SPRING - Italian Circular Bioeconomy Cluster

What SPRING - Italian Circular Bioeconomy Cluster does

SPRING - Italian Circular Bioeconomy Cluster (legal name: Cluster Spring; tax code 97684680156) is a private non-profit association founded in 2014 and headquartered at Cariplo Factory in Milan (Via Bergognone, 34, 20144 Milan, Italy). The cluster was officially established in 2016 and obtained legal recognition from the Prefecture of Milan in 2019. It serves as Italy's recognized component of the national steering cabin on Bioeconomy, coordinating a national and international network of approximately 200 bioeconomy players, with 170+ formal member organizations spanning large industrial enterprises (Novamont, NatureWorks Italy, SMAT Turin, Acquedotto Pugliese), SMEs, universities, public research bodies (CNR, ENEA), trade associations (Confagricoltura), regional clusters, consulting firms, and financial companies.

SPRING's offerings are not technology products but coordination, networking, research, and policy-dissemination services. These include the SPRING Bio-magazine (monthly publication with Italian and English editions), the Vademecum on Bioplastics educational resource, a Study Center coordinated by University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli that analyzes economic trends and develops policy proposals, annual events such as IFIB (International Forum on Industrial Biotechnology and Bioeconomy) and National Bioeconomy Day co-promoted with Assobiotec-Federchimica, an Education and Training Program, and participation as partner or coordinator in nine European research projects (Circonomy, Strongbionet, Biowise, Bioeconomy Giants, Copilot, Terrific, BioInSouth, Ribes, CircHive) under programs including the Circular Bio-Based Europe Joint Undertaking (CBE JU).

The cluster operates a community-led, event-driven go-to-market. Revenue mechanics consist of recurring membership contributions from member organizations (no publicly disclosed pricing tiers) supplemented by European project co-financing. Governance is exercised through a Board of Directors including Catia Bastioli (President, representing Novamont) and representatives from member organizations, a Scientific Technical Committee, the Study Center, and three thematic committees covering Industrial Innovation, Research Organizations, and Dissemination and Territorial Development. A small core team of approximately 5 specialists (Director, Relationship and Networking, Technical and Scientific Coordination, EU Projects, Communication) executes the operations.

Name

SPRING - Italian Circular Bioeconomy Cluster

Legal name

Cluster Spring

Website

https://clusterspring.it

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

SPRING - Italian Circular Bioeconomy Cluster is a Milan-based non-profit association that coordinates a network of approximately 200 bioeconomy players and 170+ member organizations across industry, research, finance, and policy to advance circular bioeconomy innovation, education, and EU project participation in Italy.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Bioeconomy Cluster Coordination Services

NAICS

Business Associations (813910)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Circularity Consulting & Program Management (EPR, Design-for-Circularity, LCA) (EUAIANAH)

akta.pro secondary industry

Environmental Education & Outreach (BPAGAGAH)

Keywords

• Circular bioeconomy network
• Bioeconomy cluster coordination
• Industrial biotechnology events
• Biobased industry partnership
• Sustainable bioeconomy policy

Headquarters

HQ city

Milano Marittima

HQ country

Italy

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership contributions: SPRING operates through membership contributions from its diverse network of members including large industrial players, SMEs, universities, research organizations, associations, clusters, consulting firms, and financial companies. The cluster encourages innovation projects and represents sector interests at institutions.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

SPRING is a non-profit cluster organization that coordinates a national network of approximately 170-200 players across the Italian circular bioeconomy, including large industrial companies, SMEs, universities, public and private research bodies, trade associations, regional clusters, consulting firms, and financial companies. Its core offering is membership-based access to a multi-stakeholder coordination platform that delivers networking events, European project participation, policy representation, awareness campaigns (Bioeconomy Day), publications (SPRING Bio-magazine, Vademecum on Bioplastics), economic analysis (Study Center), and education/training programs.

Product overview

SPRING - Italian Circular Bioeconomy Cluster is a coordination and networking organization rather than a technology product company. Founded in 2014 and headquartered at Cariplo Factory in Milan, the cluster unites approximately 200 players including research centers, SMEs, large companies, trade associations, regional clusters, consulting firms and financial companies. The organization's offerings include publications (SPRING Bio-magazine, Vademecum on Bioplastics), European project participation, international networking services, a Study Center for economic analysis, annual events (IFIB Forum, Bioeconomy Day), and education/training programs. These services collectively support the transition toward a competitive, circular and sustainable bioeconomy in Europe.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• SPRING Bio-magazine Monthly magazine delivering updates on developments in the bioeconomy world, published by SPRING Cluster for members and stakeholders to track circular bioeconomy news, initiatives, and project outcomes.
• Vademecum on Bioplastics Educational document compiling terms, concepts, and arguments on bioplastics topics, drawing from scientific and accredited sources to clarify controversial bioeconomy issues; includes accompanying PowerPoint summary presentations.
• European Projects Program Coordination of and participation as partner and/or coordinator in multiple European projects including Circonomy, Strongbionet, Biowise, Bioeconomy Giants, Copilot, Terrific, BioInSouth, Ribes, and CircHive, supporting international bioeconomy research and innovation initiatives.
• International Network Services Facilitation of international collaboration through Memorandums of Understanding with European and international clusters and partners, including EnviroVest (Greece), European Circular Bioeconomy Fund, BioIndustrial Innovation Canada, CLIB (Germany), Bioeconomy for Change (France), Irish Bioeconomy Foundation, and Greenwin (Belgium).
• Study Center Economic analysis service that studies trends from evolutionary and comparative perspectives to support R&D activities and develops economic policy proposals for circular bioeconomy growth; coordinated by the University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli.
• IFIB - International Forum on Industrial Biotechnology and Bioeconomy Annual international forum bringing together key global players to discuss industrial biotechnology and bioeconomy developments, featuring B2B meetings organized with Innovhub-SSI and the EEN network, connecting Italian bioeconomy companies with financial and corporate investors worldwide.
• Bioeconomy Day National awareness campaign co-promoted with Assobiotec-Federchimica, aimed at raising awareness among citizens, businesses, and institutions about the strategic value of sustainable use of renewable biological resources.
• Education and Training Program Initiatives promoting acquisition of transversal skills in bioeconomy approaches, knowledge, and soft skills to foster widespread growth of circular bioeconomy culture across the educational system.

Quantifiable outcome

• Brings together approximately 200 players in the Bioeconomy
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• European Bioeconomy Clusters Alliance (14 clusters)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2025SPRING is among initiators and signatories of an Alliance signed among 14 European national clusters to support and strengthen the Circular and Sustainable Bioeconomy in Europe. The three-year Memorandum aims to accelerate industrialization and commercialization of biobased ideas, stimulate innovation, competitiveness, and resilience through sharing know-how, establishing commercial relations, promoting human capital, and developing R&D projects.
• Circular Bio-Based Europe Joint Undertaking (CBE JU)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSPRING participates in consortia for European Projects within the CBE JU initiative. The CBE JU launched Call 2026 with 170.7 million euros for collaborative research and innovation projects. SPRING supports members in accessing these funding opportunities.
• European Cluster Collaboration PlatformcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSPRING is enrolled in the European Cluster Collaboration Platform enabling constant connection with European and international stakeholders working in the Bioeconomy sector.
• BioBased Industries ConsortiumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSPRING is a full industry member of the European BioBased Industries Consortium in the SME Cluster category, enabling greater presence at European level and contribution to discussions on member interests.
• EnviroVest (Greek Cluster)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorInternational cooperation through Memorandum of Understanding to strengthen collaboration and synergies in circular bioeconomy sectors.
• BioIndustrial Innovation Canada (Canadian Cluster)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorInternational MoU for collaboration in biobased products and new industrial biotechnologies.
• CLIB - Cluster Industrielle Biotechnologie (German Cluster)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorInternational MoU with German biotechnology cluster for knowledge sharing and collaboration.
• Bioeconomy for Change (French Cluster)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorInternational MoU with French bioeconomy cluster for circular bioeconomy collaboration.
• Irish Bioeconomy FoundationminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorInternational MoU with Irish cluster to strengthen bioeconomy knowledge and partnerships.
• Greenwin (Belgian Cluster)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorInternational MoU with Belgian cleantech innovation booster for biotechnology and bioeconomy collaboration.
• Assobiotec-FederchimicacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSPRING co-promotes National Bioeconomy Day with Assobiotec-Federchimica, involving numerous partners including companies, research centers, associations, universities and institutions.
• Innovhub-SSIcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSPRING collaborates with Innovhub-SSI for organizing B2B meetings at events like IFIB, connecting startups, companies, universities and research centers through EEN network.
• Italian Trade Agency (ITA)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCollaboration with Italian Trade Agency for IFIB event to connect Italian bioeconomy companies with financial and corporate investors from around the world.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• EnviroVest: Greek bioeconomy/environmental cluster. Comparable as a national bioeconomy cluster with similar mission; SPRING has an international MoU with EnviroVest for collaboration.
• CLIB - Cluster Industrielle Biotechnologie: German cluster organization for industrial biotechnology and bioeconomy. Directly comparable as a national/regional bioeconomy cluster with similar convening, project coordination, and policy advocacy roles; SPRING holds an MoU with CLIB for collaboration.
• Bioeconomy for Change: French bioeconomy cluster organizing industry, research, and policy stakeholders. Comparable as a national circular bioeconomy cluster with similar member-driven model; SPRING has an active MoU with Bioeconomy for Change.
• Innovhub-SSI: Italian innovation hub operated by the Milan Chamber of Commerce. Comparable as a stakeholder convener for innovation; SPRING partners with Innovhub-SSI for B2B meetings at IFIB and other events.
• Greenwin: Belgian cleantech and bioeconomy innovation cluster. Comparable as a national cluster aggregating SMEs, corporates, and research actors; SPRING maintains a collaboration MoU with Greenwin.
• Irish Bioeconomy Foundation: Ireland's national bioeconomy coordination body. Comparable national-level bioeconomy cluster with stakeholder convening role; SPRING holds an MoU with the foundation.

Broad incumbents

• Assobiotec-Federchimica: Italian association for biotechnology companies within Federchimica. Comparable as an Italian sector association with policy advocacy and event co-organization; co-promotes National Bioeconomy Day with SPRING.
• BioBased Industries Consortium (BIC) / CBE JU: European-level industry consortium that partners with the EU in the Circular Bio-Based Europe Joint Undertaking (CBE JU). SPRING is a full industry member; comparable as a bioeconomy convening and funding-aggregation entity, but operating at pan-European scale.

Regional players

• BioIndustrial Innovation Canada: Canadian bioeconomy/bioproducts cluster. Comparable as a national bioeconomy cluster; operates in North America rather than competing with SPRING in Europe. SPRING has an MoU for transatlantic bioeconomy collaboration.

Others

• European Circular Bioeconomy Fund (ECBF): European venture capital fund focused on growth-stage bioeconomy and biotech companies. SPRING lists ECBF as a member and partner, making it an ecosystem enabler rather than a direct cluster competitor.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/cluster_spring
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCrFfDDqeBjqeWkLyBPSOIVQ
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/clusterspring
• Instagraminstagram.com/spring_cluster

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about SPRING - Italian Circular Bioeconomy Cluster