A Conceptual Framework to Assess the Emergence, Development and Viability of Rural Circular Bioclusters

Current environmental challenges call for the replacement of fossil resources with bioresources. Bioclusters – innovation ecosystems centered on bioresource use – provide solutions to achieve both environmental and economic objectives by balancing ecosystem preservation with the economic exploitation of bioresources. The literature on the role of bioclusters in transitions emphasizes the need for specific frameworks that account for their unique characteristics. In this context, the aim of this paper is to present an original conceptual framework for analyzing the emergence, development, and viability of rural circular bioclusters by integrating rural development literature with discussions from circular economy and economic geography. The framework outlines three steps to study bioclusters: identifying the resources that form the biocluster (emergence), examining the activation process of these resources and the network of players (development), and detailing governance for resource allocation that balances commodification with heritage-based preservation (viability).