BIOKET Heads to Fribourg in 2026
This is great news for Fribourg’s innovation ecosystem: in March 2026, the canton of Fribourg will host the international BIOKET conference for the first time in Switzerland – a key event dedicated to bioeconomy and biomass conversion technologies.
Launched in 2018 by the French cluster Bioeconomy For Change (B4C), this traveling conference has become a flagship event for professionals in the field. After previous editions in Lille, Trois-Rivières (Canada), Reims and Brussels – where the 2025 edition broke records with over 600 participants, 150 speakers, and 1,200 B2B (business-to-business) meetings – BIOKET is now heading to Switzerland.
BIOKET, short for BIOeconomy Key Enabling Technologies, stands out for its strong technological focus. While other events often spotlight markets or public policy, BIOKET prioritizes industrial processes, scientific innovation, and transformation technologies. The goal is to promote tangible, sustainable, and scalable solutions across sectors such as bio-based materials, green chemistry, energy, agrifood, and cosmetics.
A Fribourg Ecosystem Ready to Engage
At the heart of the event lies the bioeconomy: the set of activities aimed at harnessing organic material of plant or animal origin – not only for food, but also to produce high-value bio-based molecules and products. It’s a strategic innovation area that fosters a more circular industry and reduces dependence on fossil resources.
BIOKET’s arrival in Fribourg continues a dynamic already well underway. The canton offers a solid ecosystem that combines applied research, entrepreneurship, and industry – increasingly positioning itself as fertile ground for sustainable innovation. The bioeconomy accounts for 29% of Fribourg’s GDP and 28% of its employment. At the 2024 edition of the event, a dedicated workshop already highlighted Fribourg’s momentum in the bioeconomy, with participation from players such as ChemTech, Seprify, Fri Up, and Cormo Ltd. This strong showing was an early sign of things to come.
The full program will be available this fall on the official 2026 edition website (see below). It will feature keynote sessions, expert workshops, company visits, start-up pitch sessions, and Innovation Tours – all designed to foster meaningful exchange between science and industry.