Press Release: Brainstorming the Bioeconomy's Future and Welcoming 56 New Members at BIC's General Assembly

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Thursday, 22 February 2018

Yesterday, the Bio-based Industries Consortium (BIC) General Assembly came together to discuss the future of the bioeconomy. The event also saw BIC welcome 21* new industry Members, 35 new Associate Members and elect 8 new members to the BIC Board (see annex). Mat Quaedvlieg from SAPPI continues as Chair of the BIC Board during the next year.

This year’s General Assembly focused on the future of bio-based industries, as BIC members discussed the new European bioeconomy strategy and the Bio-Based Industries Joint Undertaking (BBI JU) in the context of new Horizon 2020 successor programme 'FP9', which will run from 2021-2028. Participants also brainstormed the possibility of a ‘BBI 2.0’, which would further develop Europe’s competitive bioeconomy.

BIC Executive Director, Dirk Carrez, said, "BIC continues to be an important bio-based platform, bringing together different sectors and entire value chains to collaborate on the bioeconomy. We are delighted to have 56 new members on board to help us further develop innovative bio-based value chains and contribute to Europe’s circular and low carbon economy objectives. BBI JU also continues to have a strong impact, mobilising relevant stakeholders ranging from SMEs to large companies and resource and technology providers to brand owners.”

At the event, representatives of the BBI JU Coordination and Support Actions (CSAs)** also presented their projects to industry members. CSAs address non-technological aspects of the bioeconomy e.g. public awareness and market uptake, regulation and standardisation, roadmapping, networking and open innovation, to support further development of the sector. More information on CSAs can be found in BIC’s new report ‘Coordination & Support Actions for Europe’s bio-based industries’. Other topics discussed included BIC’s recent study on EU financial instruments, which outlines a range of funding opportunities for EU bio-based projects.

At today’s Matchmaking Event, over 200 Full and Associate Members will participate in workshops relating to BBI JU’s 2018 Annual Work plan and the work needed in 2019 and 2020 to meet the long-term objectives in BIC’s Strategic Innovation and Research Agenda (SIRA). BIC’s Associate Members will bring forward new, promising technological developments while BIC’s industry members will discuss recent developments creating market pull for bio-based products and applications. Members will also exchange ideas and confer on consortia for project proposals in over 200 one-on-one meetings during the event.

 * Agro Business Park, AkzoNobel, Apeiron Synthesis, Bio Eco Energy Company (BEECO), Bio-marine Ingredients Ireland (BII), Bio-mi, Biosphere, Carbery Food Ingredients, Corporación Tecnológica de Andalucía (CTA), Commercial Mushroom Producers (CMP), Evonik, Fermentalg, Flanders’ FOOD, Haldor Topsoe, KMC, Neste, Orineo, Plastica Alfa, SAV - Agricultores de la Vega de Valencia, Spanish Biocluster (SBIOC), Tectero.

** BioCannDo, BIOWAYS, BiOPEN, Pilots4U, RoadToBio, STAR4BBI.

ANNEX:
Newly elected BIC Board members

Mat Quaedvlieg, Chair
SAPPI

Marcel Wubbolts
Corbion

DSM

Claus Crone Fuglsang
Novozymes

Christophe Luguel
IAR

Alex Michine
MetGen

Bill Morrissey
Glanbia

Daniel Ramón Vidal
Biopolis/ADM

Niklas von Weymarn
Metsä Group

Gert de Raaff
Royal Cosun

Giulia Gregori
Novamont

Gloria Gaupmann
Clariant