International dimension of the circular bio-based economy: seeking win-win opportunities

Expected Outcome:

Project results are expected to contribute to all of the following expected outcomes:

• improved multi-level governance capable of anticipating a changing world and enabling a just sustainable transition for all, as related to the potential of bio-based innovation and industry in the global bioeconomy to deliver on multilateral climate and biodiversity targets;

• improved stakeholder engagement and trust, related to the global dimension of sustainable bioeconomy, with a focus on circular bio-based solutions and approaches with reduced carbon footprint as well as biotechnology, biomanufacturing and biorefining.

Scope:

This topic is in line with the Commission communication on: Building the future with nature: Boosting Biotechnology and Biomanufacturing in the EU, the Life Sciences Strategy, the EU Biotech Act, the Clean Industrial Deal, the upcoming EU Circular Economy Act, the policies related to the fair green transition (i.e. EU Green Deal ambition of leaving no one behind) as well as the EU global commitments on climate change and biodiversity.

Proposals should:

• analyse bottlenecks and opportunities (in terms of measurable socio-economic and environmental impacts) of the international cooperation in sustainable and fair/just bio-based circular innovation, identifying key interested players active in this area, including the European circular bio-based industry, international organisations (e.g. OECD, FAO, Global Bioeconomy Summit) and like-minded international partners, civil society actors). The focus should be on actions in selected key areas (including, but not limited to biorefining[1], biotechnology[2], biomanufacturing, environmental applications, international biomass trade analysis, circularity of bio-based economy, intellectual property (IP) aspects, global infrastructure mapping, etc). This should take into account the diversity of approaches, perspectives and initiatives in non-EU contexts (e.g. G20 work on bioeconomy), in view of effective international cooperation and dialogue on circular and fair bio-economy/bio-based economy;

• develop an inclusive and transparent networking approach to support stakeholder engagement and international dialogue (via existing structures, platforms, bioeconomy databases and dashboards[3], and other instruments[4]), considering the role of the governance actors, propose suitable trust-building measures (e.g., co-creation, sharing of best practice, mutual learning), aiming at the global common challenges and win-win solutions, with impact on sustainable economic development, UN SDGs[5], climate and biodiversity);

• prepare a roadmap for next steps of international cooperation in this area, provide recommendations to policy makers on national and regional level, and other interested stakeholders (e.g., industry), propose solutions to ensure long-term impact, including by linking to existing activities and by applying suitable digital means (e.g., webinars, scientifically robust social media use, etc.).

Proposals are encouraged to work together with relevant initiatives including those of the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (Knowledge Centre for Bioeconomy, Bioeconomy Monitoring System, etc.).

Synergies with activities under the Circular Bio-based Europe (CBE) Joint Undertaking and International Bioeconomy Forum as well as Global Bioeconomy Summit are encouraged.

This topic should involve the effective contribution of Social Sciences and Humanities (SSH) disciplines.

International cooperation is strongly encouraged, in particular with South Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean.

[1] With focus on bio-based materials and chemicals. In case bioenergy is considered, it should be covered in the frame of the cascading use of biomass and ensuring synergy with Horizon Europe Cluster 5.

[2] With focus on industrial, agro-food, environmental or marine biotechnology sectors. In case health biotechnology is considered, ensure synergy with Horizon Europe Cluster 1.

[3] e.g. DataM - Bioeconomy - European Commission

[4] Among others, European Circular Economy Stakeholder Platform, Circular Cities and Regions Initiative, Circular Bio-based Europe Joint Undertaking, etc.

[5] In particular SDG 8, 9 and 12.