Support Action to a common agricultural and wider bioeconomy research agenda

Deadline: Feb 17, 2016  
CALL EXPIRED

Topic Description

To consolidate a common agricultural and wider bioeconomy research agenda that enhances cooperation, coordination, and information exchange between the Member States.

Improve the alignment and interoperability of national research programmes in the Societal Challenge 2 domains; broaden the participation of the different strategic and collaborative working groups, ERA-NETs, and JPIs; stimulate and maintain the interest of relevant countries not yet fully involved; improve the overall organisation communication and dissemination activities underpinning a common agricultural and wider bioeconomy research agenda.

Submission of a single proposal is highly encouraged. In terms of geographical coverage, the consortium should be representative of the EU Member States and Associated Countries. Entities in EU Member States and Associated Countries not covered by the consortium should be identified and the reasons for not participating in the Consortium explained in the proposal. Representatives of or experts nominated by legal entities in charge of national research and innovation programmes and policies in the Societal Challenge 2 domains from these countries are nevertheless invited and encouraged to participate in the project activities (e.g. workshops), and the costs incurred by the consortium for such participation (e.g. travel costs) may be included in the estimated budget and be eligible for funding by the Commission.

The Commission considers that proposals requesting a contribution from the EU between EUR 1 and 2 million would allow this specific challenge to be addressed appropriately. Nonetheless, this does not preclude the submission and selection of proposals requesting other amounts.

The research agenda should support the development of the bioeconomy in the European Research Area, based on a comprehensive analysis of EU wide national and regional financial and human bioeconomy capacities, including the barriers to greater alignment and interoperability across borders for the benefit of building up:

• A detailed and robust picture of the EU strengths and weaknesses in the common agricultural and wider bioeconomy research and innovation fields;
• identification of potential measures to support the development of the bioeconomy in the European Research Area;
• a more efficient European Innovation Partnership (EIP) on Agricultural Productivity and Sustainability and Agricultural/Bioeconomy Knowledge and Innovation Systems.

This activity directly aimed at supporting public-public partnerships with Member States and associated countries, technology platforms with industrial partners and earth observation networks is excluded from the delegation to REA and will be implemented by the Commission services.