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News Alert Brussels, 03 September 2008 €57 million for multidisciplinary research into biorefinery Infoday and brokerage session – September 16th, 2008 The European Commission is today issuing a call to boost multidisciplinary research on biorefineries. Biorefineries can convert biomass into energy (second generation biofuels, heat and electricity) and value-added products (chemical building blocks, materials). Their development, foreseen by the Lead Market initiative, is expected to contribute to the implementation of the European Energy & Climate Package and the sustainability of biofuels production. Biorefineries will be also an important feature in the Bio-energy Europe Initiative which is being prepared under the European Strategic Energy Technology Plan. Some €57 million has been allocated to the call. " The idea of sustainable biorefineries is compelling both politically and from the research point of view" , said Commissioner for Research, Janez Potocnik. " Biorefineries have been described as part of the backbone of the knowledge based bio-economy. As well as the benefits in terms of renewable energy and fuels, a fully developed biorefinery model could give a real asset for the European economy with new competences, jobs and markets." Large, multi-disciplinary, collaborative projects are being called upon to address the entire value chain from the production of biomass, logistics, intermediary processing steps and its conversion into end-products. The proposed biorefineries will demonstrate their performance, life-cycle sustainability and feasibility at least at pilot scale in an integrated approach. The joint call also includes a coordination action aimed at enhancing the exchange of information, synergies and cross-fertilization between on-going activities in the field of biorefineries . This joint call engages four Themes of the Cooperation Specific Programme and two Directorates General ( DG Research and DG Transport and Energy). The one-day information event on September 16 th, will be opened by the European Commissioner for Science and Research Janez Potočnik and will also feature a brokerage session. There, participants will be allowed to present a "flash" 5 minute presentation related to a project idea, their competence in the field, or their interest in joining a consortium. For further information on the joint call: Infoday: You can meet biorefinery experts engaged in the preparation of proposals WHEN? What? Who? Where? More information on this event, including registration form : If you want to participate please register before the 11 th September 2008 by sending the registration form duly completed to RTD-BIOREFINERY-JOINT-CALL@ec.europa.eu |