Unpacking the network discourse: Actors and storylines in Germany's wood-based bioeconomy

This study starts from the assumption that, besides its more obvious techno-scientific and economic claims, the bioeconomy is primarily a political project where actors with different interests and strategies pursue different agendas. It thus proposes a reconceptualization of the wood-based bioeconomy network in Germany (WBN). For this purpose, a mixed methodological-approach that combines quantitative methods of network mapping with qualitative interpretations for unpacking the network discourse is suggested. Through a series of semi-structured interviews with key actors in the network, this study attempts to understand emerging discourses within the WBN by putting greater emphasis on central actors and the storylines they promote. Empirically, this study seeks to: (i) explore what kind of strategies and storylines the central actors in the WBN promote; and (ii) identify the potential for consensus or conflict between the different storylines promoted by participating actors. Theoretically, it draws on the broader socio-technical transitions literature and reflects upon the emerging network discourse. Results show that the bioeconomy discourse is broad enough for multiple stakeholders to identify with. Yet this openness of the discourse and diversity of organizational strategies and interests highlights a series of internal conflicting and consenting storylines. It is argued that such divergent views lead to a lack of clear objective stetting which may ultimately affect the success of the bioeconomy project.