Note that interested companies must apply no later than December 20, 2019.
Mission Objective
The bioeconomy sector is a key priority in both Canada and Germany.
This mission will focus on introducing Canadian companies that have strong R&D expertise and capacity in this sector to potential leading German partners for the purpose of R&D collaboration.
The mission will focus on establishing industrial R&D collaborative opportunities (specifically to technology validation, adaptation and co-development projects) between Canadian and German companies.
Canadian Delegation Profile
Canadian participants should meet the requirements below in order to benefit from this initiative:
- Profit-oriented small and medium size enterprise incorporated in Canada;
- Previous experience in commercializing technology for domestic or international markets;
- Capacity and interest to co-develop technology with German partners;
- Committed to expansion to the German and European market; and,
- Sufficient working capital and human resources to undertake a multi-year R&D collaboration and commercialize results.
Mission Description
The Canadian Bioeconomy Mission will take place over a 5-day-period. Elements of the mission will include:
- Partnering event providing the opportunity to present company activities and R&D project ideas;
- Tailored B2B meetings with German companies and/or research centres to identify matching interests, potential partners and consortia;
- Site visits to meet with German bioeconomy key stakeholders, companies and research organizations.
Local partner in this mission include the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), Project Management Jülich (PTJ), which is delivering the International Bioeconomy Program on behalf of BMBF, and the German Biomass Research Centre (DBFZ). The mission is supported by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC).
The partnering event will take place at the DBFZ facilities in Leipzig, Saxony; the visit program will include key regions of commercial activities and R&D in bioeconomy.
Areas of focus for the Canadian Bioeconomy Cooperative R&D Partnering Mission to Germany could include:
- High-value added products from biorefinery systems:
- Innovative side-products from cascade utilization of waste streams;
- Optimization and scale-up of modern bio-products;
- Metabolic engineering for bio-based products such as high value chemicals, composites and plastics.
- Sustainability in agriculture and securing future food production:
- Securing food production and production of biomass for industrial use by novel smart agricultural production systems and breeding approaches;
- Improved abiotic and biotic stress tolerance of agricultural production systems;
- Innovative high tech approaches for sustainable agricultural production systems.
Bioeconomy in Germany
Bioeconomy is defined as a sustainable and circular approach to using biological resources, implying also the substitution of fossil carbon.
Germany’s strategy closely aligns with efforts in the EU and focuses on the industrial use of renewable raw materials, biomass based energy supply, healthy and safe food, sustainable agricultural production, and solutions to meet the global food challenge.
The principle of cascading is applied, i.e. priority is given to higher value uses before the energetic use.
By 2018, the European bioeconomy sector grew through public and private investments to an economy worth EUR 2,300 billion, providing 18.6 million jobs: 49% is attributed to the food and beverage sector, 27% to agriculture, forestry & paper, 8% to chemicals & pharmaceuticals, 3% to bioenergy and biofuels, and 3% to textiles.
Bioeconomy clusters developed in many parts of Germany, given the decentralized set-up of R&D and industry, and as a result of existing industrial activities and the availability of biomass, value-chains, and markets.
One of these clusters is located in the eastern part of Germany in the Leipzig region, which is a centre of agricultural production, chemical industry, power generation and biorefinery R&D.
The German Biomass Research Centre (DBFZ) was established in 2008 as a federal research centre and with a focus on application-oriented R&D on the energetic and integrated material use of renewable raw materials.
DBFZ is engaged in many international projects, including with Canada.
Financial Support for Travel to the Mission
The Canadian International Innovation Program (CIIP) may provide financial support to eligible participants for 50% of all eligible expenses (see application process below) such as:
- Economy airfare
- Local transportation
- Meals & accommodation
How to Apply for Participation
- Interested companies should request an application from Bruno Wiest (bruno.wiest@international.gc.ca), Senior Officer (Science and Technology) at the Embassy of Canada in Berlin. In your request, please provide a brief summary of your company. A full application form requesting additional information on your company, your technology and your interest in discussing possible R&D opportunities will be sent to you;
- Completed application forms are due no later than December 20, 2019 to Bruno Wiest in Berlin (bruno.wiest@international.gc.ca);
- The Embassy of Canada in Berlin and NRC-IRAP will select companies to participate in the mission. Selected applicants can expect to be notified no later than January 20, 2020;
- Companies formally selected to participate in the mission will be invited to apply for travel funding support. Interested participants should request a travel funding form from Bruno Wiest (bruno.wiest@international.gc.ca);
- Companies who have applied for travel support will be notified of the funding decision no later than February 7, 2020.
Note: Participation is limited. Applications submitted will be assessed to determine the eligibility of the applicant to participate in this R&D mission based on the quality of the information provided in regards to the technology and the appropriateness of the technology for the target CIIP market.
Canadian International Innovation Program (CIIP)
Global Affairs Canada in collaboration with the National Research Council Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC-IRAP) delivers the Canadian International Innovation Program (CIIP) in Germany.
CIIP supports industrial R&D collaborations between Canadian SMEs and companies in key markets, including Germany.
REFS
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