York and North Yorkshire have launched a new Bioeconomy Cluster to cement the region’s position as a national leader in sustainable innovation and growth. Backed by the York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority’s Mayoral Business Innovation Fund, the initiative brings together businesses, researchers, and policymakers to strengthen collaboration across key areas such as agritech, sustainable food production, and bio-based manufacturing.
The region already plays a major role in the UK’s bioeconomy, accounting for more than 10% of the national workforce and home to over 7,000 businesses operating in the sector. Employment in the region’s bioeconomy is more than twice the national average, and growth between 2015 and 2021 outpaced that of the wider UK economy.
Professor Ian Graham, Academic Director of BioYorkshire and Director of the Cluster, said: “York and North Yorkshire is uniquely positioned to lead the UK’s transition to a net-zero, bio-based economy. This new Cluster isn’t just about networking – it’s about creating genuine opportunities, from focused workshops to advocacy at senior leadership level, that translate our expertise into tangible business growth, inward investment, and sustainable jobs for the region.”
The new cluster will operate as a central network to link regional expertise, foster innovation, and attract new investment. Participants will gain access to industry sub-groups focused on business process development, biomass supply chains, and anaerobic digestion, as well as leadership opportunities through the Bioeconomy Leadership Forum. Membership is free and open to businesses, academics, investors, and public sector representatives looking to engage with the region’s growing bioeconomy.
