The new EU funding period (2021-2027) is designed to boost the European Green Deal which is an ambitious set of policy initiatives with the overarching aim of making Europe climate neutral in 2050.
The countries and regions in the Baltic Sea Region have already made significant efforts in promoting new business opportunities and research in bio- and circular economy. Many interregional projects in the previous EU funding period have had a focus on bio- and circular economy, supported by regional innovation (smart specialisation) strategies. With this “green cooperation” and learning experience, the regions in the Baltic Sea Region have good basis to utilise the upcoming EU Green Deal funding opportunities for more strategic cooperation to boost green transition.
The EU Smart Specialisation Platform selected 10 European cases that develop their own innovation-driven economic transformation agendas, with a specific emphasis on environmental-oriented activities. One of the selected cases is the Baltic Sea Region and several examples of interregional cooperation in bio- and circular economy.
The smart story article “Baltic Sea Region – interregional cooperation on circular-bioeconomy” was written based on the studies made within the project BSR S3 Ecosystem Platform and an interview with Johanna Leino, Development Director at the Baltic Institute of Finland.