The CBE JU is a EUR 2 billion public-private partnership between the European Union, represented by the European Commission (EC), and the Bio-based Industries Consortium (BIC). It is established under Horizon Europe, the EU’s research and innovation programme, for the period 2021-2031. The CBE JU is not a direct continuation of the Bio-Based Industries Joint Undertaking, but rather a programme that builds on its achievements and aims at addressing its shortcomings. 

The Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda (SRIA), adopted by the CBE Governing Board (GB), identifies the strategic priorities and the essential research and innovation actions required to achieve the objectives of the Circular Bio-based Europe Joint Undertaking (CBE JU), as defined in the Council Regulation (EU) 2021/2085 of 19 November 2021 establishing the Joint Undertakings under Horizon Europe.

The scope of CBE JU is underpinned by the updated EU Bioeconomy Strategy (2018) and is in line with the European Green Deal objectives – to produce major contributions to the EU climate targets by delivering innovative bio-based solutions and paving the way for Europe to become the first climate neutral continent by 2050; protecting and enhancing biodiversity; combating pollution; reducing fossil resource dependence; and deploying a just transition.

CBE JU will, in particular, aim at strengthening the European bioeconomy primary sectors of the land and sea and its industries by combining the ‘public’ interests, pursued by the EC, and the ‘private’ interests of bio-based industries, such as: increasing the competitiveness of the EU economy, job creation, balanced regional development and economic cohesion, climate and environmental performance, creating better market conditions, removal of barriers, de-risking investment, increasing resource efficiency, improving circular technologies and operations while engaging all actors in the bio-based systems. 

The SRIA will be the basis for the CBE JU Annual Work Programmes that will contain the call for proposals, developed jointly by both partners under the coordination of the Programme Office, and taking into account the recommendations of the advisory bodies. Six calls for proposals are foreseen during the lifetime of the partnership for a total indicative operational budget of EUR 976.5 million.

CBE JU will launch its first Call for Proposals in 2022 in which the following types of actions will be funded: research and innovation actions (RIAs), innovation actions (IAs) including Flagships, and coordination and support actions (CSAs). 

Progress towards the achievement of the CBE JU objectives will be monitored through a set of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs). The monitoring and reporting of CBE activities, including KPIs, will be undertaken on an annual basis and reflected in the Annual Activity Report (AAR). 

Creating local value chains and facilitating access to finance –

New BIC search tool for regional funding for bio-based projects
 

Since its foundation, BIC cooperates and connects with regions in various ways and given the importance of regions to foster the bioeconomy. A BIC key objective is to bridge the gap between bio-based investment opportunities and financial incentives at regional level.

In key milestone in reaching that objective, BIC launched a new platform to better connect industry members with European regions. The digital platform focuses on creating local value chains and access to finance, helping regions and industry to make contact based on mutual interest.

In order to ensure complementarity and synergies with the BIC regional platform, BIC commissioned a research project on the regional funding opportunities for bio-based projects. An added value of the database is also to facilitate peer learning and policy exchange between the regional members of the bioeconomy platform.

The main deliverable of this project is the new BIC funding database for (initially) 35 regions. To access the database, we make now available a search tool for funding opportunities.
 

Key points to pay attention to when using the search tool

• The database currently includes data collected by March 2022.
• Data was collected from the regions (direct contact, interview, desk research)
• Focus is only on funding for advanced projects in the bioeconomy (at least TRL 7 – demonstration in operational environment or higher)
• Funding data is subject to change, hence we advise to directly contact a region e.g. to further validate the eligibility of your project for funding. The search results will also display a regional contact point (if specified by the region).
• BIC will up-date the database twice a year. The next up-date is in September 2022.
• On your left side, four filters can be used to conduct the search (countries, type of instrument, bio-based feedstock, bio-based products). There is also a keyword search option. You also can select multiple countries.
• For further information on the BIC search tool and/or the BIC regional funding platform, please contact: marco.rupp@biconsortium.eu

The Bio-based Industry Consortium's (BIC) bioeconomy platform is a digital, partnering platform where regions and industry can make contact based on mutual interest. The platform focuses on creating local value chains and access to finance, namely helping regions and industry bridge the gap between bio-based investment opportunities and financial incentives at regional level.

This is in line with the position of the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) which has been working on the bioeconomy, raising awareness and strengthening the local and regional dimension for the past years. The CoR has also stated that platforms such as the Bio-Based Industries Consortium, able to maximise the potential of the findings and knowledge acquired and to combine local and regional initiatives, can promote bioeconomy processes effectively.

Benefits for European regions

• Attract investments from the bio-based industry in new, local value chains
• Highlight your region’s bio-based priorities, feedstocks, incentives for investment etc. & link up with S3 strategies
• Use the platform’s search and filter functions to identify the right bio-based industry actors for your region’s projects
• Make direct contact with new bio-based industry actors to discuss potential investment projects
• Invitations to events tailored aimed at connecting bio-based industries and regions

Benefits for the bio-based industry

• Access alternative sources of finance for highly ranked, but unsuccessful funding proposals e.g. flagship & demo
• Highlight the types of markets sectors, feedstock use etc. you are targeting and attract the right regions for your investment needs
• Use the platform’s search and filter functions to identify regions offering opportunities for bio-based investment & linked financial incentives
• Make direct contact with new regional actors to discuss potential investment projects
• Invitations to events tailored aimed at connecting bio-based industries and regions