BIO-TIC

The Industrial Biotech Research and Innovation Platforms Centre - towards Technological Innovation and solid foundations for a growing industrial biotech sector in Europe

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 Obiettivo del progetto (Objective)

'The project goal is to draw-up a blueprint document of recommendations for overcoming the innovation hurdles within a selection of targeted business market segments that can make a major contribution to an accelerated take-up of industrial biotechnology (IB) into the market place. This will involve: - Analysis of existing knowledge bank relating to market, research and institutional barriers hindering uptake of IB technology innovations into the market place - Engagement with a broad range of stakeholders across the full multidisciplinary IB spectrum to update, develop and validate these innovation barriers to market entry - Formulation of a roadmap of action plans and policy recommendations for accelerated uptake of IB into a number of targeted product segment areas

Bio-TIC will compile an in-depth preparation of three “interim roadmaps” comprising market projections, R&D priorities and non-technological barriers to IB market entry. These will act to guide and facilitate a series of convened stakeholder workshops at both national and European level for a full discussion on innovation barriers, in order to validate and further elaborate more comprehensive roadmaps, while taking on board the totality of views from the diverse IB stakeholder base. Finally, the partners will collate and further refine the developed roadmaps into a joint European IB Roadmap and Policy recommendations document, with maximum stakeholder buy-in for wide dissemination and maximum impact. The project will be co-ordinated by EuropaBio- the European Association for Biotechnology Industries, who will also be joined by CEFIC, the European Chemical Industry Council, representing the European chemical industry. These will be joined in the consortium by a further 9 members incorporating innovation agencies, cluster organisations and private management consultancies; all of whom have many complementary skills and expertise and who have worked together in the past on similar initiatives.'

Introduzione (Teaser)

Using biotechnology in industrial processes is one of the most promising ways to reduce pollution, resource waste and costs while opening new product markets. An EU-funded study is identifying barriers to uptake in order to knock them down.

Descrizione progetto (Article)

Biotechnology is the use of biological processes and living organisms in products and technologies, and industrial biotechnology (IB) applies it to industrial activities. The EU is moving forward in a dynamic way with the project http://www.industrialbiotech-europe.eu/ (BIO-TIC) to identify and overcome barriers to widespread market uptake of IB to increase competitiveness.

Scientists are focusing on the five product groups with the greatest potential for Europe and delivering recommendations for overcoming innovation hurdles. The product groups were chosen based on criteria relating to breakthrough potential, socioeconomic benefits and environmental impact.

Four of the five product areas (bio-surfactants, biofuels for transport, bioplastics and chemical precursors to other products) exploit biomass. The fifth product group turns carbon dioxide from fossil fuel combustion such as that in exhaust gases at power plants into novel products.

An in-depth review of the technological barriers affecting the five sectors demonstrated a large overlap among research and development needs of the five businesses studied. The single most important hurdle was the lack of cost competitiveness of EU IB-derived products.

Both in comparison to similar products by other providers elsewhere in the world and to petroleum-derived products, EU IB-derived products are prohibitively more expensive. This is largely due to market conditions, feedstock supply/price issues and lower yields of IB products.

A preliminary roadmap or set of recommendations to overcome the hurdles was developed as was a framework of definitions, units and standards to facilitate data collection and discussions. In addition, researchers prepared a data collection toolbox to assess the socioeconomic and environmental impact of IB. Finally, a partnering platform available on the website helps link stakeholders, promote funding opportunities, set up meetings and conduct job searches.

BIO-TIC is fostering a positive environment for IB innovation in Europe. A better competitive position and faster development of new products will increase jobs for EU citizens and reduce the environmental impact of their work.