Consortium
BIOSPARK brings together leading universities, research organisations, innovation agencies, networks and industry associations from across the European Union.
Finland
The University of Eastern Finland (UEF) is the most multidisciplinary university in Finland. We are home to some 17,000 students who study a variety of disciplines ranging from biology to business studies, from education to environmental sciences and from theology to toxicology on our campuses in Joensuu and Kuopio.
Germany
Founded in 1818 in the wake of devastating famines, the University of Hohenheim remains committed not only to intensive basic research but also to the tradition of developing innovative solutions to pressing societal problems. Unlike other universities, the University of Hohenheim offers a range of academic disciplines—unique in Germany—across its faculties of Agricultural Sciences, Natural Sciences, and Economic and Social Sciences. Today, the university boasts a distinctive profile, a strong international network, and outstanding individuals. Its history, mission statement, and defined strategy provide guidance for its continued development.
Italy
Alma Mater Studiorum – Università di Bologna operates on the principle that every individual carries within themselves a unique and unrepeatable potential. Active listening and dialogue guide the work of the University of Bologna, which promotes, in all its activities, inclusion, equity, and diversity.
The University of Bologna strongly supports the right to education, acknowledging commitment and merit, fostering resources to eliminate economic and social obstacles, investing in innovative measures and services to promote equal opportunities in the educational journey and personal growth of all students.
Netherlands
Wageningen University & Research provides education and generates knowledge in the domain of healthy food and living environment. ‘To explore the potential of nature to improve the quality of life’. That is the mission of Wageningen University & Research (WUR). A staff of 6,500 and 10,000 students from over 100 countries work everywhere around the world in the domain of healthy food and living environment for governments and the business community-at-large. The strength of WUR lies in its ability to join the forces of specialised research institutes and the University. It also lies in the combined efforts of the various fields of natural and social sciences. This union of expertise leads to scientific breakthroughs that can quickly be put into practice and be incorporated into education. This is the Wageningen Approach. The scientific quality of WUR is affirmed by the prominent position we occupy in international rankings and citation indexes.
Austria
The University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna is one of the leading universities for life sciences in Europe. We see ourselves as an innovation leader in sustainable development and in the creation of a green economy in cooperation with research, education, economics and society.
Sweden
The Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU) is crucial in promoting sustainable living through science and education. By emphasising the interaction between humans, animals, ecosystems, and the responsible use of natural resources, we support sustainable social development and enhance living conditions on our planet. Our main campuses are in Alnarp, Umeå, and Uppsala, but we also conduct activities at research stations, experimental parks, and educational sites throughout the country.
France
AgroParisTech is the institute for life sciences, biotechnology, and environmental sciences, operating under the supervision of the ministries responsible for agriculture and higher education. As a key player in higher education and research, this leading international institution addresses the major challenges of the 21st century: feeding the world through sustainable land management, preserving natural resources, fostering innovation, and integrating the bioeconomy.
Poland
The Warsaw University of Life Sciences is the oldest agricultural and natural science university in Poland, its origins dating back to 1816. The school is a thriving academic center, receiving recognition and unflagging interest among young people and teaching staff in Poland and abroad, valued for its care for the quality of education, faithfulness to the best university traditions, openness to change, and dynamic development.
Ireland
Maynooth University is a place of lively contrasts–a modern institution, dynamic, rapidly-growing, research-led and engaged, yet grounded in historic academic strengths and scholarly traditions.
With more than 12,000 students from more than 90 countries, Maynooth offers a range of programmes at undergraduate, master’s and PhD level in the humanities, science and engineering, and social sciences, including business, law, and education. The University also offers a range of international programmes and partnerships.
Maynooth’s unique collegial culture fosters an interdisciplinary approach to research, which its world-class academics bring to bear in tackling some of the most fundamental challenges facing society today. The University’s research institutes and centres consolidate and deliver this impact as vibrant communities of learning, discovery and creation. Research at Maynooth also is very much central to its teaching, and the University prides itself on placing equal value on its research and teaching missions.
Ireland
University College Dublin (UCD) is one of Europe’s leading research-intensive universities where undergraduate education, postgraduate masters and PhD training, research, innovation and community engagement form a dynamic continuum of activity. Founded in 1854 by John Henry Cardinal Newman, UCD was set up as an inclusive Irish university. Today UCD offers a variety of academic areas in 43 subjects to 33,460 students from 131 countries. It is Ireland’s largest university and with 25% of its students being international, it has a global outlook. It is the most popular destination for Irish school-leavers and actively promotes university life as a journey of academic and personal discovery through its highly innovative and flexible UCD Horizons undergraduate curriculum.
Netherlands
Avans University of Applied Sciences offers multidisciplinary education and applied research across fields such as engineering, life sciences, environmental technology, business and social sciences. Through its specialized academies and research facilities, Avans addresses societal challenges related to sustainability, circularity, energy transition, health and technological innovation. Its Centre of Expertise MNEXT plays a key role in research on biobased materials, sustainable energy, circular technologies and innovation. The strength of Avans lies in connecting education, applied research and industry, bringing together researchers, students, businesses and public organisations to develop, test and implement innovative solutions that create real-world impact.
Czech Republic
National Bioeconomy Hub, the first in the Central and Eastern Europe region with the support of the BIOEAST Initiative and core partner of EIT Water.
Poland
Foundation for Education and Social Dialogue “Pro Civis” is a non-governmental, non-profit, independent organization integrating business and academia. Its mission concerns taking up initiatives for the support of cross-sectoral dialogue i.a. through initiation of partnerships between various entities. The Foundation works on the development of the society and economy through popularization of knowledge and sustaining the growth of entrepreneurship, especially in the fields of smart specialization and key enabling technologies. “Pro Civis” also realizes social innovations projects. It supports the initiatives serving the development, testing, and implementing innovative tools and methods of technics and technology management. The Foundation is particularly interested in the research and implementation projects helping overcome social and economic challenges of the 21st century.
Spain
CTA is the multi-sector innovation cluster of Andalusia with national and international activity.
We help companies, administrations and universities to plan an R&D&I strategy aligned with their needs. From the identification of R&D&I needs to the formulation of projects to solve them or the search for partners and financing, we accompany companies in their innovation project. We are the strategic ally to transform the results achieved into business and a successful partner in international innovation projects. We are a private foundation with more than 186 member companies and 18 years of experience, originally promoted by the Junta de Andalucía and privately managed, dedicated to promoting technological innovation.
Italy
SPRING is the Italian Circular Bioeconomy Cluster.
Founded in 2014, it brings together a diverse network of players, from public and private research centers to SMEs, large companies, trade associations, regional clusters, consulting firms and financial firms with the goal of promoting systemic growth based on the bioeconomy. Recognized as a component of the national bioeconomy steering cabinet, SPRING is the focal point for policy coordination, sustainable innovation and territorial development.
Belgium
InnovaWood is a unique and multidisciplinary network, bringing together the wood research, innovation and education community. InnovaWood’s role is to increase awareness and provide strategic orientations to implement education, innovation, and relevant technologies.
Italy
Spain
Sustainable Innovations is a Spanish consultancy firm that provides innovative services to a wide range of sectors across Europe: bio-based industry, energy, industry 5.0, circular economy and advanced materials, among others. The core competencies offered by Sustainable Innovations are structured in two main pillars which bridge the gap between the ideas and the market. On one hand, the R&D management area offers expertise in grant writing, project integration, and advisory services. On the other hand, we are involved in EU project execution, leading several tasks revolving around communication, exploitation, and project administration.