Rural regions as key locations for the Circular Bioeconomy: Insights from the northern interior of Portugal

Rural areas have often been singled out as strategic locations for the implementation of Circular Bioeconomy (CBE) concept. This study aims to carry a detailed analysis northern interior Portugal, focusing on its business dynamics within CBE. Two representative case studies were selected and critically compared with successful cases from European Nordic countries. The results showed that, generally, waste is managed inefficiently little benefit. cross-comparison CBE model revealed that there lack synergies collaboration between different stakeholders, most basic advanced level. Also, investment in more applied education, well culture based trust dialogue, would greatly contribute regional policies. In short, innovation, not only products services, but mainly partnerships key sustainable economic growth rural regions.