Deadline: 06-Oct-21
The European Commission (EC) has launched a programme to Raise awareness of circular and sustainable bioeconomy in support of Member States to develop bioeconomy strategies and/or action plans.
The European Green Deal, the Commission’s growth strategy, has set Europe on its path to be the first climate neutral continent by 2050 and achieve a green transition that must be just, fair and inclusive.
One of the seven core pathways to deliver on climate neutrality, identified in the Clean Planet Strategy is the bioeconomy.
The updated EU bioeconomy strategy has highlighted the relevance of developing national bioeconomy strategies and action plans to deploy a sustainable and circular bioeconomy across Europe taking into account economic, social and environmental aspects.
The focus of the topic should be two-fold: reaching out to decision makers and public administrators in different ministries as well as to a wide range of stakeholders crucial for the development of the national strategies and bioeconomy deployment across Europe.
These stakeholders could consist for example of investors, industries, SMEs, feedstock providers (e.g. waste, side streams, farmers, foresters, fishermen). It is also relevant to cooperate and establish links with relevant existing initiatives such as the BIOEAST, EUBIONET, BBI JU and the Circular Bio-based Europe (CBE) Partnership.
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
Successful proposal(s) will contribute to the expected impacts of Destination ‘Innovative governance, environmental observations and digital solutions in support of the Green Deal’ “Innovative governance models enabling sustainability and resilience notably to achieve better informed decision-making processes, social engagement and innovation”.
This action will support Member States that do not have a bioeconomy strategy and/or an action plan in developing one as part of their preparation for a sustainable economic, social and environmental transition to climate neutrality as called for in the European Green Deal.
Projects results are expected to contribute to all of the following expected outcomes:
- Increased awareness of decision makers and public administrators in different ministries about the various bioeconomy sectors, the role of the bioeconomy in the EU policies, the benefits of the bioeconomy and particularly the circular bio-based sector, including products substituting fossil-based and carbon-intensive products and reducing of respective emissions of GHGs and other pollutants.
- Improved inter-ministerial interaction and engagement in Member States that are developing or are preparing to develop their Strategy and/or Action Plan through exchange of good practices and experiences at meetings and conferences.
- Increased awareness of the bioeconomy and its potential among a broad range of national stakeholders, such as the general public, knowledge providers, universities, investors, industry, primary producers and NGOs, through tools such as for example workshops, living lab activities, exhibitions.
- Better interconnection of stakeholders into national bioeconomy hubs with the aim of providing a framework and the assurance that even without national level strategic orientation they are in line with the EU objectives.
- Improved information about current policy instruments and solutions to bridge between strategies and actual policy, including exploitation of opportunities offered by the current EU policy framework (e.g. related to circular economy, energy, innovation, agriculture).
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.
Legal entities which are established in countries not listed above will be eligible for funding if provided for in the specific call conditions, or if their participation is considered essential for implementing the action by the granting authority.
For more information, visit https://bit.ly/3y53jKJ