From Policy to Practice Actionable Recommendations for a Commercial Bioeconomy 2025

Access and education4 To proactively prepare the workforce for emerging industries, governments must devote increased attention to reskilling and education. The rapid pace of technological advances, particularly in engineering biology, bio-manufacturing and convergent digital technologies, necessitates a workforce that is not only technically skilled, but also adaptable to new tools, techniques and regulatory frameworks. As the sectors giving rise to the bioeconomy evolve, the demand for diverse and interdisciplinary skills, from molecular biology and chemical engineering to computer science and regulation, will become even more crucial. Providing infrastructure and real-world training facilities that support continuous learning and collaboration is essential for promoting workforce adaptability. Innovation ecosystems play a critical role by offering educational and professional training programmes across all levels. Through specialized vocational training and reskilling initiatives delivered via local and regional hubs, these interconnected ecosystems provide the necessary infrastructure to prepare the workforce for the future in an industrially relevant setting. The establishment of thriving innovation ecosystems will not only support the growth of a highly skilled and resilient workforce but also drive expansion of the bioeconomy itself. The three following recommendations focus on strengthening innovation ecosystems to improve access to essential infrastructure and equipment, enabling their use for critical training, education and reskilling efforts. By strengthening focus around education and reskilling, as well as the establishment of a broader and interconnected innovation ecosystem, governments can drive economic transformation, stimulate job creation and position themselves as global leaders in the bioeconomy (Figure 6).Prioritizing education and reskilling efforts across an interconnected innovation ecosystem will grow a technically skilled, future-ready workforce. Mapping of category 4 recommendations across core activities connecting technology to marketFIGURE 6 Category 4 Prioritizing bioeconomy education and reskilling across innovation ecosystems 14Investing in innovation ecosystem networks 12Government-funded programmes for bioeconomy education and reskilling 13Sustained investment in bio-focused regulatory expertisePiloting and scale-upPre- commercializationCommercializationRoutes to market Research and developmentDiscovery and ideationEarly-stage funding and business care Scale productionCustomers and consumers Demand 26 From Policy to Practice: Actionable Recommendations for a Commercial Bioeconomy