicit safeguards of economic, social, and ecological sustainability

through appropriate governance approaches. Second, an enabling function. In addition to ensuring

sustainability, the governance framework also has the task of ensuring fair competitive conditions

for bioeconomy processes and products in the first place, thus enabling efficient decisions between

alternative technologies and biogenic and non-biogenic resources on markets.

The methodological approach employed to collect data on regional bioeconomy models was a

literature review through desk research and a data collection survey through partners of the ROBIN

consortium. The desk research was based on policy documents, material from previous H2020

projects, reports by the JRC, and academic papers. The literature review investigates potential

assessment methods and evidence on the effectiveness and robustness of existing governance

schemes in the EU. The data collection survey was conducted with the coordination of AUTH team

and the assistance of all partners. The data collected comprised of 61 circular bioeconomy models

and was compiled in an MS Excel spreadsheet for further analysis and data was analyzed to identify

the 20 circular bioeconomy model case studies to be further analyzed. The dataset with the complete

list of models is available and complements this deliverable.

The deliverable presents an overview of regional circular bioeconomy governance strategies and

models in the EU-27 and a typology of regional bioeconomy governance models along ten

dimensions, based on a sample of 20 circular bioeconomy case studies. The typology distinguishes

four bio-based transformation paths and two main governance functions, enabling governance and

constraining governance. The typology allows the classification of present and future circular

bioeconomy governance models. Based solely on the three enabling governance mechanisms and

the five constraining governance mechanisms identified, over fifteen (>15) types of circular

bioeconomy governance models can be distinguished, satisfying the requisite KPI objective.

Our results corroborate previous findings that many regions have set the goal of developing and

expanding their bioeconomies and local governments are providing comprehensive political support

to their bioeconomies to achieve this goal. Currently, regions are highly active in addressing this

enabling governance challenge. However, our results show that the political management of

conflicting goals has not yet reached the same level of attention.

The typology developed in this deliverable is directly linked with Task 1.3 and will be employed in

Deliverable 1.2 Good Governance Practices, to classify the list of good practices of regional

governments supporting local operators and innovation developers via appropriate business models

and social measures.