Business models that balance the share of power and profit in the bioeconomy

Closed

Programme Category

EU Competitive Programmes

Programme Name

Horizon Europe (2021-2027)

Programme Description

Horizon Europe is the European Union (EU) funding programme for the period 2021 – 2027, which targets the sectors of research and innovation. The programme’s budget is around € 95.5 billion, of which € 5.4 billion is from NextGenerationEU to stimulate recovery and strengthen the EU’s resilience in the future, and € 4.5 billion is additional aid.

Programme Details

Identifier Code

HORIZON-CL6-2023-CircBio-01-9

Call

Business models that balance the share of power and profit in the bioeconomy

Summary

The circular use of waste, by-products and residues from agriculture, forestry, and the agri-food industry can lead to the creation of new economic opportunities in rural areas. However, primary producers are often not fully integrated in bio-based value chains, and thus, benefits are not sufficiently distributed among value chain actors.

This topic addresses diverse forms of cooperation among primary producers and suitable business models to create high-value bio-based products in vertically integrated value chains via advanced biorefineries.

Detailed Call Description

Proposals will:

  • Examine the potential of contractual agreements or fully developed shareholder/ownership concepts (e.g., cooperatives) to create sustainable and competitive innovations in the bio-based economy through the conversion of by-products, residues and wastes from agriculture and forestry.
  • Develop and promote business models for different primary production sectors in the EU that build on existing rural infrastructures, support the economies of scale, and contribute to a fair distribution of costs, benefits, and risks amongst the economic operators.
  • Contribute to a better understanding of sustainable and fair biobased supply chains, synergetic points along and across agricultural, forestry and industrial value chains as well as industrial symbiosis opportunities.
  • Explore existing investment options, including non-traditional sources (e.g., cross-sectoral collaborations, etc.) and identify barriers and enablers for sustainable long-term operations.
  • Contribute to restoring carbon content in soil, increasing nutrients, revitalising marginal lands and ensuring food security.
  • Consider further socio-economic factors, influencing farmers’ behaviour and develop indicators to assess the economic, environmental and social impacts for farmers, foresters and rural areas through increased cooperation.
  • Connect with a wide range of stakeholders and develop together a portfolio of research and innovation priorities that can be implemented in Horizon Europe and relevant European partnerships such as the Circular Biobased Europe.
  • Promote bioeconomy-related interventions in the new CAP and provide advice and technical guidance for Member States.

Call Total Budget

€8,00 million

Financing percentage by EU or other bodies / Level of Subsidy or Loan

100%

EU Contribution per project: €4,00 million

Thematic Categories

  • Agriculture - Farming - Forestry
  • Agriculture - Food
  • Environment and Climate Change
  • Land Development
  • Regional Development
  • Research, Technological Development and Innovation

Eligibility for Participation

  • Associations
  • Educational Institutions
  • Farmers Unions
  • Farmers, Agriculturalists
  • NGOs
  • Non Profit Organisations
  • Other Beneficiaries
  • Producer Associations
  • Researchers/Research Centers/Institutions
  • Semi-governmental organisations
  • Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs)
  • State-owned Enterprises
  • Trade Unions

Eligibility For Participation Notes

Proposals shall apply the concept of the ‘multi-actor approach’ and ensure adequate involvement of the farming sector, SMEs and other actors active in rural areas.

Stakeholders (farmers, foresters, industry, processors, advisors, clusters, etc.)

Proposals may involve financial support to third parties e.g. to primary producers, academic researchers, start-ups, SMEs, and other multidisciplinary actors, to, for instance, develop, test or validate developed applications. Consortia need to define the selection process of organisations, for which financial support may be granted. Maximum 20% of the EU funding can be allocated to this purpose.

Call Opening Date

22/12/2022

Call Closing Date

28/03/2023

National Contact Point(s)

Research and Innovation Foundation

29a Andrea Michalakopoulou Street, 1075 Nicosia
T.Th. 23422, 1683 Nicosia
+357 22205000
Email: support@research.org.cy

Contact Persons:
Marcia Trillidou
Scientific Officer A’
Email: trillidou@research.org.cy

Dr. Mary Economou
Scientific Officer
Email: meconomou@research.org.cy

(Publish Date: 16/02/2023-for internal use only)

EU Contact Point

European Commission, Directorate-General for Research and Innovation

https://ec.europa.eu/info/departments/research-and-innovation_en#contact