About Us

EBU, the European Bioeconomy University, is a collaboration of leading universities across Europe, founded with the mission to address the environmental, economic, and societal challenges of the 21st century. This alliance, established in July 2019, connects eight institutions, all leaders in the field of bioeconomy, to foster a knowledge-based transformation towards sustainability. The founding universities include AgroParisTech (France), the University of Bologna (Italy), the University of Eastern Finland, the University of Hohenheim (Germany), BOKU University (Austria), and Wageningen University and Research Centre (Netherlands). In 2023, the Warsaw University of Life Science (Poland) and the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (Sweden) also joined as core members, expanding the alliance’s reach and impact. 

Inspired by French President Emmanuel Macron’s 2017 “Initiative for Europe,” EBU was conceived to create a bridge across disciplines, connecting students, researchers, and professionals in their efforts to promote a sustainable bioeconomy. The bioeconomy emphasizes the use of bio-based renewable resources to phase out fossil-based economies and increase resource efficiency in line with planetary boundaries. 

EBU’s collaborative efforts have grown rapidly, with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding in Brussels in July 2019. The alliance now not only serves as a think tank for generating new knowledge but also as a hub for sharing innovative solutions addressing bioeconomic challenges. The network engages with Associated Partners like BIOEAST, European Bioplastics, and the European Forest Institute, aligning with EU strategies like the Green Deal to promote interdisciplinary cooperation and tackle sustainability goals. 

Education is a core pillar of EBU’s mission. Over the past five years, EBU has developed joint educational strategies supported by EU funding, offering programs from Master’s and PhD levels to lifelong learning. This comprehensive approach aims to train future bioeconomy experts, ensuring the exchange of knowledge between research and business, industry, and society. 

Among other activities, the Alliance hosts the EBU Scientific Forum, the official in-person meeting of the EBU network offering a European platform to strengthen EBU’s coordination and engagement, while also fostering networking and intensifying collaborations between the different stakeholders involved in the bioeconomy field on the European level.  

EBU’s governance has evolved in response to the changing global environment. After initially being chaired by the University of Hohenheim, the Chair of the EBU Presidency passed to BOKU University in 2022, led by Rector Professor Eva Schulev-Steindl. In late 2024, the University of Eastern Finland will assume the leadership role, further advancing EBU’s mission.