Bioeconomy International: New Call for International Collaborative Research Projects

BMBF launched the latest call for joint international R&D projects that bring together German partners with partners from non-EU countries to develop solutions for a global bioeconomy.

In the context of the German government’s overarching National Bioeconomy Strategy, this funding initiative by Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung (BMBF – Federal Ministry for Education and Research) aims to promote international, collaborative research and development projects that significantly contribute to implementing the Bioeconomy on a global level.

The programme supports German organisations who wish to collaborate with partners from non-EU countries to develop novel solutions for a global bioeconomy. Foreign partners must make a binding financial commitment to the project.

To be considered for funding, the joint international projects must address at least one of the following topics:

  1. Biological knowledge as a key to the bioeconomy (microorganisms, algae, fungi, bacteria, insects etc).
  2. Converging technologies and cross-disciplinary collaboration (digitisation, artificial intelligence, nanotechnology, automation, miniaturisation etc).
  3. Limits and potential of the bioeconomy.
  4. Knowledge transfer to practical application (value networks etc).
  5. Bioeconomy and society (interactions, conflicting aims etc).
  6. Global research collaboration.

For the 2022 call, particular emphasis is placed on topic 1: biological knowledge as a key to the bioeconomy. Within this, the following types of projects are particularly encouraged:

  • Understanding and modelling biological systems.
  • Research and establishment of novel product organisms for primary production and industrial manufacturing.
  • Development and refinement of innovative biotechnological process concepts for bio-based manufacturing systems.
  • Sustainable production of biogenic resources.

Eligible for BMBF funding are institutions of higher education and non-educational research institutions in Germany, as well as German public institutions with research and development capacities and German commercial businesses and enterprises. The participation of small- and medium-sized businesses (SME) is particularly encouraged.

The maximum funding period is three years. Grants cover project-related costs including personnel costs, investments needed to conduct the project (eg equipment), consumables, travel expenses and sub-contracts.

Institutions of higher education as well as non-commercial research institutions are eligible for full funding. In line with AGVO guidelines, commercial partners are required to contribute to the project-related costs with personal contributions.

The scheme comprises a two-stage application process, with an initial invitation for outline proposals followed by the submission of a full, formal application for successful candidates.

The deadline for the submission of outline proposals is 14 December 2022 (13:00 CET).

(This report was the subject of a RESEARCHconnect Newsflash.)