Bio-Economy - Interregional cooperation on innovative use of non-food Biomass

The Focus area identified for cooperation is Bioeconomy within the framework of the Vanguard Initiative (VI). The VI is an Interregional cooperation platform initiated by a group of 30 European regions (bottom-up). VI has developed five so called ‘Pilots’. The Bioeconomy Pilot is one of them and concerns the implementation of synergies in new biobased value chains across regions based on their smart specialisations. Its goal is to develop new integral Biobased value chains and new connections between sectors as chemistry, agro, wood & paper, cosmetics and energy, leading to new interregional business opportunities and co-investment through interregional cooperation and partnerships, exchange of information and ideas.

With a bottom-up mapping exercise the Bioeconomy Pilot
has currently developed 7 cases for Joint Demonstration (Demo Cases), which are in a way all related to Industrial Modernisation. But as they use Biomass for feedstock they are also often linked to the AgriFood domain. But the Bioeconomy is a cross-over topic and cannot easily be classified in the more ‘traditional’ division of sectors as has been done for the Thematic S3 Platforms.

The Bioeconomy Pilot concerns the implementation of synergies in new biobased value chains cross regions based on their smart specialisations. Its main objective is to develop new integral Biobased value chains and new connections between sectors as chemistry, agro, wood & paper, cosmetics and energy, leading to new interregional business opportunities and co-investment through interregional cooperation and partnerships for co-investment, exchange of information and ideas. VI is happy to bring in its experience on S3 cooperation within the Thematic S3 Platform forIndustrial Modernisation and to strengthen the Demo Cases with the network and the new opportunities the Thematic S3 Platform for Industrial Modernisation might offer.

The Bioeconomy Pilot cases that are linked to Industrial modernisation are as follows:
 

• Lignocellulose Refinery

Challenge: Production of bulk and fine chemicals and fuels from lignocellulose biomass. Set-up of a European value chain from lignocellulose to end products using biotechnology (refinery)
 

• Biobased Aromatics

Challenge: Creating Interregional value chains and Joint Demonstration on Lignin Valorisation to Aromatics
 

• Bio-LNG Vanguard Regions Blue Corridor

Challenge: Promote the development of bio-methane as a fuel for heavy lans & water transports along strategic corridors

Monitoring reports containing a management report and a progress report prepared by the lead regions are available here:

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