Serious funding for EU biomaterials

Big opportunities for the nonwovens and related industries are suggested with the announcement of a new ‘Made in Europe’ initiative to trigger the creation of a competitive market for locally-sourced bio-based products and materials.

Over the next decade, €3.7 billion will be injected into the scheme – €975 million from the European Commission and €2.7 billion from the Bio-based Industries Consortium (BIC) to develop an emerging bioeconomy sector.

Through the financing of research and innovation projects, the BBI will create new and novel partnerships across sectors, such as agriculture, agro-food, technology providers, forestry/pulp and paper, chemicals and energy.

The aim is to use Europe’s untapped biomass and wastes as feedstock to make fossil-free and greener everyday products. At the heart of it are advanced biorefineries and innovative technologies that will convert renewable resources into sustainable bio-based chemicals, materials and fuels.

“The bioeconomy has huge potential that is attracting investments all around the world,” said Máire Geoghegan-Quinn, European Commissioner for Research, Innovation and Science. “With this new partnership, we want to harness innovative technologies to convert Europe’s untapped renewable resources and waste into greener everyday products such as food, feed, chemicals, materials and fuels, all sourced and made in Europe.”

“The BBI is an unprecedented public-private commitment because of its focus on bringing bio-based solutions to the market,” added Peder Holk Nielsen, CEO of Novozymes, on behalf of the BIC. “It is an opportunity to deliver sustainable growth in European regions and to reverse the investment trend currently going to other regions of the world.”

The BBI will manage the investments in the form of research and innovation projects and has launched its first €50 million call for propsals (not including industry contributions, which are expected to reach up to €150 million).