From 17 to 20 June 2025, the Biotech4Food consortium carried out a technical mission in Brussels, hosted by Flanders’ FOOD and Wagralim, combining project coordination, participation in EU-level policy dialogue, study visits, and a regulatory session.
The mission began with the fifth Steering Committee meeting, where partners reviewed progress across work packages, addressed technical challenges, and defined priorities for the coming months.
On 18 June, members of the I4CE (Ingredients for a Circular Economy) platform and Biotech4Food project, participated in the Smart Specialisation Strategies (S3) Conference, organised by the European Commission with the support of the S3 Community of Practice (S3CoP).
The conference gathered EU policymakers, regional authorities, and innovation actors to reflect on the implementation of S3 strategies for 2021–2027, showcase interregional collaboration opportunities, and share practical insights from the field. Highlights included keynote contributions from DG REGIO and the Joint Research Centre, an overview of three years of S3CoP activities, and a matchmaking session on Regional Innovation Valleys under Horizon Europe.
For I4CE and Biotech4Food, the event offered a strategic space to connect with key stakeholders, explore synergies, and align project actions with current EU innovation policy priorities.
On 19 June, the delegation visited two key bioeconomy infrastructures in Flanders:
- Bio Base Europe Pilot Plant (BBEPP, Ghent): a multi-purpose, industrial-scale facility supporting the scale-up of sustainable bioprocesses.
- Food Pilot – ILVO Living Lab Agrifood Technology (Melle): a research platform advancing innovation in food processing and agri-food technology.
In addition to clusters and RTOs, several industrial partners participated in the visit: SuperBiotics, Artechno, THT, Sadef, Calidris Bio, Avecom, Ingredalia, and Bugslab. The group also engaged with local actors including B2BE Facilitator, Biolynx, NovelYeast, and Plinius Labs, discussing technologies related to by-product valorisation, fermentation, and product development.
On 20 June, Biotech4Food organised a session on regulatory barriers for novel foods. The session brought together representatives from the European Commission, clusters, RTOs, and companies. It featured three technical panels:
- Panel 1: Innovation hindered by novel food regulation, moderated by CNTA, with Ingredalia, SADEF, Avecom, and Bioréa.
- Panel 2: Strategic adaptation despite regulatory complexity, moderated by Valorial, with Bugslab, EVYP LLP, and Biolynx.
- Panel 3: Operational and administrative burdens, moderated by Innov’Alliance, with Artechno, Provil, Tropical Food Machinery, and Arbiom.
The meeting facilitated an in-depth exchange on aligning regulation with innovation and highlighted the need for clearer, more innovation-friendly frameworks.
This technical mission reinforced collaboration across the consortium, strengthened connections with European institutions, and advanced dialogue on the regulatory and technical enablers for a more sustainable and competitive EU bioeconomy.
