Participation of the Region of Central Macedonia in the Bio-based Industries Consortium (BIC) bioeconomy platform
As a part of implementing the aims of BIOREGIO and strategic development of bio-based circular economy, the Region of Central Macedonia has recently joined the BIC Bioeconomy Platform - Bio-based Industries Consortium.
The operational planning for 2019-2021 of the National Strategy for Circular Economy in Greece foresees the funding and incentives for the support of circular economy. Especially, the efficient prioritization of waste management is one of the main long-term objectives (2030) for the country. To this end, the updated Regional Waste Management Plan for Central Macedonia sets as a target for organic agri-food waste and residues the “optimum utilization of their energy content”, while for the animal byproducts it aims to “processing according to a specific method in an approved processing plant for technical products, biogas or composting».
Moreover, the RIS3 Strategy of the Region sets out two relevant priorities for the sectors of "Energy Technologies" and “Environment”: for the former, the goal is to "enhance the production of renewable energy by exploiting the characteristics of the region and exploiting synergies with other value chains such as biomass", while for the latter is a turn towards "biomass production (either for production of compost or for energy utilization) and biofuels".
In this context, The Region of Central Macedonia (RCM) has recently joined the BIC Bioeconomy Platform, where more than 50 regions are already participating.
The Bio-based Industries Consortium (BIC) is the private partner in the €3.7 billion public-private partnership with the EU - the Bio-based Industries Joint Undertaking (BBI JU). Its membership includes 240+ industry members covering the whole value chain, from primary production to the market, across multiple and diverse sectors including agriculture & agri-food, aquaculture & marine, chemicals and materials, including bioplastics, forestry and pulp & paper, market sectors, technology providers and waste management & treatment. BIC’s membership also includes over 200 associate members such as research organisations, academia, regional authorities, trade associations, etc.
The BIC bioeconomy platform aims to connect European regions and the bio-based industry. The concept is based on a digital, partnering platform where regions and industry can make contact based on mutual interest. The platform focuses on creating local value chains and access to finance, namely helping regions and industry bridge the gap between bio-based investment opportunities and financial incentives at the regional level.
Under this participation, RCM aims at establishing collaboration with other European Regions that face the same challenges in the bio-based economy and get in touch with industries that can offer innovative solutions.
On the 3rd of July 2020, BIC organized a webinar “Connecting the bio-based industries and European Regions”. In this webinar, BIC guided attendees through the functioning of the platform and its benefits. Regions participating in the platform have presented the bio-based opportunities in their region and their involvement in the platform. The Region of Central Macedonia was one of the selected Regions. Finally, the European Committee of Regions (CoR), who officially supports the BIC platform, provided the closing intervention.
