From biomass to bioenergy, materials and products: boosting the EUs bioeconomy through cross-border collaboration
10 October 2013, 9am-1.30pm
An official side event of the ’11th European Week of Regions and Cities’.
Venue: Welsh Higher Education Brussels, Wales House, Rond-Point Schuman 11, B-1040 Brussels
The transition to a bio-based economy is a major challenge facing Europe, but one that promises significant sustainability benefits. Confidence in the sector is demonstrated by high levels of investment by the EC in collaborative RTD initiatives that aim to accelerate the development of technologies for biomass utilisation. But can Europe really develop a sustainable and economically viable bio-based economy in line with policy requirements to reduce our reliance on fossil and non-renewable resources? Using examples from four collaborative initiatives sponsored through the INTERREG IVB NWE programme, this seminar will consider how cross-border collaboration is helping to focus future actions for bioenergy and bio-product development, including side benefits of greenhouse gas mitigation and bioremediation. Examples are provided from the NW Europe region but provide a platform for broadening the discussion to other EU regions.
Key findings will be presented from the INTERREG IVB NWE projects EnAlgae (www.enalgae.eu), BioenNW (www.bioenergy-nw.eu), ARBOR (www.arbornwe.eu) and Bio Base NWE (www.bbeu.org). Invited presentations from DG Energy and DG Research and Innovation will set the policy landscape. A facilitated, structured discussion will be used to explore opportunities and needs in the sector in areas including biotechnology RTD, transnational and regional policy interactions, cross-border innovation and business development. The findings shall contribute to the recommendations for sectoral development that each of the projects will be making. The event will conclude with a networking reception.
Registration is free and you can reserve your place here.
PROGRAMME
09:00-09:30 Registration and refreshments
09:30-09:40 Welcome: Ruut Louvers, Director, INTERREG IVB North West Europe
09:40-09:55 BioenNW: Professor Hornung (TBC)
09:55-10:10 ARBOR: Speaker name TBC
10:10-10:25 Energy from algae: opportunities and barriers to uptake: Adrian Higson (NNFCC, representing the EnAlgae project)
10:25-10:40 From biomass to products: Bio Base NWE supports cross-cutting innovations for a prosperous, green economy: Lieve Hoflack (Bio Base NWE)
10:40-10:55 DG Energy response: Kyriakos Maniatis
10.55:-11:10 DG Research and Innovation response: Eveline Le Coq
11:10-11:35 BREAK
11:35-12:20 Discussion panel: Lara Dammer, nova-Institut GmbH; Kyriakos Maniatis, DG Energy;Eveline Le Coq, DG Research and Innovation; additional names TBC
