Stuttgart, 18 June 2025 – On a warm summer day at the University of Hohenheim, a small group of researchers, students, and regional stakeholders gathered for a big conversation: what role does society play in shaping a bio-based future?
The final German BIOLOC event, titled “Bioeconomy and Society”, carried a clear message: building a sustainable bioeconomy is as much about people as it is about technology.
From Innovation to Inclusion
The workshop began with an overview of BIOLOC’s results, but quickly moved into a lively exchange about social innovation. What became clear is that Baden-Württemberg already has strong technical know-how and industry involvement in the green transition. What it needs more of is social participation.
“We can’t expect the bioeconomy to thrive if people don’t understand it or don’t feel included in it,” one participant noted. “Technology alone won’t bring sustainability — society must be part of the transformation.”
A Dialogue Across Perspectives
Academics sat alongside business representatives, student leaders, and civil society voices. Together, they explored how to bring new groups into the conversation — not just researchers or entrepreneurs, but also communities who may feel left out of high-level discussions.
The interactive session encouraged participants to imagine practical steps: from local awareness campaigns and school projects to stronger partnerships between universities and NGOs.
Even though one planned public administration representative had to cancel, the organizers made sure to follow up through bilateral talks, ensuring that policymakers, too, were kept in the loop.
Lessons and Commitments
The event showed that even small-scale dialogues can spark momentum. Participants left with new contacts, ideas for collaboration, and a shared conviction that bioeconomy policy must be rooted in education, culture, and inclusivity.
The University of Hohenheim committed to carrying these lessons forward, particularly in future projects connecting social innovation and bioeconomy development.
As one participant put it: “A sustainable bioeconomy is not only a technical project, it is a cultural one. We have to build it together.”
