CBE JU-funded SCALE biorefinery's photobioreactors
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The recently published evaluation report commissioned by the European Commission on the Circular Bio-based Europe Joint Undertaking (CBE JU) highlights the partnership’s pivotal role in advancing Europe’s green transition under the Horizon Europe framework. Completed in June 2024, the report assesses CBE JU activities since 2014 against multiple criteria, including relevance, efficiency, effectiveness, and EU-added value. The findings underscore CBE JU's significant contribution to Europe’s bio-based sector, positioning it as a cornerstone of the EU's sustainable industrial strategy.
A public-private partnership at the heart of the EU’s bio-based economy
Described as an ‘innovative public-private partnership model’, CBE JU has been instrumental in driving Europe’s bio-based economy forward. The evaluation report praises the public-private partnership as a key enabler of the European Green Deal, emphasising its capacity to attract private investments and foster multinational collaborations.
The CBE JU is an innovative public-private partnership model that serves as the cornerstone of the European Union's bio-based economy.
‘The leverage effect demonstrated by the CBE JU highlights its ability to attract private investments that surpass the initial public funding, [… underscoring the partnership’s role] in amplifying the scale and reach of its initiatives,’ the report states. With a leverage factor of approximately €2 of private contribution per €1 of EU funding in BBI JU-funded projects, CBE JU has shown remarkable success in mobilising private sector engagement, further extending the impact of its projects beyond initial funding.
Enabling industrialisation
The evaluation report underscores CBE JU’s critical role in enabling the industrialisation of bio-based innovations, which will enable sustainable production and consumption while creating jobs in Europe. ‘By evaluating project continuity, the scale of industry investments following project completion, and the proliferation of innovative biorefineries across Europe, it becomes clear that CBE JU has been essential in transitioning from initial project successes to widespread industrial application.’
The nature of the partnership is qualified as essential to the progress in industrialisation: ‘CBE JU’s collaborative framework, which effectively integrates both public and private sector partners, has ensured a relentless focus on scalability and replication. This approach has been instrumental in preventing stagnation and fostering a seamless transition from pilot projects to full-scale industrial operations, thereby amplifying the impact of bio-based innovations throughout the European market.’
CBE JU has been essential in transitioning from initial project successes to widespread industrial application.
Driving innovation and market readiness through SME participation
CBE JU’s support to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) has been a critical factor in its success. The report highlights that SMEs benefiting from CBE JU funding have been pivotal in driving innovation, bridging gaps, and facilitating market readiness for bio-based solutions, thus enhancing their impact within the European bio-based economy.
Regarding the participation of small businesses, the report notes that ‘between 2014 and 2020, SMEs received 37% of the funding, representing 40% of all beneficiaries and comprising two-thirds of the private organisations involved in the projects. These participation rates of SMEs exceed their rate in Horizon 2020 by far. While this difference is probably partly due to the more industry-related calls, the high effort by CBE JU to address and include SMEs is obviously successful.’
The partnership’s initiatives have supported technological advancements and strengthened market adoption of sustainable products, particularly through high-impact projects like flagship biorefineries.
Effective outcomes
The report complimented CBE JU's cost-effectiveness, noting that ‘the CBE JU has demonstrated a high level of cost-effectiveness in its operations, with efficient performance that ensures timely support and funding for stakeholders.’ This operational effectiveness has enabled the partnership to meet and exceed key performance indicators, fostering an environment where innovative bio-based solutions can thrive.
‘The partnership has been effective. Most of the targets of the KPIs of the previous BBI JU have already been achieved during the set periods,’ the report states, reflecting the significant progress CBE JU has made in driving Europe’s bio-based sector towards maturity.
Enhancing EU added value through collaborative networks
CBE JU’s impact goes beyond national and regional boundaries, facilitating multinational collaboration crucial for higher Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs) projects. The report underscores: ‘The CBE JU provides significant EU added value. The impact goes beyond what could be achieved at regional or national levels. Implementing research and innovation projects in such quantity, especially those in higher TRL stages, would not have been possible without the partnership.’
By supporting research and innovation networks, CBE JU has played a vital role in building consortia that include diverse stakeholders—from industry and academic institutions to research organisations and civil society. ‘CBE JU significantly fosters the formation of R&I networks. By providing financial support to collaborative projects, the partnership encourages the establishment of consortia that consist of diverse stakeholders,’ the report elaborates.
The CBE JU provides significant added value to the EU. The impact goes beyond what could be achieved at regional or national levels.
Looking ahead: CBE JU’s growing role in Europe’s bio-based future
As the steward of Europe's bio-based economy, CBE JU’s future role is set to become even more instrumental. ‘It has the potential to shape a future wherein the bio-based economy contributes substantially to the prosperity of Europe and the resilience of its environment, forging a sustainable, inclusive, and economically viable pathway forward,’ the report concludes.
The evaluation report positions CBE JU not just as a funding body but as a strategic leader driving Europe’s green transition. Its commitment to transparency, inclusivity, and international collaboration continues to set a strong foundation for the bio-based sector’s growth and integration into Europe’s broader industrial landscape.