Flagships in Brussels: Strengthening Research–Policy Dialogue
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Two Research Council of Finland flagships, FinnCERES and UNITE, hosted a joint policy event, "Forest bioeconomy and the alignment of multiple policy objectives", in the heart of the European Union in Brussels, Belgium.
UNITE Flagship and FinnCERES, together with the Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke), brought researchers, EU policymakers, and industry leaders together at the Helsinki EU Office in Brussels to explore how EU policies can be implemented and refined to deliver multiple societal gains. The event focused on integrating new scientific knowledge into bioeconomy and climate governance. The programme traced the full value chain from sustainable primary production to eco‑efficient bio-based products, with talks on forest data management, carbon-related policies, restoration regulation, natural hazards, and advanced materials that address resource scarcity.
Opening the event, Research Professor Raisa Mäkipää (Finnish Climate Change Panel and Luke) set the tone for aligning science, policy instruments, and markets to support climate and bioeconomy objectives. Professor Teppo Hujala (University of Eastern Finland) followed with insights on good practices and just orchestration for restoring forests and wetlands. A strong data and governance thread ran through the morning. Kari T. Korhonen (Luke) outlined how European forest data can translate into concrete policy impact, strengthening both climate governance and the bioeconomy. Research Professor Aleksi Lehtonen (Luke) connected improved forest management with the EU Carbon Removals and Carbon Farming (CRCF) Regulation. Complementing these policy perspectives, Research Professor Annika Kangas (Luke) examined decision support under natural hazards, such as windthrow, wildfire, and bark beetle outbreaks, and highlighted that the mitigation of large-scale risks may require forest regeneration and changing tree species.
Materials innovation took center stage in the second session. FinnCERES Scientific PI Professor Monika Österberg and Associate Professor Jaana Vapaavuori (Aalto University) outlined how advanced bio-based materials can strengthen Europe’s resilience and wellbeing. Österberg examined the tension between a growing demand for materials and finite resources, calling for a shift from bulk production toward higher value-added solutions. She also addressed the complexities of defining what truly constitutes a sustainable material. Vapaavuori presented concrete research advances, including bio-based battery development from the FinnCERES-funded STORAGE project. Together, their talks showed how cutting-edge materials science complements sustainable forest management, translating into climate benefits and industrial competitiveness.
The event ended with a panel discussion that examimed how to align multiple policy objectives across the forest bioeconomy and how to secure the competitiveness of Europe in the future. The panel, moderated by Prof. Teppo Hujala, featured Jurij Krajcic (DG CLIMA), Tytti Peltonen (Metsä Group), Raisa Mäkipää (Luke), and Heli Kangas (Valmet). The industry representatives underscored the need for a stable and predictable regulatory landscape that enables long-term investments and innovation. Jurij Krajcic highlighted the the need for better recognition of the value of advanced materials in greenhouse gas accounting. The panel emphasized the importance of long-term, multidisciplinary research.
An accompanying exhibition demonstrated the practical potential of circular bioeconomy concepts, including demonstrations of functional materials made of invasive plant species such as garden lupine - an example of turning ecological challenges into circular bio-based opportunities.
The successful event underscored the value of sustained dialogue between researchers, policymakers, and industry in shaping coherent, effective EU policies. Participants emphasized that decisions grounded in robust, up-to-date evidence are essential for aligning climate, bioeconomy, and industrial objectives, and for translating innovation into measurable societal benefits.
