Started in February, the BIOECOI Indian Ocean Bioeconomy Network of Excellence project was officially launched on April 30. Funded by the European INTERREG VI program and the Réunion Region, it aims to create and structure tropical bioeconomy sectors promoting cooperation between Reunion, Maurice, Rodrigues, Seychelles and Madagascar.
Carried by Qualitropic, unique overseas competitiveness cluster dedicated to the tropical bioeconomy, this network has been supporting companies in their innovative projects linked to agriculture for twenty years, agri-food, sustainable chemistry and bio-sourced materials. It draws on a wide range of experts. Structure, connect and promote innovative and sustainable sectors : this ambition is shared by many actors, particularly in Reunion, where innovation in cosmetics, plant extracts and biosourced materials for construction and furnishing, looking for support. This is the purpose of the BIOECOI project, which aims to create conditions allowing sectors to be established on a regional scale.
Four areas of action
First axis : the creation of communities of actors sharing a clear strategy and methodology, who can accompany, by their expertise, businesses and project leaders : universities, research centers, support structures. Cosmetics and plant extracts are at the heart of the second axis, which takes over from Comptoir des Papam, first stage of a project to promote perfume plants, aromatic and medicinal. The players in this sector and their needs will be identified : training needs, market research, from agricultural suppliers to distributors. Workshops will be set up to respond to this. Networking, marketing booklet on the emblematic plants of the Indian Ocean : several tools will be made available to project participants. In this context Qualitropic will work jointly with Cosmetic Valley, competitiveness cluster and coordinator of the French perfumery-cosmetics sector.
Synergies, mutualisations, joint projects
The third axis of the BIOECOI project is devoted to bioeconomy opportunities in construction and furniture.. Biosourced materials are increasingly in demand. A prospective approach will be launched, between Reunion, Mauritius and Madagascar, with the support of the Cirad BioWooEB laboratory to identify possible synergies and joint projects between stakeholders from the three countries. The fourth axis strengthens cooperation on sister islands, Reunion and Mauritius. Goals : promote shared projects, common themes, able to fuel exchanges and, over there, promote the structuring of bioeconomy sectors between the two islands.
