Belgium (Brussels Morning Newspaper), The future of the bio-based sector in Europe will come under focus at a major international event in Brussels next month.
The fast-growing sector insists it has a key role to play in meeting the continent’s energy mix in the coming years.
It says it wants to contribute to meeting key European sustainability objectives, such as achieving a reduction in CO2 emissions, greening industrial processes, fostering waste reduction, and creating a circular economy.
These and other related issues will come under the spotlight at a stakeholder forum on 6-7 December.
It is organized by the Circular Bio-based Europe Joint Undertaking (CBE JU) a €2 billion partnership between the EU and the Bio-based Industries Consortium.
This funds projects that support competitive circular bio-based industries in Europe.
CBE JU operates under the rules of Horizon Europe, the EU’s flagship research and innovation program, for the 2021-2031 period.
The partnership aims to build on the success of its predecessor, the Bio-based Industries Joint Undertaking while addressing current key challenges facing the industry.
The theme for the event is “What next for the European bio-based sector?” and over 500 industry leaders, policymakers, researchers, and bioeconomy stakeholders will converge for a two-day exploration of the future of the circular bio-based economy in Europe.
The forum will present what is called “major progress” in supporting competitive circular bio-based industries across Europe and will address three critical questions:
How to stimulate demand for circular bio-based solutions?
How to facilitate access to finance to scale up circular bio-based production in Europe and
What research and innovation (R&I) is needed to maintain European leadership in the bio-based sector in the medium-long term?
Participants will debate topics across nine forum sessions and several workshops. Additionally, an exhibition showcasing over 30 innovative bio-based solutions developed by CBE JU-funded projects will run throughout the event.
A CBE JU spokesman said the project “has played a pivotal role in advancing the circular bio-based economy in Europe, contributing to sustainable industrial modernization and decarbonization.
“Noteworthy achievements include funding 16 innovative industrial-scale biorefineries across Europe, stimulating economic growth in the regions, and supporting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), among other beneficiaries.
“The public-private partnership model of CBE JU has successfully leveraged investments, with each euro of public funding generating €2.80 in private investment.”
The spokesman said that CBE JU-funded projects, such as SCALE and PLENITUDE “exemplify efforts to reduce strategic imports, create local supply chains, and revitalize rural economies.”
“By working with local farmers and communities, CBE JU-funded projects contribute to the sustainable use of biomass, diversify income streams for primary producers, and create highly skilled green jobs.”
It is also said that its activities align with European Green Deal objectives, driving the transition to a low-carbon economy through a sustainable and circular economy based on renewable resources.
“CBE JU-funded projects have a significant waste reduction impact and the transition from fossil-based resources, aligning with Europe’s commitment to becoming the world’s first climate-neutral continent by 2050,” added the spokesman.
Further comment comes from Nicoló Giacomuzzi-Moore, CBE JU Acting Executive Director, who told this site, “This first CBE JU Stakeholder Forum will be an important meeting and exchange space for the bioeconomy community, to take stock of what has already been achieved and discuss the future of the European bio-based sector.
“This constantly growing sector has relentlessly demonstrated the contributions it is making to key European sustainability objectives such as reduction in CO2 emissions, greening industrial processes, waste reduction, circular economy, strategic autonomy, job creation, revitalizing rural economies, to name but a few.
“During the two forum days, we will follow the perspective of our stakeholders, listen to the challenges they are facing, and together highlight the opportunities and needs of the sector for the years to come.”
“Now is the time to discuss as a community how we can realize the full potential of the European economy and what is needed to achieve it.”
The forum takes place at The Egg, Brussels.
