To address 21st century challenges such as climate change, food security, and the depletion of natural resources, European institutions have placed the bioeconomy at the core of their public policies. Promoted as a development model that tackles these challenges while fostering economic growth, the bioeconomy is being implemented across EU member states, with a strong emphasis on creating bioclusters. If bioclusters have such a crucial role to play in the deployment of the bioeconomy, key questions arise : How do they form and structure themselves within specific regions? Can existing models be replicated elsewhere? And what about their sustainability?

This study addresses the conditions for the emergence of bioclusters through two main lenses. First, it examines the European Smart Specialization Strategy, a key policy framework supporting the deployment of the bioeconomy across European regions. Second, it analyzes an ongoing initiative to establish an industrial hemp biocluster in the French department of Aube.

By integrating proximity and heritage economics and through a narrative approach, the study reveals that bioclusters emerge as a result of an imaginary according to which the deployment of the bioeconomy requires the formation of bioeconomy clusters. This imaginary, based on the myth of the omnipotence of geographical proximity, shapes European public policies that promote the bioeconomy. It also has a performative effect on territorial actors involved in the valorization of non-food biomass.

The study also shows that this imaginary, by targeting territorial heritage, can lead to ecological contradictions. In fact, by focusing on dominant value chains and dominant players in territories in order to build bioclusters, this imaginary can lead to lock-ins, leaving unexploited the rich diversity of bioeconomy models, which is nevertheless invaluable for the ecological transition of territories.

Bibliography

Benner, M. (2020). Six additional questions about smart specialization: implications for regional innovation policy 4.0. European Planning Studies, 28(8), 1667-1684. https://doi.org/10.1080/09654313.2020.1764506

Benoit, S. (2021). Bioéconomie et diversité des ancrages territoriaux. Économie rurale, 376(2), 77-91. https://doi.org/10.4000/economierurale.8944

Foray, D. (2015). Smart Specialisation: Opportunities and Challenges for Regional Innovation Policy. Routledge. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315773063

Foray, D., David, P. A., & Hall, B. H. (2011). Smart specialisation from academic idea to political instrument, the surprising career of a concept and the difficulties involved in its implementation.

Grouiez, P., Debref, R., Vivien, F.-D., & Befort, N. (2023). The complex relationships between non-food agriculture and the sustainable bioeconomy: The French case. Ecological Economics, 214, 107974. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolecon.2023.107974

Haarich, S. (2017). Bioeconomy Development in EU Regions: Mapping of EU Member States'/regions' Research and Innovation Plans & Strategies for Smart Specialisation (RIS3) on Bioeconomy (9279680110). https://data.europa.eu/doi/10.2777/84684

Haarich, S., & Kirchmayr-Novak, S. (2022). Bioeconomy strategy development in EU regions (9276500405). O. d. p. d. l. U. européenne. https://data.europa.eu/doi/10.2760/065902

Hassink, R., & Gong, H. (2019). Six critical questions about smart specialization. European Planning Studies, 27(10), 2049-2065. https://doi.org/10.1080/09654313.2019.1650898

Hermans, F. (2021). Bioclusters and Sustainable Regional Development. In (pp. 81-91).

Houeto, A. J.-D. (2023). Une analyse économique des conditions d'émergence des bioclusters. Le cas de la bioéconomie du chanvre industriel dans l'Aube [Doctoral dissertation, University of Reims Champagne-Ardenne]. Reims.

Ketels, C. C. H., J ; Lubicka, B ; Lindqvist, G ; Nauwelaers, C ; Peck, F. (2013). The role of clusters in smart specialisation strategies.

Martin, R., & Sunley, P. (2003). Deconstructing clusters: chaotic concept or policy panacea? Journal of Economic Geography, 3(1), 5-35.

Mazzucato, M. (2018). Mission-oriented innovation policies: challenges and opportunities. Industrial and Corporate Change, 27(5), 803-815.

Nieddu, M., Garnier, E., & Bliard, C. (2014). Patrimoines productifs collectifs versus exploration/exploitation. Le cas de la bioraffinerie. Revue économique, 65(6), 957-987.

Porter, M. E. (1998). Clusters and the new economics of competition (Vol. 76). Harvard Business Review Boston.

Vivien, F. D., Nieddu, M., Befort, N., Debref, R., & Giampietro, M. (2019). The Hijacking of the Bioeconomy. EcolEcological Economics, 159, 189-197.

Torre, A., & Rallet, A. (2005). Proximity and Localization. Regional Studies, 39(1), 47-59. https://doi.org/10.1080/0034340052000320842