The Bio-based Industries Consortium (BIC) has published its Annual Report 2019, presenting the highlights of its work over the past year. BIC and its members continued their engagement with policymakers to support the development of an innovative and sustainable bio-based economy in Europe.
2019 was an important year with an impressive amount of achievements. You can consult a few examples below or download the full report to find out more.
|
Pioneering the first joint industry Vision for a circular bio-society in 2050 & the next SIRA – SIRA 2030 Together with fifteen other European associations from multiple and diverse sectors, and with additional input from scientific experts and national ministries via the BBI’s States Representatives Group (SRG), we have finalised the Vision for a circular, bio-based society in 2050, in which Europe will have a sustainable and competitive bio-based industry providing jobs and growth contributing to a circular bio-society. BIC members, together with these stakeholders, have also developed the Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda (SIRA) for the next BBI (at the moment called CBE, a partnership for a Circular Bio-based Europe). |
 |
 |
Securing progress on the next public-private partnership for the bio-based industries To garner support at national level, the BIC team, in collaboration with some BIC members, made political visits to 12 European capitals including Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Lithuania, Italy, Poland and Romania. BIC members also mobilised in support of the EU consultation and impact assessment on CBE, the findings of which were positive and in favour of an institutional public-private partnership for the bio-based industries. |
|
Developing new services exclusively for BIC members Based on the needs of our membership, new studies commissioned by BIC were published or are in the pipeline, including several country reports on the bio-based potential in Central and Eastern Europe, one on the availability of municipal solid waste in Europe, and another producing guidelines to quantify the bio-based sector’s contribution to SDGs. On top of this, a new digital platform to connect BIC industry members and regions and help stimulate bio-based investment has been launched. |
 |
 |
Aligning educational and bio-based industrial needs Education has also become an important topic on our radar. BIC hosted the first-ever European final of the Bio-based Innovation Student Challenge Europe (BISC-E) at our annual gathering of BIC industry members, where winners from five national contests competed. BISC-E seeks to promote breakthrough innovation in the bio-based sector between some of Europe's most promising BSc & MSc university students. |
|
Implementing a holistic communications strategy We have also implemented a brand new communications strategy, including a refreshed weekly newsletter, the launch of an updated member area, including a members-only news portal, and several new brochures, amongst other actions. Let’s also not forget our successful Twitter account (more than 6000 followers!) and a relaunched LinkedIn company page. |
 |
