Coupons worth €10,000 each to help SME’s unlock potential of bio-based technologies

In the UK, the ‘Innovation Coupons’ scheme is being launched by Bio Base NWE, a new €6.2 million project funded under the INTERREF IVB NWE framework programme to support the development of the bio-based economy in North West Europe. Small and medium enterprises in North West Europe can apply for ‘Innovation Coupons’ worth up to €10,000 (£8,400) each to help them assess the feasibility of taking a bio-based idea or technology to industrial production. The coupons can be used to access the state-of-the-art technology and expertise of the Bio Base Europe Pilot Plant in Ghent, Belgium, and is open to any small and medium enterprise (SME) in North West Europe. The pilot plant is a flexible and multi-purpose facility, which can be used for developing a range of bio-based products and processes. Technologies being tested at the plant include biorefining, biomass pre-treatment, biocatalysis, fermentation, downstream processing and green chemistry.