The Bio-based Industries Consortium (BIC), a non-profit organisation that represents the private sector in a public-private partnership (PPP) with the European Union (EU) on Bio-based Industries (BBI) says it welcomes Horizon Europe, the ambitious new EUR 100 billion research & innovation (R&I) programme recently launched by the EU.
In a statement, BIC said that it expects Horizon Europe, recently proposed by the European Commission, to deliver Research and Innovation (R&I) solutions to market, which would make a real difference in EU citizens’ lives. BIC also hopes the Bio-Based Industries Joint Undertaking (BBI JU), a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) between BIC and the EU which kick-started the European bioeconomy, will continue to support innovative bio-based demonstration and flagship projects.
Inherently renewable, the bioeconomy helps Europe reach many of its strategic priorities. Horizon Europe is investing in a future BIC wants and we look forward to continue collaborating with the European Institutions on creating a circular bioeconomy. However, it is important that the “new generation of European Partnerships” sets out the right framework for a possible continuation of a BBI JU under this new programme, said Dirk Carrez, BIC Executive Director.
Bio-based industries play an important role in spurring sustainable growth, creating a circular economy, boosting Europe’s competitiveness and achieving strategic EU goals such as the Paris Climate Agreement and the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
The bioeconomy helps re-industrialise and revitalise rural and coastal areas, create job opportunities and deliver sustainable alternatives to fossil-based products. Since 2014, BBI JU has been a key instrument in setting up new value chains in Europe, bringing together different industrial sectors and stimulating private investment in this economy.
Worth EUR 3.7 billion, the partnership mobilises investment in innovative facilities and processes that manufacture high-quality bio-based products as well as in biorefining research and demonstration projects.
BIC is host to a unique mix of sectors that currently cover agriculture, agro-food, forestry, pulp and paper, chemicals, aquatic, waste, energy and other sectors. With over 200 industry members including large companies, SMEs and SME Clusters spread across Europe, BIC brings together an authoritative pool of cross-sector and multi-disciplinary expertise in the field of bio-based industries.
