Deadline: 22-Sep-22
The European Commission (EC) is accepting proposals for Sustainable Fibres Biorefineries Feedstock.
Scope
Dedicated, purposely grown industrial crops and novel terrestrial and aquatic sources of biomass to deliver specific precursors for further processing into chemicals and materials such as textiles, or composites present an attractive route to high value applications. Examples include promising European green fibre crops, such as well-known species as flax and hemp, or trees, but the proposals could also focus on less developed fibrous species e.g., nettle or perennial grasses, or aquatic plants like Salicornia. The proposals should focus on the identification of those promising low-input crops with associated ecological benefits (biodiversity enhancement, soil quality and retention potential, low requirement for water and nutrient use, pollinator friendliness, as relevant depending on the specific source).
Funding Information
The check will normally be done for the coordinator if the requested grant amount is equal to or greater than EUR 500 000, except for:
- public bodies (entities established as a public body under national law, including local, regional or national authorities) or international organisations; and
- cases where the individual requested grant amount is not more than EUR 60 000 (lowvalue grant).
Expected Outcomes
Project results are expected to contribute to the following expected outcomes:
- Sustainable provision of green biomass for the industrial biorefining process, with environmental and social co-benefits (e.g., increased valorisation of green biomass, large-scale high-carbon sequestration, improved understanding and application of biodiversity enhancing potentials (e.g., nature-based solutions), improved ecosystem services, recyclability, as well as skilled green jobs, especially in the rural contexts).
- This topic includes underexploited feedstocks for making alternative, sustainable fibres, from crop plants, trees, agricultural and forestry residues, fungi and algae, or marine/freshwater plants (e.g., Salicornia);
- Development of fibre substrates, e.g., textiles, non-woven materials, composite bio-based materials, to foster innovation across industrial ecosystems, ranging from fashion, automotive, construction, to furniture sectors, enabling several possible end applications with future benefits for consumers based on the selected green fibre feedstocks. This may look on the potential of innovative biotechnology, synthetic biology and related technology, supporting development of circular bio-based end products.
- Improved sustainable exploitation, cultivation and, where relevant, processing methods based on promising selected green feedstocks.
- Increased competitiveness of European bio-based sector underpinned by biotechnology, in particular, SMEs, as well as of the primary biomass producers (agriculture actors), with socio-economic benefits in the engaged participation in the bio-based systems.
- Increased public awareness of links between biodiversity/natural resources and its potentials, leading to increased trust in the scientific approaches based on informed and robust communication and mutual-learning efforts.
Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible for funding, applicants must be established in one of the eligible countries, i.e.:
- the Member States of the European Union, including their outermost regions;
- the Overseas Countries and Territories (OCTs) linked to the Member States;
-
eligible non-EU countries:
- countries associated to Horizon Europe;
- low- and middle-income countries.
For more information, visit European Commission.
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