The Vanguard Initiative has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Circular Bio-based Europe Joint Undertaking (CBE JU), the European Forest Institute (EFI), the European Regions Research and Innovation Network (ERRIN), and the European Regions Network for Innovation in Agriculture, Food and Forestry (ERIAFF). The agreement, signed on 9 July 2026, establishes a formal framework for structured dialogue and cooperation, with the aim of accelerating the deployment of bio-based innovation at regional level across Europe.
A shared vision for the regional bioeconomy
The MoU reflects a shared commitment to connecting European-level research and innovation with the regional ecosystems where bio-based solutions are developed, tested, and scaled. While CBE JU, a €2 billion partnership between the European Union and the Bio-based Industries Consortium, implements research and innovation at European level, the Vanguard Initiative and its co-signatories represent networks of regions with dedicated focus areas in the circular bioeconomy.
For the Vanguard Initiative, this agreement is a natural extension of the work carried out through its Bioeconomy Pilot, which accelerates the market uptake of bio-based innovations by fostering strategic alliances among regions, SMEs, research organisations, and investors across Europe. As Ilaria Re, Technical Coordinator of the Vanguard Initiative Bioeconomy Pilot, noted: by joining forces with CBE JU, EFI Bioregions, ERRIN and ERIAFF, the Vanguard Initiative can better support the creation of interregional value chains, facilitate access to investment and scale-up opportunities, and help bring sustainable bioeconomy innovations from demonstration to market across Europe.
What the agreement will deliver
Under the MoU, the signatories will work together on a range of concrete activities, including joint networking events, tailored information sessions for regional stakeholders, and targeted actions to facilitate access to funding. A particular focus will be placed on helping start-ups and SMEs better understand and navigate the funding landscape, both at European level through CBE JU, and at national and regional level through complementary investment sources.
The parties will also work to guide promising projects towards suitable funding pathways, including the STEP seal of the European Commission, and will collaborate on identifying research, development and innovation priorities relevant to regional bioeconomy development.
The implementation of the MoU will be overseen by a Joint Working Group, which will adopt and regularly review an action plan setting out activities, roles, and timelines.
A step forward for the Vanguard Bioeconomy Pilot
This agreement strengthens the Vanguard Initiative’s position at the intersection of European innovation programmes and regional industrial ecosystems — reinforcing the network’s role as a bridge between smart specialisation strategies and the scaling up of sustainable bio-based solutions across member regions.
🔗 Read the full announcement on the CBE JU website: https://www.cbe.europa.eu/news/cbe-ju-signs-collaboration-agreement-regional-bioeconomy-networks