29 June 2026 — Circular Bio-based Europe Joint Undertaking (CBE JU)
A new independent study, carried out by Technopolis Group on behalf of CBE JU, confirms that stakeholders across Europe’s bio-based sector see strong value in the Joint Undertaking’s public-private funding model, its alignment with EU policy goals, and its contribution to moving innovation from research to industrial deployment. At the same time, the study points to areas where further work is needed to strengthen the link between innovation, investment and market uptake.
A Broad and Balanced Consultation
The study drew on input from across the whole CBE JU ecosystem: project beneficiaries, industry representatives, members of CBE JU’s governance and advisory bodies, cluster organisations, policymakers and civil society actors. Evidence was gathered through an online survey with close to 70 respondents, around 20 semi-structured interviews, and an in-person focus-group workshop attended by 15 participants.
Stakeholders Value the Delivery Model
Respondents rated CBE JU highly for its ability to connect EU policy priorities, industry commitment and scientific expertise through its public-private partnership model. The programme was seen as particularly effective at building networks: its contribution to creating networking opportunities scored 4.61 out of 5, while its role in strengthening collaboration across the EU bioeconomy landscape scored 4.59 out of 5. Transparency and inclusiveness also scored highly, at 4.55 out of 5, with 98% of respondents giving a favourable assessment.
Impact Beyond Individual Projects
Beyond funding results, stakeholders highlighted CBE JU’s role in helping bio-based innovations progress toward demonstration, industrial scale-up and market uptake. Flagship and demonstration projects were seen as key tools for de-risking the deployment of new bio-based technologies at industrial scale, giving organisations the chance to test and validate solutions under real operating conditions, something many said would have been difficult to achieve on their own.
The study also found that CBE JU strengthens cooperation between industry, research organisations, SMEs and primary producers, helping partners find new collaborators across value chains. CBE JU’s overall impact received one of the study’s strongest scores: 4.38 out of 5, with 93% of respondents rating it favourably.
Strong Alignment with EU Policy Goals
Stakeholders confirmed that CBE JU-funded projects are closely aligned with major EU priorities, including the circular bioeconomy, industrial competitiveness, strategic autonomy, sustainable industrial transformation, and the shift toward bio-based alternatives to fossil-based materials. In the survey, 80% of respondents rated CBE JU’s alignment with initiatives such as the EU Bioeconomy Strategy, the Clean Industrial Deal and the Circular Economy Action Plan positively.
The study also noted that CBE JU plays a role beyond simply implementing funding: by generating evidence from its funded projects, it feeds practical insights back into EU policymaking.
Looking Ahead: Priorities for the Future
The study identifies several areas where further action could increase CBE JU’s impact and support the wider bio-based sector, including:
- Continued support for industrial deployment;
- Stronger connections with investors;
- Better access to pilot and demonstration infrastructure;
- Improved synergies with national and regional funding schemes;
- Greater demand-side support for bio-based products;
- Wider involvement of underrepresented groups, such as primary producers, organisations from widening countries, and the aquatic sector.
Commenting on the findings, Nicoló Giacomuzzi-Moore, Executive Director of CBE JU, noted that the study highlights areas where Europe’s bio-based sector still needs stronger support, particularly around investment, industrial deployment, synergies and inclusion across value chains. He pointed to CBE JU initiatives already addressing these needs, including the Bioeconomy Investment Deployment Group, the Synergies Strategy and the Working Group on Primary Producers, adding that the findings will help guide the programme’s next steps in moving circular bio-based innovation from promising results to real deployment.
Overall, the independent study confirms that CBE JU is regarded by its stakeholders as a key instrument for scaling up circular bio-based innovation across Europe, while also providing a clear roadmap of priorities to strengthen that role going forward.
Read more here.