BioBoosters aims to advance the green transition of bioeconomy business by matchmaking competence with needs. By employing a proven business-driven Hackathon process, we can solve challenges that the bioeconomy businesses are facing in transitioning to circular economy business models.

BioBoosters Hackathon is connecting the bioeconomy innovation ecosystems of 9 regions across the Baltic Sea Region. By implementing the open innovation process in inter-regional co-operation, we can facilitate cross-sectoral knowledge transfer as well as connect SMEs, start-ups, and research groups with companies in an international context.

We will run 18 BioBoosters Hackathons together with target groups to validate the innovation process model to be adopted in the key bioeconomy innovation hubs of the participating regions. Furthermore, the model will be transferrable to any innovation hub that is looking to support their regional business networks in green or digital transition.

Our expected impact in numbers:

• 18 Business-driven Hackathons will validate up to 70 solutions to circular transition challenges
• 20 international RDI and business co-operations initiated
• 500 specialist brought together to drive the circular transition of the bioeconomy in the Baltic Sea Region

On the mid-term milestone, we are well on our way!

• 9 Business-driven Hackathons organized with 64 teams (23 international) pitching their solution ideas after mentoring and dialogue with challenge providing companies
• 11 RDI and business co-operations initiated – 5 of them international
• 289 specialists brought together at Hackathons to drive the circular transition of the bioeconomy in the Baltic Sea Region

Apart from being a fun, intensive collaborative learning experience, Hackathon has been proven impactful for boosting circular bioeconomy business and cooperation. 96 per cent of the surveyed challenge provider representatives reported that they got a promising solution for solving their challenge. Meanwhile, 95 per cent of the respondents agree that BioBoosters Hackathon is a good tool for entering into a dialogue with large companies and they have gained knowhow from mentoring.

We have also asked the organizers and mentors about their views on the impact of the BioBoosters Hackathon as an open innovation platform. Here is what they think:

• 91 % agree that BioBoosters Hackathon supports green transition in the Baltic Sea Region.
• 89 % agree that BioBoosters Hackathon supports growth in bioeconomy sectors in the Baltic Sea Region.
• 84% agree that BioBoosters Hackathon supports exchange and transfer of best practices across the Baltic Sea Region.

In 2024-2025, we are continuing to deliver 9 more Hackathons. We are piloting the network co-operation with an operational and co-working model that simulates the life after the project. We work to demonstrate that there is a continuing demand for the BioBoosters Hackathons as a springboard for a circular bioeconomy innovation co-operation in the Baltic Sea Region. We also work to prove that co-organizing as a network is more cost-effective, and more impactful.

This is our mission for the next nine Hackathons in Autumn 2024 and Spring 2025. Stay tuned for more exciting news and follow our website and LinkedIn.