Bio-economy uses renewable natural resources to produce food, products, energy and services, thereby replacing use of non-renewable natural resources. Therefore, bio-economy covers several industries.

The top sectors of Kainuu bio-economy are the forest bio-economy,  including the forest and wood cluster, utilization and processing of renewable raw materials provided by forests (e.g. different fractions of wood, berries, mushrooms and by-products of production) and food production, including agriculture, natural product sector, fishing and fish farming.

In Kainuu, developing the bio-economy and the bio-circular economy based on the processing of side streams and organic waste is a key part of the green transition of the economy and society from a fossil economy to a low-carbon circular economy.

Renewable energy is a growth sector in Kainuu, and wind power and forest energy in particular are important investment targets in the region. In addition to these, it is essential to strengthen the sustainable utilization of all renewable natural resources in Kainuu and to develop new bio and circular economy innovations. Good water management and protection and sustainable utilization of water ecosystems is an essential part of the bio and circular economy

Forest bio-economy is also the most significant investment goal of the Kainuu region. Founding the KaiCell Fibers Ltd state-of-the-art pulp (NBSK) and bioproducts mill in Paltamo, which, if realized, would be an industrial investment of around 900 million euros.

The bio-economy development goals are defined in the Kainuu programme.

RIS3 and Bio-economy

Bio-economy is also one key cluster in Kainuu RIS3 strategy 2021 – 2027 (See: https://kainuunliitto.fi/en/regional-development/smart-specialisation-strategy/). In RIS3 strategy bio-economy is developed by RDI activities.

Objectives of Kainuu RIS3 strategy are:

1. Improving the productivity of investment / RDI financing: growth based on innovation and know-how

2. RDI expenditure / inhabitant increasing

3. Kainuu’s attractiveness for investment and return on investment will improve (gross capital formation in Kainuu increases)

4. A more skilled workforce and a better functioning labor market: a better match between labor supply and demand: increase of demand for more skilled and more educated labour; increase of demand for researchers working in industries

5. Exports increase and the degree of processing of production increases

6. Increasing the commercialization of innovations and the transfer of innovations to production

7. The number of growth companies is increasing.

BERRY+ Partnership

One key element of implementing bio economy in RIS3 strategy is BERRY+, which is a Smart Specialisation and industrial modernisation partnership, bringing together eight regions from six European member states. BERRY+ is dealing with the processing of renewable natural resources, ingredients and side flows towards high added value products.

See more details of Berry+ on the Regional Council of Kainuu web page and on EU`s RIS3 thematic platforms industrial modernization page https://s3platform.jrc.ec.europa.eu/berry.

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