Dutch Consortium Spearheads Plans for Bio-Based Economy

Focus on Environment, Bio-Refineries, and Worldwide Cooperation

The Dutch government, biotech industries and universities have launched a new initiative designed to foster cooperation and move toward a bio-based economy.  BE-Basic’s (Bio-Based Ecologically Balanced Sustainable Industrial Chemistry) research and development program aims to stimulate innovation and accelerate introduction of new technologies.

BE-Basic is a multi-faceted approach designed to build an economy on renewable resources. Components include:

• Environment – Research will focus on products such as biochemicals, biomaterials and biofuels, and the effect their production has on the environment.
• Bio-Refineries – Plans call for a multi-purpose research facility, suited for both current and future technologies.
• Worldwide – BE-Basic will include European and global industrial, academic and financial partners. The alliance will also form part of the Climate Knowledge and Innovation Community, a North European initiative to introduce the bio-based economy into the chemical, materials and energy sectors.

Coordinated by TU Delft, the initiative includes an R&D budget of more than €120 million, half of which is funded by the Dutch Ministries of Finance and Economic Affairs.

Source: Be-Basic

February 2, 2010