ERA-Net on the Blue Bioeconomy (BlueBio) – Unlocking the Potential of Aquatic Bioresources
Overview
The 1st Transnational Call for research proposals under the ERA-NET Bluebio is now open. BlueBio aims at achieving a sustainable and competitive Blue Bioeconomy in Europe. The goal is to generate knowledge for Blue Bioeconomy value chains and improve the transfer of bio-based products and services from research, innovation and demonstrations to production scale implementing the multi-actor-approach. BlueBio contributes to the production of safe, nutritious and valuable bio-products and services, while applying the food first principle. BlueBio launches calls to attract projects that work on the use and value-added of aquatic biomass in integrated value chains from primary production to processing, generating innovative products and services within the bioeconomy.
Proposals may be submitted under four priority areas as follows:
Priority area 1: Exploring new bio-resources
Priority area 2: Exploring improvements in fisheries and aquaculture
Priority area 3: Exploring synergies across sectors
Priority area 4: Exploring Biotechnology and ICT
Funding
The Cofund is being coordinated by Norway and consists of 28 partners from 16 countries with an estimated fund of €29.25m. The main objective of the Cofund is to establish a coordinated Research and Development funding scheme that will strengthen Europe’s position in the blue bioeconomy.
The funding available for Irish partners is 1,500,000 Euro, which is being supported by the Marine Institute and Science Foundation Ireland. A summary of the National Funding Guidelines are published on the BlueBio ERA-NET website. Any queries relating to the Call should be sent to funding@marine.ie or the nominated National Contact Points listed in the BlueBio call documents. For further information regarding SFI’s engagement, please contact eu-cofund@sfi.ie.
Key Dates
Closing Date for Pre-Proposals - 17 March 2019 at 13:00 Central European Time (12 noon Irish Time).
A brokerage event was held in Norway on 30 January 2019.
Please refer to the Ireland National Rules, which requires Irish partners to complete and submit the Ireland National Process Form to funding@marine.ie by 17th March 2019 12 noon (one per proposal). Two Information Sessions were held on 12th February in the Marine Institute HQ in Galway and 14th February in Dublin. The National Rules for Ireland and the National Process form can be found on the Marine Institute website.