New coupon scheme to boost bio-based technologies in Europe

Small and medium enterprises in north west Europe can apply for Innovation Coupons to help them assess the feasibility of taking a bio-based idea or technology to industrial production.

The  coupon scheme is being launched by Bio Base NWE, a new €6.2 million ($8.1 million) project funded under the INTERREF IVB NWE framework programme.

A coupon, each worth up to €10,000, can be used to access the state-of-the-art technology and expertise of the Bio Base Europe pilot plant in Belgium. There are only 50 available.

The pilot plant is a multi-purpose facility, which can be used for developing a range of bio-based products and processes in areas like biorefining, biomass pre-treatment, biocatalysis, fermentation, downstream processing and green chemistry.

‘The UK has excellent process development and scale-up facilities, helping companies move bio-based research concepts towards commercial reality,’ says Adrian Higson, head of biorefining at NNFCC and UK representative for the project. ‘But now through the Bio Base NWE project we’re increasing the options open to UK companies by providing access to Europe's best facilities and networks.’

The call for requests is now open and will close at the end of March 2015.