Vancouver, Canada, will host the second edition of the Forest Innovation and Bioeconomy Conference on May 6-8 organized by the British Columbia Government. FIBC is a premier event showcasing the development and manufacturing of innovative bio-sourced products and high-value applications. It represents – the organizers say – an opportunity to discover what’s new in innovative bioproduct research and the latest commercialization initiatives and discuss how the Forest Bioeconomy intertwines with other sectors.
In 2023, the Forest Innovation and Bioeconomy Conference convened over 200 representatives from 82 organizations in various sectors, including government agencies, startups, producers, research institutions, consulting, investment firms, and First Nations. Delegations from Sweden, Finland, Chile, China, Switzerland, New Zealand, the United States, Japan, and France heard from 48 speakers, 31% of which were international experts, enriching discussions on bioeconomy innovation.
This new edition will host a delegation from the European Union, with a session focused on Horizon Europe’s opportunities and another one focused on the role of clusters in favoring the development of circular bioeconomy. FIBC 2025 brings together speakers and participants from government, the forest industry and associations, start-ups, investment firms, First Nations, and international organizations, all focused on the research, development and commercialization of forest bioproducts. Over the first two days, the conference will showcase the latest global innovations in bio-product research, as well as commercialization opportunities in both international and domestic markets. These sessions will inspire new research and business ideas, while fostering information exchange and collaboration between government, academia, industry, and First Nations.
On Day 3, the conference will focus on the forest sector transformation and diversification through the development of BC’s forest bioeconomy. Presentations and panel discussion will explore how to attract and retain investment to develop bioproduct facilities in BC, position bioeconomy as a driver for sustainable economic growth, and develop BC as bioeconomy innovation cluster on the West Coast. Discussions will also feature a fireside chat with bioeconomy leaders on workforce and talent development. Moreover, there will be a concurrent business-to-business matchmaking session on the same day designed to build connections between bioproduct start-ups and key audiences, helping both sides identify and better understand business opportunities and the specific needs of startups.
IL BIOECONOMISTA 