Bioeconomy assessment and monitoring framework and description of dashboard

The SUSTRACK project aims to accelerate the transition towards a sustainable, circular, and bio-based economy in Europe by identifying enabling conditions, addressing systemic barriers, and supporting evidence-based policymaking. Within this framework, WP2 focused on developing a robust approach to monitor the progress of the European bioeconomy through the SUSTRACK Bioeconomy Monitoring Framework and its operational implementation in the SUSTRACK Monitoring Tool. The bioeconomy plays a central role in achieving the EU’s long-term sustainability goals, notably climate neutrality by 2050, circular resource use, and the regeneration of ecosystems. Yet, monitoring progress remains a major challenge due to the fragmented and heterogeneous nature of existing data. The SUSTRACK monitoring framework was designed to complement the EU Bioeconomy Monitoring System (EU-BMS) by providing a more operational, user-friendly, and policy-relevant tool to benchmark national bioeconomy performance across EU Member States. The framework builds on the five societal objectives of the 2018 EU Bioeconomy Strategy, linking them conceptually to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This alignment ensures that the monitoring system not only tracks economic performance but also assesses environmental and social dimensions. Over 500 indicators were reviewed and classified according to sustainability pillars, policy relevance, and data availability. A systematic prioritisation based on SMART criteria led to the selection of a concise set of headline indicators, grouped into three key areas: 1. Sustainable resource management 2. Environmental performance 3. Competitiveness and jobs Indicators were normalised and converted into standardised scores (1–6), allowing for comparability across countries and thematic areas. The interactive SUSTRACK monitoring tool enables users to perform benchmarking analyses, visualise country profiles, and conduct hotspot analyses through a dynamic interface. To further synthesise results, a cluster analysis was performed to group countries with similar performance profiles. This revealed meaningful patterns: countries like Belgium, the Netherlands, and Finland act as consistent leaders across dimensions, while others display asymmetric progress, for instance, strong environmental results not yet matched by competitiveness gains (Spain, Italy), or strong economic performance paired with weaker resource management (Cyprus, Malta). These insights highlight where policy interventions can create convergence and foster win–win outcomes across sustainability dimensions. Overall, the SUSTRACK monitoring framework demonstrates how a simplified, yet conceptually grounded approach can make bioeconomy assessment more accessible and actionable. The resulting tool provides an intuitive entry point for countries at different stages of bioeconomy development, particularly those without existing monitoring systems, helping them identify strengths, weaknesses, and policy priorities. Looking ahead, the SUSTRACK monitoring system offers strong potential for future exploitation and integration. Its functionalities could inspire further evolution of the EU-BMS, particularly by incorporating benchmarking capabilities and dynamic linkages between indicators and the SDGs, thereby enhancing the coherence, usability, and policy impact of bioeconomy monitoring across Europe.