Innovation in the Bioeconomy | Ecosystems and Society

Workshops to catalyze translation and partnerships

Sponsored by the National Science Foundation, award #2137471
Held Jan. 11-12, 2022

The bioeconomy ecosystem encompasses innovation, technology platforms, products, systems, and services, with implications for wide-ranging human-environment and societal issues, including health, climate, and food. Developing a successful bioeconomy ecosystem requires an understanding of unique features of bioeconomy, social, behavioral, and economic implications, translational opportunities and challenges, diverse workforce development paths, and consideration of local-regional aspects. Federal agencies such as the National Science Foundation (NSF) are coordinating efforts to develop partnerships to create and advance successful bioeconomy ecosystems.

This workshop was convened to better understand the pathways for successful and sustainable bioeconomy ecosystems that incorporate societal, economic, and behavioral underpinnings, and to uncover the challenges and opportunities that arise within a bioeconomy ecosystem. The workshop explored the implications of these factors on innovation, entrepreneurship, and growth within the bioeconomy. Over two days, a diverse group of more than 100 scientists and researchers participated in the conference, representing academia, industry, government, and nonprofit organizations.

See the executive summary for workshop findings in brief as well as critical topics and advancements needed to pave the way for the translation of research to benefit society. The report also includes narrative descriptions of sessions, key takeaways from topical breakouts, and an overview of the research landscape by Elsevier.

UIDP would like to thank the National Science Foundation (NSF) and specifically the Division of Molecular and Cellular Biosciences (MCB) for its financial investment in this workshop. An NSF working group consisting of Wenda Bauchspies, Program Director for Ethical and Responsible Research and Science and Technology Studies Programs, Directorate for Social, Behavioral & Economic Sciences (SBE), and Lee Walker, Program Director, Security and Preparedness and Build and Broaden 3.0, Division of Social and Economic Sciences provided their technical guidance. Theresa Good served as our point of contact with the National Science Foundation and offered us tremendous guidance over the course of planning and implementing the event.

Download the materials for Bioeconomies: Ecosystems and Society below.

Download the Executive Summary

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Download the Full Report

Additional Reading

A Social Scientific View of the Bioeconomy: The Research Landscape, Elsevier Analytical Services

The analyses provides insight into how much research has been done, who the global leaders in the research areas are, what sectors are leading the research, and how the research is being used to support other research and innovations.

Case Study: HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology. Presentation slides from the workshop.