Sweden urged to invest in biosolutions to capture €640 billion market

The Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences (IVA) and industry experts are warning that Sweden risks missing out on the burgeoning biosolutions industry. While Sweden possesses strong research capabilities and essential biological raw materials, the country lags behind competitors like Denmark and the Netherlands in transitioning technology from the laboratory to industrial-scale production.

Biosolutions utilize microorganisms and enzymes to manufacture products such as plastics, chemicals, materials, and food ingredients, offering a sustainable alternative to fossil fuels like oil and gas. The global market for these technologies is projected to reach €640 billion by 2030. Implementing biosolutions could significantly reduce global carbon emissions by approximately 10 percent by 2030 through industrial decarbonization and reduced food waste.

A new technical report from IVA proposes five specific measures to establish Sweden as a leading industrial nation in this sector. Experts emphasize that success will require coordinated efforts between researchers, companies, and policymakers to secure the necessary capital and infrastructure to build large-scale manufacturing facilities.