The new EU Bioeconomy Strategy establishes a clearer and more enabling policy framework for the development of sustainable blue value chains. It places strong emphasis on accelerating the transition from research to deployment, addressing long-standing barriers that have limited the market uptake of bio-based solutions, including those derived from marine and aquatic resources.
For the blue bioeconomy, the Strategy is particularly relevant in four areas: clearer regulatory pathways and targeted investment support to bring bio-based innovations to market; support for advanced biorefineries, biotechnology and circular bio-based materials; responsible and efficient biomass use, including higher-value applications and the valorisation of underused marine and aquatic resources; and improved resilience through more diversified supply chains and global partnerships.
Within this context, the Commission explicitly highlights algae-derived chemicals and materials as examples of high-value bio-based innovation. This reinforces the strategic role of aquatic biomass in Europe’s shift away from fossil-based materials, while supporting climate objectives, resource efficiency and coastal economic development.
Alignment with SUBMARINER’s work
SUBMARINER and its network already advance many of the priorities outlined in the Strategy. Across the Baltic and North Sea regions, SUBMARINER supports the development of sustainable algae and aquaculture value chains that combine economic viability with ecosystem integrity. Its activities focus on strengthening regional biorefining and processing capacity, improving investment readiness and scale-up conditions for blue bioeconomy solutions, and facilitating structured dialogue between industry, regions and policymakers to reduce regulatory fragmentation and uncertainty.
By connecting research, industry, regional authorities and EU-level policy processes, SUBMARINER helps ensure that regional blue bioeconomy initiatives are aligned with EU objectives and able to move from pilot activities to market-relevant deployment. This place-based, cooperative approach positions the Baltic and North Sea regions as frontrunners in demonstrating circular and regenerative blue bioeconomy models in practice.
Read more about our solutions here: https://submariner-network.eu/our-solutions/
Looking ahead
The EU Bioeconomy Strategy provides a renewed and strengthened mandate to scale sustainable bio-based industries across Europe. For SUBMARINER, it reinforces the policy context for ongoing efforts to develop responsible blue value chains and supports coastal regions in acting as active contributors to a competitive, resilient and nature-positive European bioeconomy.
Read more: https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_25_2819
