The Bio-based Industries Consortium (BIC, Brussels / Belgium; www.biconsortium.eu) has released a practical guide to help organisations that are looking to invest in the bio-economy. The report – "Access to EU financial instruments suitable for the implementation of large bio-based industry Investments" – gives a breakdown of applicable instruments and co-funding opportunities, ranging from debt and equity to quasi-equity financing and grants. "Bio-economy investments are crucial to reduce Europe’s dependence on non-renewable resources and to make our economy more sustainable," said Dirk Carrez, BIC’s executive director.

BIC explained that since its 2014 report, the funding landscape for bio-based projects has changed. In 2015, the European Commission launched its "Investment Plan for Europe", the so-called "Juncker Plan". This plan has three objectives: remove obstacles to investment, provide visibility and technical assistance to investment projects and make smarter use of financial resources.

In June 2017, the European Investment Bank (EIB, Luxembourg; www.eib.org) published a study on access to finance. The report was compiled in collaboration with BIC and its members.

BIC said its new report factors in these changes to raise awareness of the funding that is now available, especially for demonstration and flagship investments. The financial mechanisms discussed include "BBI JU/Horizon 2020" grants, "EIB/InnovFin", the "European Fund for Structural Investments" (EFSI), "European Structural and the Investment Funds" (ESIF) and the "Circular Bioeconomy Thematic Investment Platform" (TIP). The report also includes information on other sources of funding such as the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD, London / UK; www.ebrd.com).

e-Service:
"Access to financial instruments suitable for the implementation of large bio-based industry investments" (December 2017) as a PDF file