Vancouver, Canada, hosted the second edition of the Forest Innovation and Bioeconomy Conference on May 6-8, 2025 organized by the British Columbia Government. 

FIBC is a premier event showcasing the development and manufacturing of innovative bio-sourced products and high-value applications. It represented an opportunity to discover what’s new in innovative bioproduct research and the latest commercialization initiatives and discuss how the Forest Bioeconomy intertwines with other sectors.

In 2023, the Forest Innovation and Bioeconomy Conference convened over 200 representatives from 82 organizations in various sectors, including government agencies, startups, producers, research institutions, consulting, investment firms, and First Nations. Delegations from Sweden, Finland, Chile, China, Switzerland, New Zealand, the United States, Japan, and France heard from 48 speakers, 31% of which were international experts, enriching discussions on bioeconomy innovation. 

This new edition hosted a delegation from the European Union, with a session focused on Horizon Europe’s opportunities and another one focused on the role of clusters in favoring the development of circular bioeconomy. FIBC 2025 has brought together speakers and participants from government, the forest industry and associations, start-ups, investment firms, First Nations, and international organizations, all focused on the research, development and commercialization of forest bioproducts. Over the first two days, the conference has showcased the latest global innovations in bio-product research, as well as commercialization opportunities in both international and domestic markets. These sessions will inspire new research and business ideas, while fostering information exchange and collaboration between government, academia, industry, and First Nations.

On Day 3, the conference has focus on the forest sector transformation and diversification through the development of BC’s forest bioeconomy. Presentations and panel discussion have explored how to attract and retain investment to develop bioproduct facilities in BC, position bioeconomy as a driver for sustainable economic growth, and develop BC as bioeconomy innovation cluster on the West Coast. Discussions have also featured a fireside chat with bioeconomy leaders on workforce and talent development.  Moreover, there was a concurrent business-to-business matchmaking session on the same day designed to build connections between bioproduct start-ups and key audiences, helping both sides identify and better understand business opportunities and the specific needs of startups.

Conference Themes:

• Innovation, Research, and Development: Exploring cutting-edge research and technological advancements in the forest bioeconomy sector.
• Commercialization and Bioeconomy Cluster Development: Discussing strategies for bringing innovative bioproducts to market and fostering collaborative industry clusters.
• Indigenous Community Bioeconomy Development: Highlighting the role of Indigenous communities in developing sustainable bioeconomy practices.
• Startup Business-to-Business Matchmaking Sessions: Facilitating networking opportunities between emerging startups and established industry players.
• Demonstration of Innovative Bioproducts and Technologies: Showcasing the latest bioproducts and technological innovations in the field.

FIBC 2025 was co-hosted by the Government of British Columbia’s Ministry of Forests, the University of British Columbia’s BioProducts Institute, and Foresight Canada. These organizations collaborate to promote sustainable forest management, drive bioeconomy innovation, and support the commercialization of renewable materials.

Participating Companies and Institutions:

Performance BioFilament

Gave a presentation on there vision for the company. “A world where sustainable, bio-based materials lead the marketplace; where renewable resources reduce dependency on finite resources and where corporate social responsibility guides every business decision” The company provide nanocellulose additives that deliver significant enhancements to strength, rheology, thermal stability, and other key properties of concrete, mortars, cements, polymer composites, foams, nonwovens, filter media, protective coatings, industrial fluids, and numerous other advanced materials and specialty chemicals where performance is critical to success.

BioProducts Institute, University of British Colombia

The BioProducts Institute (BPI) is an innovative ecosystem of high-impact fundamental and applied researchers working on solutions to today’s climate and environmental challenges. The Institute brings together inter- and multi-disciplinary researchers comprised of scientists, engineers, and market and policy experts to unlock the full potential of materials, chemicals and fuels produced in nature. Based on the guiding principles of circularity, sustainability and renewability, BPI seeks to reduce society’s footprint and tackle rampant environmental challenges such as reducing greenhouse gas emissions and plastic waste.

Research themes center around biocatalytic transformation and engineering of biomass, bio-nanoparticle enabled materials, bio-based polymers and carbon materials, and biorefinery and biofuels systems. By conducting research, we are able to transform our findings into bioproducts that will serve as catalysts to launch Canada’s bioeconomy. With increasing demands for low carbon fuel, plastic alternatives and degradable materials, the BioProducts Institute looks forward to being a world leader in the green economy sector. 

Bioform

Vancouver based company. Their goal is to revolutionize the plastics industry by offering climate positive materials that match the performance, processing-speed and cost-effectiveness of conventional plastics.

SPRING

An Italian Circular Bioeconomy Cluster, founded in 2014. It brings together a diverse network of players, from public and private research centers to SMEs, large companies, trade associations, regional clusters, consulting firms and financial firms with the goal of promoting systemic growth based on the bioeconomy.

Recognized as a component of the national bioeconomy steering cabinet, SPRING is the focal point for policy coordination, sustainable innovation and spatial development.

BLUE OCEAN CLOSURES

Lars Sandberg is the founder and CEO of Blue Ocean Closures. He has a long background in the forest and packaging industry, having worked with companies such as Stora Enso, Billerud, and Tetra Pak.

Lars is a big fan of Canada and British Columbia, and has spent one year here in Vancouver as an Entrepreneur in Residence with FPInnovations.

DEADWOOD INNOVATIONS

Owen Miller is the CEO and Co-Founder of Deadwood Innovations. He has led Deadwood’s technological and business growth from a concept to first-of-a-kind-commercial readiness. Before this, he spent 15 years between the upstream and downstream oil sectors, in technical and operations management roles for integrated Canadian majors.

RISE

RISE is Sweden’s research institute and innovation partner. Through their international collaboration programmes with industry, academia and the public sector, they ensure the competitiveness of the Swedish business community on an international level and contribute to a sustainable society. Almost 3300 employees engage in and support all types of innovation processes. RISE is an independent, State-owned research institute, which offers unique expertise and over 130 testbeds and demonstration environments for future-proof technologies, products and services.

SCION

Scion is New Zealand’s leading Crown Research Institute in forestry, industrial biotechnology and advanced manufacturing. They specialise in research and technology driving innovation for forestry, wood product, wood-derived materials, and other biomaterial sectors.

BIOINDUSTRIAL INNOVATION CANADA

Bioindustrial Innovation Canada (BIC) is a nationally focused not-for-profit business accelerator that provides critical strategic investment, advice and services to business developers of clean, green and sustainable technologies. In 2015, BIC established the Centre for Commercialization of Sustainable Chemistry Innovation (COMM SCI) initiative, which acts as a hub for the commercialization of sustainable chemistry and bio-based innovation. With support from the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario), BIC has developed the Ontario Bioindustrial Innovation Network (OBIN). OBIN is committed to the growth of the Hybrid Chemistry Cluster in Sarnia-Lambton and to enabling the launch of a new Sustainable Chemistry Cluster in the Eastern Ontario St. Lawrence Corridor region centred around Brockville and Maitland. BIC further focuses on critical strategic capital investment in SME’s with compelling business plans where innovation in science and engineering can bring about major advances in sustainable chemistry. Sustainable chemistry is playing an important role in the development of solutions to the impacts of climate change, peak oil, energy security, the need for safe water and the use of scarce natural resources. The increasing global demand for green and safer products offers the opportunity to create thousands of new jobs for Canadians. BIC’s proven approach for clean, green and sustainable chemistry-based companies offers an ideal platform for the investment necessary to advance hybrid chemistry value chains, providing not only regional economic development and job benefits, but access to global markets.

Last day of the conference attendees had the oportunity to attend a Workshop addressing Investment Barriers by Improving documantation for Sustainable Biomass Resources. The Workshop was organised by IEA Bioenergy Task 43 and by Oak Ridge National Laboratory.