The BBI JU

The Bio-based Industries Joint Undertaking (BBI JU) was officially established under EU Council Regulation No 560/2014 of 6 May 2014. It is an independent legal entity that manages the public-private partnership (PPP) between the European Commission and the Bio-based Industries Consortium (BIC). 

BBI JU Governance

The Governing Board is the main decision-making body of the BBI JU. It is composed of five representatives from the European Commission and five representatives from BIC.

The Executive Director, supported by the Programme Office, is responsible for the day-today management of the BBI JU, supported by two advisory bodies, the States Representative Group and the Scientific Committee.

The BBI Programme Office is responsible for the implementation of open calls for proposals for research and innovation actions and innovation actions, as well as coordination and support actions, in line with the Horizon 2020 rules for participation. Any eligible institution may become a participant or a coordinator in the selected projects.

More information can be found on the BBI JU website

BBI JU Calls for proposals

The topics for the BBI JU Annual Work Plans are developed by the BIC Programming Working, following consultation of the two advisory bodies of the BBI JU, the States Representatives Group (SRG) and the Scientific Committee (SC), and agreement with the European Commission. The topics cover the 4 strategic orientations of the SIRA:

Strategic orientation 1: Feedstock

  • Biomass diversification: ‘beyond lignocellulose’
  • Resource efficiency: use ‘waste’ (various sources)

Strategic orientation 2: Process

  • Cascading
  • Keep ’complexity’ in biomass
  • Novel microbial and enzymatic activities

Strategic orientation 3: Products

  • New/additional functionality
  • Novel, breakthrough bio-based products
  • Protein and other high value products
  • Bio-based fertilising products
  • Value added lignin products

Strategic orientation 4: Market uptake

  • ICT to improve efficiency of biomass supply chain
  • Partnership with brand owners & consumer representatives

Detailed information can be found on the BBI JU website.

2017 Call

BIC finalized the Annual Work Plan 2017 (AWP 2017) with topics for the 2017 Call end of November 2016. The BBI JU Governing Board approved the AWP 2017 in December 2016.

The 2017 call was launched on 11 April 2017 and will be closed on 9 September 2017. BIC members (Full and Associate) have the benefit of defining the detailed topics and pursuing opportunities for consortia and project proposals via the BIC partnering platform as of October 2016.

The AWP 2017 moves away from a strict biomass feedstock ‘push’ based on the traditional value chains, towards a demand for biomass to enable processing to respond adequately to a ‘pull’ from the end markets. All four Strategic Orientations are covered, with the following topics:

Strategic orientation 1: Feedstock

  • BBI 2017.R1 – Valorisation of gaseous side streams from bio-based operations into chemical building blocks’
  • BBI 2017.D1 –Valorisation of liquid and solid side streams from bio-based operations into high added-value products to create new feedstock for bio-based products
  • BBI 2017.D2 – Integrated multi-valorisation of algae into advanced materials and high added-value additives

Strategic orientation 2: Process

  • BBI 2017.R2 – Innovative technologies for the pre-treatment and separation of lignocellulosic feedstock and complex composition streams into valuable fractions while maintaining key characteristics
  • BBI 2017.R3 – Exploiting extremophiles and extremozymes to broaden the processing conditions to convert biomass into high-value building blocks
  • BBI 2017.F1 – Integrated ‘zero waste’ biorefinery utilising all fractions of the feedstock for production of chemicals and materials

Strategic orientation 3: Products

  • BBI 2017.R4 – Proteins and other bioactive ingredients from side streams and residues
  • BBI 2017.R5 – Novel bio-based chemical precursors to improve the performance of mass consumption products
  • BBI 2017.R6 – Competitive biodegradable, compostable and/or recyclable bio-based plastics for a sustainable end-of-life phase
  • BBI 2017.R7 – Novel secondary bio-based chemicals without significant fossil-based counterparts but with high application potential
  • BBI 2017.D3 – Breakthrough primary bio-based chemicals without significant fossil-based counterparts but with high marketability/li>
  • BBI 2017.D4 – Innovative bio-based fertilising products to increase the sustainability of fertilising practices in agriculture
  • BBI 2017.D5 – Advanced bio-based fibres and materials for large-volume applications
  • BBI 2017.F2 – Large-scale production of proteins for food and feed applications from alternative, sustainable sources

Strategic orientation 4: Market uptake

  • BBI 2017.S1 – Establish cooperation and partnership with brand owners and consumer representatives to improve the market access of sustainable bio-based products
  • BBI 2017.S2 – Identify opportunities for ICT to increase the efficiency of biomass supply chains for the bio-based industry

In terms of Technology Readiness Level, the above topics represent:
7 Research & Innovation Actions (RIA)
5 Innovation Action - Demonstration Actions
2 Innovation Action - Flagship Actions
2 Coordination & Support Actions (CSA)

The total available budget is 81 M€. More information for applicants can be found in the document BBI JU – FAQs for Call 2017

2016 Call

Launched on 19 April 2016, the €189 million call for proposals closed on 7 September 2016.

A total of 103 proposals were submitted in response to the 2016 Call. The number of proposals for each type of action is shown below:

  • CSA - 7 proposals
  • RIA – 70 proposals
  • IA – Demo - 20 proposals
  • IA – Flagship – 6 proposals

28 successful BBI JU projects have been launched in 2017:

3 Coordination and Support Actions (CSAs)

  • BiOPEN: Open innovation platform addressing strategic cross-cutting challenges
  • Pilots4U: A network of bioeconomy open access pilot and multipurpose demo facilities
  • RoadToBio: Roadmap for the Chemical Industry in Europe towards a Bioeconomy

15 Research and Innovation Actions

  • ABACUS: Algae for a biomass applied to the production of added value compounds
  • AFTERLIFE: Advanced Filtration TEchnologies for the Recovery and Later conversIon of relevant Fractions from wastewater
  • BARBARA: Biopolymers with advanced functionalities for building and automotive parts processed through additive manufacturing
  • BioBarr: New bio-based food packaging materials with enhanced barrier properties – BioBarrier
  • BIOSEA: Innovative cost-effective technology for maximizing aquatic biomass-based molecules for food, feed and cosmetic applications
  • BIOSMART: Bio-based smart packaging for enhanced preservation of food quality.
  • ECOXY: Bio-based recyclable, reshapable and repairable (3R) fibre-reinforced EpOXY composites for automotive and construction sectors.
  • MAGNIFICENT: Microalgae As a Green source for Nutritional Ingredients for Food/Feed and Ingredients for Cosmetics by cost-Effective New Technologies
  • PERCAL: Chemical building blocks from versatile MSW biorefinery.
  • POLYBIOSKIN: High performance functional bio-based polymers for skin-contact products in biomedical, cosmetic and sanitary industry
  • RefuCoat: Full recyclable food package with enhanced gas barrier properties and new functionalities by the use of high performance coatings
  • ReSolve: REnewable SOLVEnts with high performance in application and improved toxicity profile
  • SHERPACK: Innovative structured polysaccharides-based materials for recyclable and biodegradable flexible packaging
  • SSUCHY: Sustainable structural and multifunctional bio-composites from hybrid natural fibres and bio-based polymers
  • VALUEMAG: Valuable Products from Algae Using New Magnetic Cultivation and Extraction Techniques

9 Demonstration projects

  • BIOMOTIVE: Advanced BIObased polyurethanes and fibres for the autoMOTIVE industry with increased environmental sustainability
  • Dendromass4Europe: Securing Sustainable Dendromass Production with Poplar Plantations in European Rural Areas
  • EMBRACED: Establishing a Multi-purpose Biorefinery for the Recycling of the organic content of AHP waste in a Circular Economy Domain
  • EUCALIVA: EUCAlyptus LIgnin VAlorisation for Advanced Materials and Carbon Fibres
  • GRACE: GRowing Advanced industrial Crops on marginal lands for biorEfineries
  • LigniOx: Lignin oxidation technology for versatile lignin dispersants
  • OPTISOCHEM: OPTimized conversion of residual wheat straw to bio-ISObutene for bio based CHEMicals
  • SYLFEED: From forest to feed: enable the wood industry to bridge the protein gap
  • URBIOFIN: Demonstration of an integrated innovative biorefinery for the transformation of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) into new BioBased products (URBIOFIN)

1 Flagship

  • PEFerence: From bio-based feedstocks via di-acids to multiple advanced bio-based materials with a preference for polyethylene furanoate
2015 Call

The 2015 Call for Proposals, worth €206 million in funding from the BBI JU and additional industry investment, was split into two parts:

  • 2015.1 - Flagship Call: Launched on 19 May 2015, the €100 million Call focused on three Flagship topics – lignocellulosic feedstock, valorisation of cellulose and innovative processes for sugar recovery and conversion from municipal solid waste.

Two flagship projects kicked of in 2016:

  • BIOSKOH: Innovation Stepping Stones for a novel European Second Generation BioEconomy
  • EXILVA: Flagship demonstration of an integrated plant towards large scale supply and market assessment of Microfibrillated cellulose

2015.2 - Research and Innovation Actions, Demonstration and Support Actions: Launched on 25 August 2015, the second part of the 2015 Call worth €106 million in funding focused on Demonstration Actions and Research and Innovation Actions.

The first 3 BBI Coordination and Support Actions (CSAs) were launched in 2016:

  • BioCannDo: Bioeconomy Awareness and Discourse Project
  • BIOCOM: Increase public awareness of bio-based products and applications supporting the growth of the European bioeconomy
  • STAR4BBI: Standards and Regulations for the Bio-based Industry

11 RIA Projects kicked off:

  • BIOrescue: Enhanced bioconversion of agricultural residues through cascading use
  • EFFORTE: Efficient forestry by precision planning and management for sustainable environment and cost-competitive bio-based industry 
  • EnzOx2: New enzymatic oxidation/oxyfunctionalization technologies for added value biobased products 
  • HYPERBIOCOAT: High performance biomass extracted functional hybrid polymer coatings for food, cosmetic and medical device packaging
  • InDIRECT: Direct and indirect biorefinery technologies for conversion of organic sidestreams into multiple marketable products
  • LIBBIO: Lupinus mutabilis for Increased Biomass from marginal lands and value for BIOrefineries
  • LIBRE: Lignin Based Carbon Fibres for Composites
  • MACROCASCADE: Cascading Marine Macroalgal Biorefinery
  • NEOCEL: Novel processes for sustainable cellulose-based materials
  • TECH4EFFECT: Techniques and Technologies for Effective Wood Procurement
  • Zelcor: Zero Waste Ligno-Cellulosic Biorefineries by Integrated Lignin Valorisation

8 DEMOs received BBI JU funding:

  • AgriMax: Agri and food waste valorisation co-ops based on flexible multi-feedstocks biorefinery processing technologies for new high added value applications
  • BIOFOREVER: BIO-based products from FORestry via Economically Viable European Routes
  • DEMETER: Demonstrating more efficient enzyme production to increase biogas yields
  • FUNGUSCHAIN: Valorisation of mushroom agrowastes to obtain high value products
  • GreenProtein: Revalorisation of vegetable processing industry remnants into high-value functional proteins and other food ingredients
  • GreenSolRes: Demonstration of solvent and resin production from lignocellulosic biomass via the platform chemical levulinic acid
  • LIPES: Life Integrated Process for the Enzymatic Splitting of triglycerides
  • PULPACKTION: Optimised moulded pulp for renewable packaging solutions
2014 Call

Launched on 9 July 2014, the first Call for Proposals resulted in the BBI JU approving funding for ten bioeconomy projects worth a total of €120 million. To fund its share of the projects, the European Commission released €50 million of EU public money, which was combined with an industry contribution of €70 million.

Seven research projects focus on replacing fossil-based materials and products with biobased solutions:

  • CARBOSURF: Using fermentation processes to produce biosurfactants and speciality carbohydrates
  • GreenLight: Producing fibres and polymers from lignin for innovative light-weight applications
  • NEWFERT: Nutrient recovery from waste streams and residues for fertilizer production
  • PROMINENT: Protein mining of cereal side-streams exploring novel technological concepts
  • PROVIDES: New sustainable pulping technologies
  • SmartLi: Smart technologies for the conversion of industrial lignins into fibres and polymers
  • US4GREENCHEM: Pre-treatment of lignocellulosic feedstock as substrate for sugar based biotechnological applications

Two grants were awarded for demonstration projects:

  • PULP2VALUE: Processing underutilized low value sugar beet Pulp into value added products - A biorefinery system for sugar beet pulp that will extract valuable biochemicals for use in detergents, personal care, oil and gas, paints and composites
  • ValChem: Value added chemical building blocks and lignin from wood - An economicallyviable process to transform wood into chemicals

One flagship demonstration project will develop a first-of-a-kind value chain:

  • FIRST2RUN: Flagship demonstration of an integrated biorefinery for dry crops that will convert underutilised oil crops into oleochemicals