In the space of a few years, Bioeconomy For Change (B4C) has become the flagship network for the bioeconomy in France, Europe and internationally. What do they do exactly? They help their members in their innovation and industrialisation projects surrounding biomass. The business cluster joined forces with the Region in 2021 and uses the area’s many resources to see the regional strategy launched in 2023 through. Let’s meet Claire Charlier, Normandy regional delegate and former engineer, now based in Caen for Bioeconomy for Change.

Can you tell us what the bioeconomy is?

The bioeconomy is the production and use of biomass, whether it comes from aquaculture, agriculture or forests to produce food (human or animal), bio-based chemicals, bio-based materials or energy.
It creates added value and helps us tackle climate change, reduce our carbon footprint, regain our foothold and give our businesses a sharper competitive edge. It also provides lots of opportunities for growth and creates jobs that are hard to delocalise. It gives France a competitive edge by reviving rural areas in connection with industrial areas, since the aim is for these innovations to one day become industrial processes and large-scale solutions.

Photo de Claire Charlier

The bioeconomy is one solution to replace fossil energy sources. Its economy is based on living organisms, biomass, meaning the use of renewable resources.

What’s your target market?

Any business with an interest in biomass and bio-based resources can ask to join. Half of our members – around 250, are SMEs/VSBs or start-ups. An average of 20% are large groups or MSBs promoting biomass or looking for bio-based solutions. For example, we have chemical companies who want to find substitutes for crude oil. The rest of our members include research labs, transfer stations, universities, private schools, farming cooperatives, institutions and financial organisations. Basically, the entire ecosystem helps streamline processes when it comes to regional industry.

A business cluster

B4C is an accredited business cluster founded in 2005 by the Champagne Ardenne and Picardie regions, which are now called Grand Est and Hauts-de-France. Normandy joined the campaign and has supported B4C since 2021. B4C is a nationwide community since half of its members are based outside these three regions, in France and abroad.

What are the figures for B4C in Normandy?

feuille et billes de plastique futerro

We currently have 60-odd members in Normandy with 2/3 companies, 10% training and research centres plus key figures in the ecosystem: chambers of agriculture, Haropa Port, Village by CA etc. We’ve been working in close partnership with the Region since 2021 and together we hosted the États Généraux de la Bioéconomie event in May 2022. It meant we could bring together a number of figures to discuss bioeconomy subjects and work with them to highlight their needs. We focused on Normandy’s areas of expertise: plant-based protein and new protein such as insects, blue bioeconomy (aquatic biological resources, seashell waste etc.), vegetable and natural fibres (for materials and clothes), bio-based chemicals and bioenergy. We worked with a series of Normandy partners specialising in their area to draft the regional bioeconomy strategy which launched in January 2023. B4C coordinates the strategy and other projects in partnership with the Regional Chamber of Agriculture in Normandy.

Normandy is an incredibly rich region: it has all the resources you could need for the bioeconomy.

What does the strategy involve?

We give businesses support to promote innovation and industrialisation projects from the outset, putting them in touch with relevant potential partners and referring projects to the most suitable grants and accreditations. We also run more in-depth campaigns in each sector to encourage them and help them create a structure. We oversea every aspect of the bioeconomy, including public funding, giving us a complete vision of regional measures or national and European grants.
We also host events and workshops to raise awareness among businesses and help them network.
We have a bioeconomy portal, a regional showcase for the bioeconomy, where we highlight success stories and projects by local businesses, the bioeconomy event schedule and a map of bioeconomy businesses which you can view for free. Then there are other aspects like calls to tender, examples, infographics, regional assessments, strategy and updates from regional companies which make a real difference.

5 key areas in the region

  • Plant-based protein and new protein sources
  • Blue bioeconomy
  • Natural fibres for materials and textiles
  • Bioenergy
  • Bio-based chemicals

Specific measures have been put in place for each of these key areas.

View the strategy here

Whilst we’re on the subject, can you give us a few examples of innovative bioeconomy companies?

It’s hard to choose because there’s so much innovation in Normandy! Let’s take Terre de Lin, a producer and processor, that made a hemp boat called We Explore that travelled the Rum Route in 2023. It’s a great example to show how the materials Normandy makes can be repurposed to build bio-based transport methods. We should mention NaturePlast which uses all kinds of natural co-products, such as agricultural waste or oyster shells, to make into bioplastics. Then there are cutting-edge groups and cooperatives like Agrial and Natup. I can’t forget Arkema with CERDATO, which also makes bio-based materials. And Algaia which makes biostimulants from algae… You’ll have heard of Veragrow, which makes enriched vermicompost and Dielen, a lab using fish co-products to make nutraceutical food supplements. Last but not least, Saipol (part of the Avril Group) has an oil re-refinery and Olvéa refines oil.

What are Normandy’s strengths and assets in terms of a carbon-free economy and bioeconomy?

What sets it apart is that it has 3 key assets:

  • Biomass. Part of Normandy is in the countryside so there’s a lot of farmland. The region is the biggest producer of cheese made from cow’s milk, cider and cider-based products, hemp, oysters, farmed salmon and shellfish; its aquaculture has real diversity with a 640km coastline… It isn’t to be sniffed at, it’s all biomass that we can work with.
  • The industrial area, mainly around the Seine Axis, with huge capacities and a powerful energy network. What sets the industrial area apart is its strategic location with port facilities making it easy to import what we need and export what we produce.
  • The number of existing economic players and their synergy in Normandy. The entire value chain is here: biomass producers, processors, end product manufacturers; universities and technical centres; manufacturing companies in a wide range of sectors: food, chemicals, materials etc. There are pioneering public and private research centres, a marine station, schools (Builders, ENSICaen, Polyvia) and universities (Caen, Rouen and Le Havre).

There’s also an entire network for the ecosystem based around diverse business clusters: Aquimer, Cosmetic Valley, networks like France Chimie Normandie, LSN for logistics, Nextmove, Valorial, Hippolia, Normandie AeroEspace, Normandie Maritime etc.; campaigns for the circular economy with NECI (Normandie Economie CIrculaire), structures and incubators like AD Normandie, Normandie Incubation, Chamber of Agriculture, Village by CA, investors, grants, Normandie Participation, Ademe, BPI and more.

Final thoughts?

Normandy is already a bioeconomy region: we’re here to fuel innovation to encourage synergy and growth among everyone involved in it. Get in touch for further information and to get to know us better.

Bioeconomy For Change recap

  • 500 members – 40 employees
  • Professional network approved as a Pôle de compétitivité (business cluster)
  • Experts in using biomass, co-products and organic waste
  • Supports and launches innovation and industrialisation projects
  • Provides relevant networking opportunities with meetings and events
  • Explores monitoring solutions and strategic guidance (market analysis, feasibility report, advice)
B4C website

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