York and North Yorkshire are national leaders in the bioeconomy, with specialisms in agricultural innovation, food and beverage manufacturing, and biotechnology. The Bioeconomy Cluster brings together businesses, researchers, educators, investors, and local government to create an integrated innovation ecosystem that accelerates research, commercialisation, and business growth.

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The Cluster aims to foster collaboration, knowledge exchange, nurture start-ups, and attract further investment and companies to the region, leveraging the economic benefits of geographic concentration. We are funded by the York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority’s Business Innovation Fund until December 2026.

Cluster membership is free and on an individual basis (i.e. more than one person can join from a business or organisation) and is open to people with an interest in the bioeconomy. To join, please complete the form below.

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Why join?​

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• Networking opportunities: Connect with fellow bioeconomy businesses, researchers, and industry leaders for knowledge exchange and collaborative working.

• Free membership: Access all cluster activities, workshops and conference at no cost.

• Innovation support: Participate in focused groups exploring product development, process optimisation, and collaboration opportunities.

• Regional advocacy: Benefit from cluster advocacy across the UK and internationally, attracting investment and new businesses to the region.

• Knowledge exchange: Learn from experts, share challenges, and explore solutions through our conference and sub-group activities.

Specialised sub-groups

As part of the Bioeconomy Cluster, we are running a series of sub-group workshops throughout 2026. These will be designed to offer knowledge exchange and networking, and discuss specific opportunities and challenges, as well as enabling collaborations to work towards investment-ready projects. 

• Product and process development: Explore product analysis and biomanufacturing scale-up opportunities

  • Open for applications: Thursday 9 April 10:00-16:30 - From lab bench to industrial reality

• Valorising anaerobic digestion: Improve processes through knowledge exchange and shared insights

  • Workshop details coming soon​

• Building biomass supply chains: Support the bioeconomy across multiple sectors including agritech technologies

  • Open for applications: Wednesday 15 April 10:00-16:30​ - Building reliable biomass supply chains​

Workshops places are limited, therefore attendance is by application only. If your application is successful, the event is free of charge for Bioeconomy Cluster members, and lunch and refreshments will be provided. The programme will run from ~10:00 - 16:30 and may include the option to tour facilities or hold individual meetings at the end of the workshop. 

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How to apply for workshops:

Please apply by completing the correct form for the workshop you wish to attend by the deadlines stated. We will allocate places so that we have a diverse mix of participants. If we cannot immediately offer you a place, we will add you to a waiting list and allocate places as they become available. 

Cluster activities

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• Focused workshops: Two workshops per sub-group to explore opportunities, challenges, and enable collaboration.

• Annual bioeconomy conference: showcasing regional excellence and promoting networking opportunities.

• Leadership forum: Senior leaders advocating for the bioeconomy, meeting quarterly to address opportunities and challenges.

• Regular communications: Stay informed through newsletters, social media updates, and cluster reports.

Who can join?

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• Individuals from businesses working across or interested in the bioeconomy (agritech, biobased materials, sustainable food, biotechnology, and more)

• Academic representatives interested in research, training, or collaborative work

• Local government officials promoting the bioeconomy and inward investment

• Investors seeking bioeconomy opportunities

• Regulatory bodies and service providers supporting bioeconomy businesses

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