McKinsey: By 2010 Industrial Biotechnology Will Account for 10 Percent of Sales within the Chemical Industry -07/18/2006-

Mr Jack Huttner, from Genencor International (Danisco) and Chair of Europabio (European Association for Bioindustries) White Biotechnology Council, emphases the great potential expected of White biotechnologies, to create a “knowledge based sustainable bioeconomy”. (July 2006).

Network ERA - Industrial Biotechnology (ERA-IB)

Sixteen research organisations from twelve European countries have joined forces in the area of industrial biotechnology. The recent award made by the European Union to the network ERA Industrial Biotechnology (ERA-IB), is an essential contribution to improving Europe's competitive position. ERA-IB was launched in Brussels on 30 and 31 May 2006.

EU strategy on biofuels announced

The European Commission published an EU strategy on biofuels on February 8; 2006. This follows the Commission adoption of the Biomass Action Plan in December 2005 which proposes doubling the use of bio-energy sources (wood, wastes, agricultural crops) in the EU's energy mix by 2010. Currently, the EU meets about 4% of its energy needs from biomass. EuropaBio has set up a BioFuels Working group with a kick off meeting planned soon^. .

EU Commission Press Release
http://europa.eu.int/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/06/135&type=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en

Biofuels strategy background memo
http://europa.eu.int/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=MEMO/06/65&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en

EuropaBio Press Release
www.europabio.org

Commission launches study on the "Consequences, opportunities and challenges of modern biotechnology for Europe"

The European Commission’s Joint Research Center is to carry out a major impact study on modern biotechnology in Europe in 2006. The study will be carried out in collaboration with a consortium of four research institutes (TNO, Netherlands; MERIT, Netherlands; Georgia Tech Technology Policy Assessment Centre; USA, and Fraunhofer ISI, Germany). A first dialogue with stakeholders was held in Brussels on 11 January 2006.

Commission Press Release  http://europa.eu.int/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/05/1324&format=HTML&aged=0&language=en&guiLanguage=en
 

Building the Bioeconomy - a strong feature in FP7

Even if the budget deal brokered under the UK Presidency and endorsed by the European Council promises just a 75% increase in EU funding for research instead of the 100% requested by the Commission, the game is not over yet.  The Parliament is now negotiating how the budget will be divided between different research themes. EUR 2.5 billion was allocated to developing the "bio-based economy".  Will it remain?  The rapporteur hopes to submit his report to the full vote of the Parliament in June 2006.  The next few months will be crucial in making the case to maintain the bioeconomy budgetline.
http://europa.eu.int/comm/research/future/index_en.cfm

McKinsey publishes industrial biotech survey

Mc Kinsey have survey results available in which they report the main trends and drivers influencing industrial biotechnology over next twenty years. Contact Dirk Carrez for more information  (d.carrez@europabio.org)
 

The Industrial Biotech Finance Forum (IBFF) is a special initiative to bring together the key stakeholders in innovative industrial biotech venturing in Europe, and worldwide. The first event was held in Barcelona in December 2005 and the second one is planned for December 2006.  The event wants to foster dynamic industrial biotech entrepreneurship, innovation & growth by providing a unique and exclusive deal-making platform for VCs, strategic investors, corporate decision-makers, and leading industrial biotech CEO-entrepreneurs.

For more information about this event please visit http://www.e-unlimited.com.

For information on exclusive sponsorship & exhibition opportunities, contact E-Unlimited's CEO William Stevens at: william@e-unlimited.com or Tel: +32 2 644 65 80

The European Technology Platform for Sustainable Chemistry was launched in 2005. It is run jointly by CEFIC and EuropaBio, with the support of the European Commission. Technology platforms are a new instrument from the Commission, designed to improve EU research support for innovative, technology-based industries. As it evolves, the Sustainable Chemistry TP will consist of an inter-connected network of alliances and partnerships between industry, academia and other stakeholders.

The SusChem Platform includes three main pillars:

• Industrial Biotechnology
• Materials Technology
• Reaction and Process Design

Underpinning all three pillars is the Horizontal Issues group, which will tackle cross-cutting barriers and constraints which currently impede progress.

The platform published its Strategic Research Agenda in November 2005. An Implementation Action Plan will be ready for the forth SusChem stakeholders meeting (27th August 2006, Budapest).

Further information and SusChem documents on EuropaBio website or on SusChem website

OECD publishes bio-based economy survey

OECD has now published an on-line survey of stakeholders in the policy debate on the bio-based economy.
This can be accessed via this link.