€3.8 billion EU-industry investment in bio-based industries
Today 48 companies joined forces with the European Commission to set up an unprecedented Public-Private Partnership (PPP) for bio-based industries. The PPP brings together €3.8 billion to advance the bioeconomy in Europe. The European pulp and paper industry is a strategic partner in this PPP, with 13 of the 48 member companies from the sector as well as CEPI (Confederation of European Paper Industries) as an associate member.
The PPP combines €1 billion of public support from the European Commission’s Horizon 2020 programme with €2.8 billion of industry investment. The initiative will create new markets and value chains for bio-based products, bringing jobs and growth to Europe. Today European Commission President José Manuel Barroso launched the Bio-based Industries PPP as part of the European Innovation and Investment Package.
Applauding the European Commission’s initiative, CEPI Director General Teresa Presas said: “CEPI has worked hard to help make the PPP become reality. It is a great initiative. This support for innovation and demonstration is much needed. It keeps investments in Europe and helps realise our industry’s future”.
The PPP will capitalise on Europe’s research leadership to bring solutions to commercial scale via pilot and demonstration projects. It brings different industry sectors together to optimise and create new value chains. Equally, the PPP is set to boost growth and jobs especially in rural areas.
Biorefineries are at the heart of this development. Unlike conventional fossil refineries that use finite fossil sources, biorefineries use various sources of sustainable biomass and waste to produce everyday products. The biorefinery concept is well placed in the pulp and paper industry, which already constitutes a large part of the bioeconomy in terms of volume and value.
The industry’s expertise in forestry, recycling, wood chemistry and fibre processing provides a unique and strategic opportunity in this initiative. The pulp and paper sector’s focus on value creation from raw materials is leading to new products such as bio-chemicals, bio-composite materials and second-generation biofuels.
*** END ***
For more information, please contact Daniela Haiduc at , mobile: +32 473 562 936
Note to the Editor
European Commission ‘Innovation and Investment package’ announcement:
Press release: http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-13-668_en.htm
Factsheet: http://ec.europa.eu/research/press/2013/pdf/jti/bbi_factsheet.pdf
About the Bio-based Industries PPP (BBI)
The BBI is a new Joint Technology Initiative (JTI) or Public-Private Partnership between the EU and the Biobased Industries Consortium (BIC) to realise the bio-based economy vision.
A major public and private effort
• €3.8 billion investments in bio-based innovation from 2014-2020 (Horizon 2020)
o €1 billion of EU funds leveraging €2.8 billion of private investments
Key objectives
• Leverage Europe’s bio-based research and technology
• Develop the under-utilised potential of agriculture and forestry residues
• Replace oil-based chemicals and materials with biodegradable and bio-based ones
• Generate new industries, revitalise others, and create thousands of jobs
• Diversify and grow farmers’ incomes.
About the Biobased Industries Consortium (BIC)
BIC is an association that was established in 2012 to collectively represent the private sector partners in the Public-Private Partnership with the EU. The Consortium started with 40 European member companies (large and small) and is set to grow over time. It also includes associate memberships comprising RTOs, universities and European trade associations. It is host to a unique mix of sectors including agriculture, agro-food, technology providers, forest-based sector, chemicals and energy.
13 pulp and paper producers are member of the BIC: BillerudKorsnäs, Borregaard, ENCE, Holmen, Metsä, Mondi, Norske Skog, SAPPI, SCA, Smurfit Kappa, Södra, Stora Enso and UPM.
Website: www.bridge2020.eu
About CEPI aisbl – The Confederation of European Paper Industries
The Confederation of European Paper Industries (CEPI) is a Brussels-based non-profit organisation regrouping the European pulp and paper industry and championing industry’s achievements and the benefits of its products. Through its 18 member countries (17 European Union members plus Norway) CEPI represents some 520 pulp, paper and board producing companies across Europe, ranging from small and medium sized companies to multi-nationals, and 950 paper mills. Together they represent 24% of world production.
Website: http://www.cepi.org