Mind the regional gap: Insights from Germany, Ireland, and Greece on advancing regional bioeconomy development

Bioeconomy (BE) is increasingly recognised as a key pathway towards sustainable development, utilising renewable biomass from land and water to substitute fossil-based resources across value chains. Despite the European Union’s emphasis on regional BE development, significant differences persist between regions, stemming from variations in natural conditions (e.g., land use, biomass), institutional capacity, and socio-economic factors. While some pose challenges, others offer opportunities for knowledge exchange and mutual learning. This paper examines the BE landscape in three EU regions—Bavaria (Germany), the Southern Region (Ireland), and Central Macedonia (Greece)—each at a different stage of development. It aims to identify key drivers and transferable practices by applying an integrative framework combining Regional Innovation Systems (RIS) with Assemblage Theory (AT), offering a nuanced understanding of regional BE dynamics. Methodologically, we employ a qualitative comparative case study approach, comprising document analysis, semi-structured interviews, and multi-actor co-creation workshops. Our findings demonstrate that formal governance frameworks, intermediaries, and clusters play a central role in catalysing regional BE development. While assemblage‑like dynamics are less visible in formal coordination structures, they remain important for responding to regional conditions and complement RIS in adaptive ways. Advanced regions rely on institutionalised coordination, whereas emerging regions depend on flexible arrangements that compensate for weaker institutional structures. This highlights the need for policy to align strategies with the specific governance configurations (e.g., centralised, multi‑level). Transferable practices include collaborative platforms, targeted investment, and capacity building, all of which require adaptation to specific regional contexts.