ExpectedOutcome:
In line with the European Green Deal priorities, the EU’s climate ambition for 2030 and 2050 and the bioeconomy strategy vision of an economic system that acts within environmental and social boundaries, the successful proposal will improve the deployment of sustainable bioeconomy business models and solutions, which will help rural and coastal areas in achieving a just, green transition.
Projects results are expected to contribute to all following expected outcomes:
- Increased access to financial, legal and technical support along all Technological Readiness Levels and whole supply chains for bioeconomy projects, leading to a higher number of successful bioeconomy flagship projects.
- Alignment of actors (primary producers, citizens, innovators, educators, SMEs, industry, national authorities and other actors) and their goals in collaborative ventures on bioeconomy related projects.
- Promotion and support of regional and national transitions from existing fossil-based socio-technical systems to bioeconomy-based systems promoting the valorisation of local biological resources and ecosystem services.
Scope:
- Provide technical assistance for bioeconomy project development and facilitate synergies and linkages between different EU and national policy instruments and funding opportunities (e.g., CBE JU, ERDF, CAP, EMFAF, Innovation Fund) and therefore support the deployment of bioeconomy through the streamlining of research, innovation and demonstration. Public, private and joint public-private projects are eligible.
- Bring together and align the goals of primary producers, SMEs, policymakers and other stakeholders in bioeconomy projects along the whole value chain in order to build collaborative partnerships with a strong technical, financial, and legal capacity.
- Provide expertise and consultancy services to promising bioeconomy projects, on small and medium-sized investments at different TRLs, in the area of business model development (including exploring supply chain options), planning, project documentation, feasibility assessment, financial assistance, including links to other EU funding instruments, and legal assistance.
- Explore the barriers faced by novel bioeconomy solutions and provide strategies how to overcome social, financial, legal and policy barriers.
- Projects benefiting from the assistance should contribute to the development of sustainable bioeconomy solutions and have their main activities in one or more of the following areas (a non-exhaustive list): circular and sustainable bio-based sector, including improvements in durability, quality, or resource-efficiency of bio-based products; activities enhancing biodiversity and land-based climate mitigation and adaptation; integration of the benefits of biodiversity and carbon-rich ecosystems in primary production; low footprint food production, processing and distribution, including novel foods; schemes for rewarding land and water managers for the provision of ecosystems services; sustainable fisheries, aquaculture and algae production; nature-based solutions.
- Assisted projects will be selected on the basis of merit. Proportionality of assisted projects across the different bioeconomy sectors as well geographical regions shall be ensured. Special focus should be given to projects from Member States where bioeconomy in underdeveloped.
- The technical support facility is expected to carry out the project assistance activities for the minimum duration of 5 years and be open to projects from all EU Member States and Associated Countries.
- Social innovation is recommended when the solution is at the socio-technical interface and requires social change, new social practices, social ownership or market uptake.
- The proposals must use the multi-actor approach by involving a wide diversity of bioeconomy actors.
- Where relevant, activities should build and expand on the results of past and ongoing research projects.
