Bio-based Industries Joint Undertaking
PURPOSE: to establish a public-private partnership called the BBI Joint Undertaking for the implementation of the Joint Technology Initiative on Bio-based Industries, in order to strengthen industrial research and innovation in the EU.
NON-LEGISLATIVE ACT: Council Regulation (EU) n° 560/2014 establishing the Bio-based Industries Joint Undertaking.
CONTENT: the Framework Programme for Research and Innovation, Horizon 2020, supports public-private partnerships in research and innovation in order that the Union might tackle certain key challenges.
This Regulation aims to establish a new Joint Undertaking (JU) for the implementation of the Joint Technology Initiative on Bio-based Industries for a period up to 31 December 2024.
The BBI JU is a body entrusted with the implementation of a public-private partnership. Its seat will be located in Brussels, Belgium.
The founding members of the BBI Joint Undertaking should be the Union and the Bio-based Industries Consortium (BIC), a non-profit organisation whose members cover the entire bio-based value chain and consist of large industries, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), regional clusters, European trade associations, and European Technology Platforms.
In order to take into account the duration of Horizon 2020, calls for proposals under the Joint Undertaking must be launched at the latest by 31 December 2020 (in duly justified cases, by 31 December 2021). Calls for proposals will be published on the single portal for participants as well as through other Horizon 2020 electronic means of dissemination managed by the Commission.
The rules for participation and dissemination of the Horizon 2020 programme will apply to the JU.
Objectives of the JU: the BBI JU will contribute to the implementation of Horizon 2020. It will contribute to the objectives of the BBI Initiative of a more resource efficient and sustainable low-carbon economy and increasing economic growth and employment, in particularly in rural areas, by developing sustainable and competitive bio-based industries in Europe based on advanced bio refineries that source their biomass sustainably. Those activities should be carried out through collaboration between stakeholders along the entire bio-based value chains, including primary production and processing industries, consumer brands, SMEs, research and technology centres and universities.
To achieve maximum impact, the BBI Joint Undertaking should develop close synergies with other Union programmes in areas such as education, environment, competitiveness and SMEs, and with the Cohesion Policy funds and Rural Development Policy.
Funding: the Union financial contribution to the JU shall come from Horizon 2020 and amount up to EUR 975 million. The members of the BBI Joint Undertaking other than the Union shall make a total contribution of at least EUR 2 730 000 000 of which in kind contributions will be at least EUR 1 755 000 000.
The Commission may terminate, proportionally reduce or suspend the Union’s financial contribution to the JU or trigger the winding-up procedure if members other than the Union, including their constituent entities and affiliated entities, do not provide contributions.
The Regulation contains provisions that aim to ensure the protection of the financial interests of the Members.
The discharge for the implementation of the budget of the JU shall be given by the European Parliament, upon recommendation of the Council in accordance with the procedure provided for in the financial rules of the BBI JU.
Evaluation: by 30 June 2017 the Commission shall carry out, with the assistance of independent experts, an interim evaluation of the JU. It shall send that report to the European Parliament and to the Council by 31 December 2017. The results of the interim evaluation shall be taken into account in the interim evaluation of Horizon 2020.
BBI JU’s mandate will end on 31 December 2024 and the JU will be wound up.
ENTRY INTO FORCE: 27.06.2014.