BBI2019.SO3.R10 – Develop bio-based high-performance materials for various and demanding applications
Background
This is a topic in the 2019 work programme of the Biomass Based Industries Joint Undertaking which was launched in April 2019. The deadline for submitting proposals to this call is September 4th 2019, with the results expected by the end of the year and projects expected to start in 2020.Celignis is an SME that was spun-out from an EU research project (the FP7 advanced biofuels project DIBANET) that was written and coordinated by Celignis's founder Daniel Hayes. It has now been five years since the end of that project and over that time Celignis has grown in size and reputation and now occupies a valuable niche as being the premier analytical provider to clients in the biomass sector. We provide a wide range of compositional analysis services and bioprocessing expertise to a diverse array of customers (including SMEs, multinationals, and universities) looking to utilise biomass feedstocks, residues and wastes for the production of biobased products, biofuels, and energy.
But we have not lost sight of the importance of science and in advancing the start of the art. We were born from pioneering research and we are still passionately committed to playing our part in advancing the bioeconomy. As a result we continue to be highly active in European research projects and are particularly excited by the calls presented in the 2019 BBI work programme.
Celignis is a partner in 2 ongoing BBI projects, BIOrescue and UNRAVEL. These are RIA (Research and Innovation Action) projects. Click here to read more about our involvements in these BBI projects. Celignis is also a partner in an Innovation Action (i.e. Demonstration scale) BBI project that is currently in the Grant Agreement stage and is expected to start in September 2019. In addition to these BBI projects, Celignis is also a partner in the Horizon 2020 Coordinating and Supporting Action project ENABLING. As we are a spin-out company from an EU research project we are well-versed in the preparation of proposals and in the implementation of projects.
Below we present a summary of this topic and indicate how Celignis could be a valuable project partner. Click here to see more details on our relevant expertise as well as summaries of how we can contribute to the other topics in the 2019 BBI work programme.
Contributions Celignis can Make to BBI2019.SO3.R10
- End of life testing - Celignis personnel can undertake a range of analysis methods to investigate the biodegradability of the products of this project. These tests can follow OECD guidelines (e.g. OECD301, 302, 306, 310 or equivalent methods) and determine both ready and inherent biodegradability.
- Accelerated ageing tests - We can undertake a range of accelerated ageing tests using an accelerated weathering chamber.
Specific Challenge of BBI2019.SO3.R10
High-performance applications often demand stable materials that, for example, can withstand temperature variations or are resistant to salt or to degradation by enzymes. Moreover, society increasingly demands products and applications that are sustainable and that can improve the environment in their entire life cycle (during their use and at their end of life).The demand for high-performing, safe and sustainable bio-based materials exists today in market sectors as diverse as cosmetics, personal care, home care, packaging, coatings, resins and paints, additives, fibres, insulation, automotive, construction and others. The requirements for their functional capabilities and end of life may, however, differ.
The specific challenge is to identify and make available high-performance bio-based products for market applications that demand specific performance in use and in the end-of-life phase.
Scope of BBI2019.SO3.R10
Develop bio-based products with high functional qualities for specific market applications that cannot be met by currently available fossil-based products and can improve the environment in their entire life cycle (in their use and in their end-of-life phase).Proposals should include successful testing of the developed products to efficiently prove that they offer the required performance in the targeted application(s). To that end, the developed products’ end-users should be involved to accurately define the required performance and properties and the approaches to forced ageing tests.
While the functional (technical) requirements of the bio-based products are dictated by the end products, their required end-of-life qualities depend on the use of the end products and their potential risk of environmental burden.
Depending on the targeted application(s) and use, proposals should: (i) determine the functional requirements of the developed products; (ii) prove that the products meet those requirements; and (iii) show that the products do not burden the environment in their entire life cycle including their end-of-life phase.
This topic includes any bio-based feedstock, provided it can be sourced in a way that is sustainable both from an environmental and an economic perspective.
Proposals should address all requirements for RIA as shown in Table 3 in the Introduction.
The technology readiness level (TRL) at the end of the project should be 4-5 for the bio-based value chain in question. Proposals should clearly state the starting and end TRLs of the key technology or technologies targeted in the project.
Industry participation in the project would be considered as an added value because it can play a supportive role to demonstrate the potential for integrating the developed concepts and technologies into current industrial landscapes or existing plants so they can be deployed more quickly and scaled up to apply industry-wide.