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EC Research Priorities in the Area of Bio-based Products
Laurent Bochereau
Head of Science, Technology and Education Section
European Commission Delegation to the US
Minneapolis, 20 August 2007
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l The European Knowledge-based Bioeconomy
l Recent EC Policy Developments
l EC Research Priorities within FP7 (2007-2013)
l EC-US Research Cooperation Initiatives
l Challenges and Open Questions
Outline
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r
MAP EUROPE
27 EU Member States
~ 500 million inhabitants
1957- Treaty of Rome
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The European Union
¾ The first economic institutions were based on energy
(such as coal and nuclear), industry (such as steel) and
agriculture.
¾ Today, progress in Europe depends on knowledge and
innovation (the Lisbon process) including the bio-
sciences.
¾ The concept of an European Knowledge Based Bio-
Economy is emerging.
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What is the Knowledge-Based Bio-Economy?
The knowledge base: Advances in Life Sciences and Biotechnologies in convergence with
other technologies such as nanotechnologies, chemistry, information technologies..,
The Bio- Economy: Includes all industries and economic sectors that produce, manage or
otherwise make use of biological resources including bio-waste.
The European bio-economy has an approximate market size of over €1.5 trillion,
employing more than 22 million people
Sector
Annual turn-over
(billion €)
Employment
(million)
Data source
Food
800
4.1
CIAA
Agriculture
210
15
COPA-COGECA
Paper/Pulp
400
0.3 direct (4 ind.)
CEPI
Forestry/Wood industry
150
2.7
CEI-BOIS
Industrial Biotech.
50 (est.)
McKinsey*
Total
1610
22.1
* estimated to be 10 % of sales within the chemical industry accounting for €125 million by 2010
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What are the drivers of a
Knowledge-Based Bio-Economy?
•
Improved health
¾ Food with improved nutritional value, increased food safety, new
treatments, diagnosis and vaccines against human and animal diseases ,
improved animal feeds…
• Sustainability and a cleaner environment
¾ Energy and water saving production and processes in agriculture and
industry ; decrease dependency