This week marked the launch of the new Circular Bio-based Europe Joint Undertaking (CBE JU) between the European Union and the Bio-based Industries Consortium - the successor partnership to the Bio-based Industries Joint Undertaking (BBI JU). The Bioeconomy Working Group leaders have in the past year been following the development of the partnership by organising discussions with both the BBI JU Programme Office and with representatives of the Bio-based Industries Consortium.

The European Commission will invest €1 billion in the CBE partnership which will be distributed through grants. Out of the €1 billion, 80% will be dedicated to innovation actions such as demonstration and flagship projects, and 20% to research and innovation actions. The bio-based industry has committed to spend €1 billion in projects through in-kind contributions and additional activities. 

The Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda (SRIA) of the CBE is planned to be adopted in the first quarter of 2022. This document identifies the main technological and innovation challenges and serves as the basis for the CBE JU Work Programme and calls for project proposals, which is expected to be adopted in the second quarter of 2022. The first CBE JU call for project proposals will then open with an expected call closure before the end of 2022.

According to the Single Basic Act (SBA), the CBE should establish Deployment Groups with the role to advise the Governing Board on issues critical to market uptake of bio-based innovation and to promote the deployment of sustainable circular bio-based solutions. The SBA suggests that regional authorities could be relevant for these advisory groups, which still leaves the role of regions within the partnership open. The Bioeconomy WG leaders will continue to follow up on the opportunities that the newly launched partnership aims to offer to regions and their stakeholders.