Title awarding university: Leibniz University Hannover

Title of the doctoral project: Conceptualisation of a sustainable global bioeconomy

Short description of the doctoral project: The transition from a fossil-based to a more sustainable economy is unavoidable in light of the climate crisis and the finite nature of fossil resources. The bioeconomy, understood as the use of renewable raw materials such as biomass, is considered a promising alternative, but is reaching its limits in industrialized countries such as Germany due to limited land availability. Countries such as Australia, on the other hand, have great potential that remains underutilized due to a lack of industrial demand – national efforts therefore encounter structural and geographical limitations.

Against this backdrop, internationalization is gaining momentum. Although the first global value chains are emerging, there is still no overarching conceptual framework that integrates ecological, social, and economic aspects and enables the sustainable design of global bioeconomy structures. The aim of the dissertation project is therefore to develop an evaluation and analysis concept that highlights trade-offs, identifies potential, and develops guidelines for the sustainable design of international bioeconomy cooperation.