About the Summit
The Global Bioeconomy Summit 2026 will take place in Dublin, Ireland on 20-21 October 2026 at the Convention Centre Dublin. The Summit is being organised by the International Advisory Council on Global Bioeconomy (IACGB) in collaboration with the Government of Ireland.
The bioeconomy offers a unique opportunity to deliver on climate action, regenerate ecosystems, and drive inclusive socio-economic transformation. However, its promise can only be realised through collective commitment and coordinated action.
The Global Bioeconomy Summit 2026, hosted in Dublin, will convene leaders from policy, science, industry, and civil society to explore how the bioeconomy can be scaled as a force for change. The Summit will highlight how bio-based solutions address pressing global crises—ranging from food and energy security to health, biodiversity loss, and climate resilience—while ensuring that their deployment is inclusive, equitable, and socially accepted.
Through high-level dialogues, knowledge-sharing, and interactive sessions, participants will have the opportunity to:
- Contribute to shaping global, national, and regional bioeconomy strategies
- Engage with cutting-edge science, technology, and innovation
- Build cross-border partnerships and networks for investment and collaboration
- Showcase and learn from local solutions with global impact
- Join the effort in developing actionable climate and nature-positive outcomes from bio-based solutions aligning market uptake with sustainable supply, resilient value chains and shaping policy and practice beyond 2026
The Global Bioeconomy Summit is an international conference held bi- or tri-annually since 2015. Its purpose is to bring together policy makers, industry, academia, and other stakeholders to discuss local and international developments for a sustainable and circular global bioeconomy. Past Global Bioeconomy Summits have attracted more than 700 delegates for in-person events, from over 70 countries.
The International Advisory Council on Global Bioeconomy initiates, designs and organises the Global Bioeconomy Summit as a platform for exchange and discussion of recent developments for a sustainable and circular bioeconomy worldwide.
Bioeconomy activities enhance economic, social, and ecosystem resilience, allowing both urban and rural communities to thrive, especially during economic crises
GBS 2024 - Nairobi, Kenya
GBS2024 was hosted for the first-time outside Europe in Nairobi, Kenya, East Africa. The Summit emphasized resilient and sustainable food systems, bioeconomy as a key model for sustainable transition to less fossil dependent economies, conservation of biodiversity, and using innovation as a driver for new economic opportunities, especially jobs for the youth.
Global Bioeconomy Summit 2024 - Summit Report
Global Bioeconomy Summit 2024 - Official IACGB Communiqué
GBS 2020 - Virtual
GBS2020, the third of its kind, was held in an interactive and virtual format in November 2020. The Summit digitally brought together around 3,000 representatives from politics, science, civil society and the business sector, and from more than 50 countries, to discuss the latest developments and challenges in the global bioeconomy.
Global Bioeconomy Summit 2020 - Summit Report
Global Bioeconomy Summit 2020 - Official IACGB Communiqué
GBS 2018 - Berlin, Germany
GBS2018 was the second event in the summit series, held in April 2018 in Berlin, Germany. Hosted by the German Bioeconomy Council with support from the Federal Ministry of Education and Research, it gathered approximately 800 experts from over 70 countries to discuss sustainable, bio-based economic development.
The official theme was "Innovation in the Global Bioeconomy for Sustainable and Inclusive Transformation and Well-being". Discussions centred on linking the bioeconomy to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Paris Agreement. The summit featured 14 specialised workshops covering topics such as Marine Resources, Technology, Health & Climate, and Regional Focus.
The event reinforced the need for national and regional bioeconomy strategies, particularly in emerging economies. It also paved the way for the 2018 update of the EU Bioeconomy Strategy, which aimed to accelerate the deployment of local bioeconomies across Europe. The summit's final communiqué recommended the establishment of a formal international mechanism to support global bioeconomy policy exchange.
GBS 2015 - Berlin, Germany
The inaugural Global Bioeconomy Summit took place in Berlin, Germany, November 2015. It brought together over 500 global leaders to establish a collaborative and sustainable bioeconomy. Hosted by the German Bioeconomy Council, it focused on policy, research, and industry strategies to address global challenges.
The summit was designed as the first global, community-building platform to foster international dialogue on bioeconomy policies, aiming to align them with United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Significantly, this event established a biennial, high-level, conference series intended to guide future investments and strategies in biobased industries.
The event produced a communique policy recommendations, and a global expert survey regarding international visions for the bioeconomy.
The International Advisory Council on Global Bioeconomy (IACGB) is an independent think tank composed of about forty high-level bioeconomy leaders and experts from all hemispheres, representing different backgrounds and expertise.
The IACGB intends to act like a platform of platforms to facilitate international collaboration and mutual exchange in all aspects of relevance for sustainable and circular bioeconomy development by working together with multiple stakeholders across the globe, through leading representatives from policy, science, civil society and the business sector.
The IACGB meets regularly to debate current bioeconomy developments around the world and to frame options and ideals for future developments. It aims to inspire stakeholders around the globe to take back home its recommendations and to facilitate their implementation.
For more information about the IACGB, see:
As host country, the Global Bioeconomy Summit 2026 gives Ireland the opportunity to showcase its advances in the bioeconomy to a global audience.
The Government of Ireland's vision is to be a global leader for the bioeconomy through a coordinated approach that harnesses Ireland’s natural resources and competitive advantage and that fully exploits the opportunities available while monitoring and avoiding unintended consequences.
The Government of Ireland views the bioeconomy as an important tool for delivering a number of benefits, including:
- boosting employment and new business opportunities in regional areas, rural, urban, and coastal areas, through new and innovative products, services, and technologies
- increasing food and energy security
- supporting climate action by displacing fossil fuels
- promoting a circular economy and reducing waste
- providing high-value diversification opportunities for transforming the agri-food system
- leveraging research, development, and innovation capabilities to address global bioeconomic, societal, and environmental challenges.
To learn more about the development of the bioeconomy in Ireland, see:
The Global Bioeconomy Summit 2026 will be held at The Convention Centre Dublin (CCD).
Designed by Pritzker award-winning Irish-born architect Kevin Roche, The CCD has quickly become a landmark building on Dublin’s skyline since it opened in 2010. Its stunning glass fronted atrium gives visitors panoramic views of the River Liffey, Dublin city centre, and the Wicklow mountains.
Recognised as the first carbon neutral constructed convention centre in the world, The CCD’s contemporary design meets the highest standards of environmental sustainability.
The entire venue is finished to the highest specifications and incorporates industry leading technology and Wi-Fi throughout. The building offers 22 multi-functional rooms, all of which will be available to the Global Bioeconomy Summit 2026.
For more information about the Venue, see:
