Watch the video recordings from the sessions in the main auditorium.
Boosting and mainstreaming the bioeconomy
- Science and governance for the green transition
When: Tuesday 2 December 2025
Where: University of Copenhagen, South Campus, Karen Blixens Plads, 2300 Copenhagen S, Denmark
8:00 |
Registration, coffee |
9:00 |
Setting the direction: Launching Europe’s New Bioeconomy Strategy – opening sessionSession is moderated by Andreas de Neergaard, Pro-dean for Science, University of Copenhagen Welcome by David Dreyer Lassen, Rector, University of Copenhagen Video message from Ekaterina Zaharieva, EU Commissioner for Startups, Research and Innovation The future role of Bioeconomy as a driver for development in rural areas by Jeppe Bruus, Danish Minister for Green Transition The new EU bioeconomy strategy by Eric Mamer, Director-General, European Commission, DG Environment 20 years of bioeconomy in Europe - lessons learned by Christian Patermann, Former Director, European Commission, DG Research & Innovation |
9:45 |
The bioeconomy generation: Building a future we can believe inSpeech by Nanna Koefoed, Research Scientist and EU Bioeconomy Youth Ambassador |
10:00 |
How do we boost the long-term competitiveness of the EU bioeconomy?Panel debate moderated by Agata Kotkowska, European Commission, DG Environment Dirk Carrez, CEO, Bio-based Industries Consortium (BIC) Kristian Hundebøll, Chair of the Danish Growth Team for the Future of Agriculture, Food and Biosolutions Carmine Marzano, Senior Bioeconomy Specialist, European Investment Bank (EIB) Michael Brandkamp, Managing Director, European Circular Bioeconomy Fund (ECBF) |
11:00 |
Coffee break |
11:30 |
Securing the competitive and sustainable supply of biomasschose session A or B Session A: Can Europe produce more biomass while supporting sustainability and biodiversity goals? (Small auditorium)Panel moderated by Andreas de Neergaard, Pro-dean for Science, University of Copenhagen Potentials for doubling productivity and halve impacts on environment and climate. Uffe Jørgensen, Aarhus University Barna Kovacs, Secretary General, BIOEAST Tobias Nielsen, Expert, Circular Economy, European Environmental Agency Steen Bitsch, CEO, Vestjyllands Andel Alessandra Zampieri, Director for Sustainable Resources, Joint Research Centre, European Commission Session B: How do we prioritise and optimise the use of biomass in Europe? (Main auditorium)Panel moderated by Peter Wehrheim, Head of Unit, European Commission, Unit Bioeconomy & Food Systems, DG Research & Innovation. How can future biomass use be optimised given our EU economic, sustainability and leadership goals? Examples from national and European strategies. Nelly Azaïs, project manager, AGORA Michael Losch, European Commission, DG Agriculture and Rural Development Jukka Kantola, Chair, World Bioeconomy Association Jacob Bagge Hansen, Director for Industrial Affairs, KMC |
12:30 |
Lunch |
13:45 |
Market Development and Scale-up Strategieschose session A or B Session A: How do we build a sustainable market for bio-based products in Europe? (Small auditorium)Panel debate moderated by Rosalinda Scalia, Deputy Head of Unit, DG Research & Innovation Kristin Schreiber, Director, European Commission, Directorate Chemicals, Bioeconomy and Retail, DG Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs Evelyn Reinmuth, Head of the Bioeconomy Office, University of Hohenheim Peep Pitk, Chief Strategic Business Development Officer, Fibenol Agata Kotkowska, European Commission, DG Environment Session B: How does the EU support the upscaling of the bioeconomy? (Main auditorium)Panel debate moderated by Andreas de Neergaard, Pro-dean for Science, University of Copenhagen James Morrison, Director, European Commission, Directorate Healthy Planet, DG Research & Innovation Ben Durham, Chief Director of Bio-innovation, The National Department of Science and Innovation Nicolo GIACOMUZZI-MOORE, Executive Director CBE-JU Randi Wahlsten, CEO, Matr Foods |
14:45 |
Coffee break |
15.15 |
The New Normal: Mainstreaming the Bioeconomy for a Green FuturePanel debate moderated by Andreas de Neergaard, Pro-dean for Science, University of Copenhagen James Morrison, Director, European Commission, Directorate Healthy Planet, DG Research & Innovation Christine Lang, International Advisory Council on Global Bioeconomy Claus Felby, Vice President for Agri-Food, Novo Nordisk Foundation Karl Walsh, Head of Research, Bioeconomy and Codex, Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Ireland |
16.15 - 17.00 |
The next chapter of the bioeconomy in EuropeClosing session moderated by Andreas de Neergaard, Pro-dean for Science, University of Copenhagen Jessika Roswall, European Commissioner for Environment Marie Bjerre, Danish Minister of European Affairs |
Social events |
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To get to the Old Library and the Ceremonial Hall take M1 from metro station Islands Brygge to Nørreport (5 mins). The Library is around the corner from the Ceremonial Hall. |
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17:30-19:00 |
The Old University Library, Fiolstræde 1, 1171 Copenhagen K, is open for conference participants |
19:00-22:00 |
Networking reception with finger food at the Ceremonial Hall, University of Copenhagen, Frue Plads 2, 1168 Copenhagen K |