20 March 2024
9:00*-12:00
registrations from 08:30*
TownHall Europe
Sq. de Meeûs 5, 1000 Bruxelles
With the world’s eyes on environmental concerns, Europe must lead the way in balancing industry and ecology, and bioeconomy provides the perfect framework for this. By harnessing the potential of biological resources, from forestry to renewable energy, Europe can not only reduce its dependence on finite fossil fuels but also create new avenues for innovation and job creation. With this event, we wish to open a frank discussion on how European innovation and bioeconomy can lead to building open strategic autonomy in Europe.
AGENDA
08:30
Welcome and registrations
9:00-9:05
Introduction
Jennifer Baker
Moderator
9:05-9:20
Opening keynote address
Jérôme Noël
General Delegate for Wallonia-Brussels Federation to the EU,
Belgian presidency of the EU
9:20-10:00
TED TALK-style session: Case studies on innovation and investments in Europe
Company representatives
Jaakko Pajunen
Managing Director, Boreal Bioproducts, Finland
Sofia Krigsman
EU Public Affairs Director, Essity, Sweden
Antonio Gonzalo Pérez
CEO, Monte Holiday Ecoturismo, Spain
Samuel Deschaumes
President and Director General, Deschaumes Group, France
Gary Healy
Director of Regulatory Affairs, Coillte, Ireland
10:00-10:30
Coffee break
10:30-11:30
Panel discussion: Scaling up the EU bioeconomy: challenges and opportunities
MEP Franc Bogovič
Vice-Chair of the European Parliament Intergroup on ‘Climate Change, Biodiversity and Sustainable Development’ (video message)
Adrian Leip
Head of the Bioeconomy Sector in DG RTD Bioeconomy & Food Systems unit, European Commission
Marco Eikelenboom
Cepi Chairman, CEO of Sappi Europe
Vanessa Biebel
COO & Executive Manager of the competence centre Sustainability & Circular economy, Federation of Enterprises in Belgium (FEB)
11:30-11:50
Discussion with the audience
11:50-12:00
Closing remarks
Jori Ringman
Cepi Director General
12:00-13:00
Light lunch
Circular Choices*
In March 2023, Cepi launched the Circular Choices Coalition for a competitive EU bioeconomy, which promotes the policy and market conditions necessary in the EU to scale-up the circular bioeconomy. The coalition, which is the broadest ever within the sector, brings together 14 EU trade associations that represent providers of renewable products and renewable energy solutions -wood, fibre-based, paper, products and packaging, bioenergy industries. And it is supported by a further of six trade associations that represent EU forest owners and managers.
These integrated value chains are a pillar of the EU economy. They are also key for the strategic autonomy of Europe: they are renewable and sourced, made and recycled in Europe, with European technology. Together, they directly employ more than four million Europeans, representing 520 billion euro in annual turnover. It is also a manufacturing powerhouse: one in every five manufacturing companies in Europe are in this sector.