Bio-based Industries Joint Undertaking

The Committee on Industry, Research and Energy adopted, in the framework of a special legislative procedure  (consultation of Parliament), the report by Lambert van NISTELROOIJ (EPP, NL) on the proposal for a Council regulation on the Bio-Based Industries Joint Undertaking.

The committee approved the Commission proposal subject to the following amendments:

BBI Joint Undertaking: Members wanted to make it clear that in order to take account of the duration of the Horizon 2020 Framework Programme for Research and Innovation (2014-2020), all calls for proposals should be launched by 31 December 2020.

Objectives: the BBI Joint Undertaking should have the following objectives:

·        addressing the research and innovation priorities laid down in Horizon 2020;

·        accelerating economic growth and increasing employment, in particularly in rural areas and areas with large biomass resources and potential for developing bio-based products;

·        promoting the involvement of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs);

·        promoting large and small scale technology solutions that will accelerate their use at all levels of the bio-materials value chain, and supporting innovation and the pursuit of new sources of growth that make it possible to take full advantage of intellectual capital;

·        contributing to the development of interregional and transnational cooperation;

·        setting up flagship biorefinery plants that deploy the sustainable technologies and sustainable business models for bio-based materials, chemicals and fuels;

·        ensuring that the outcomes of research into innovative bio-economy technologies are communicated to all entities, including individual farmers.

Scope of activities: Members inserted a new article to clarify the scope of activities of the Joint Undertaking, in particular with respect to the relevant Technology Readiness Levels covered by its research programme. The Rules on Participation also call for a greater consideration of the Technology Readiness Levels concept in relation to funding levels, which is taken up in this article with a view to the funding rates used in indirect actions.

Financial contribution: the maximum Union contribution, including contributions from countries of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), to the BBI Joint Undertaking to cover administrative costs and operational costs should be EUR 950 million (rather than EUR 1 Billion in the Commission proposal). The contribution should be paid from the appropriations in the general budget of the Union allocated to the Horizon 2020 Framework Programme and in particular from appropriations allocated to the specific objectives "Leadership in enabling and industrial technologies" and "Food security, sustainable agriculture and forestry, marine, maritime and inland water research, and the bioeconomy"

Additional activities carried out by private members: while the additional activities to be carried out by private members are a welcome addition to the leverage effect of the JTI, they should not be subject to auditing. Additional activities should be planned and carried-out accordingly, determined clearly as in-kind contributions, and reported on annually.

Evaluation: by 30 June 2017 the Commission shall organise an independent interim evaluation of the BBI Joint Undertaking. The results of the independent interim evaluation of the Bio-Based Industries Joint Undertaking should be taken into account in the interim evaluation of Horizon 2020.

In order to respond to unforeseen situations or to new developments and needs the Commission may, following the interim evaluation of Horizon 2020 review the budget of the Bio-Based Industries Joint Undertaking within the annual budgetary procedure.

Rules for participation and dissemination: work plans of the BBI Joint Undertaking may derogate from the Rules for Participation laid down in Horizon 2020 in order to facilitate and encourage the participation of specific types of participants, namely by limiting the allocation of funding to SMEs, universities, non-profit research organisations, the JRC, and European interest organisations.

In accordance with the principles of transparency and non-discrimination, calls for proposals organised by the BBI Joint Undertaking shall be published on the web-based Horizon 2020 Participant Portal.

Duty to divulge information: the report contains a new provision stating that Members of the staff of the Joint Undertaking, the Executive Director, and members of the Governing Board shall, without delay, report such fraud as might have come to their knowledge in the performance of their duties or office in OLAF provided that this disclosure does not render them liable to prosecution.

Coordination: the Commission should ensure constant coordination between the activities of Horizon 2020 and the activities of the BBI Joint Undertaking by regularly identifying possible complementarities and synergies and by implementing a formal coordination process to fine-tune research priorities.