GSS EU Science Funding Gateway

Proposals under this topic should:

• Assess the feasibility and suitability of new forms of cooperation among primary producers (e.g. cooperatives) to optimise harvesting, logistics and processing of particularly secondary or underutilised biomass for the manufacturing of innovative products in the scope of the CBE JU (including the management and recycling of waste produced during the transformation process).
• Develop wider value networks, clusters, and other forms of collaboration in the bio-based sectors and stimulate the interactions between the key actors to reduce the limiting factors such as seasonality of biomass, initial costs or high market competition.
• Use of technologies and logistics in a symbiotic and resource-efficient way to further accelerate the deployment of a circular and sustainable bioeconomy.
• Identify and develop solutions to overcome the barriers for the valorisation of underutilised biomass, taking into account the regional conditions as well as the perspective of primary producers and the industry.
• Demonstrate the economic and sustainable feasibility of the production of high added-value bio-based products with tangible market applications, thereby following the food first and the cascading use principles.
• Develop economic viable long-term business plans and marketing strategies as well as other non-financial benefits (e.g. education training, technical assistance, access to new technologies and innovations, market information, etc.). Identify new skilled job opportunities in primary production and investments in underrepresented rural areas
• Develop environmental impacts assessment models as well as social benefits to constantly optimising the production along the entire value chain.
• Identify bottlenecks and opportunities in existing EU level policy frameworks in order to facilitate creation and uptake of innovative forms of cooperation among primary producers and bio-based industries. On this basis, provide recommendations for a cross-sectoral EU level policy framework and suggestions for concrete actions supporting the development of the European bio-based economy.
• Support the piloting and scaling up of the production of new high-added-value products including under the innovative regional clusters. Proposals may involve financial support to third parties to provide direct support (e.g., in the form of cascading grants) to actions related to teaming supporting the development of local value chains). Beneficiaries may provide financial support to third parties. The support to third parties can only be provided in the form of grants. The maximum amount to be granted to each third party is €60.000. A maximum €300.000 of the EU funding can be allocated to this purpose.
• Develop suitable governance models to ensure the practical feasibility of implementing such cooperations in specific and varying institutional contexts across European countries. Such models need to consider existing regulatory environments, governance structures as well as stakeholder views and preferences.