TRUSTxBio: Empowering Trust and Innovation in Biofuels and Bioenergy Challenge
Now accepting applications
As part of the European Technology Innovation Platform for Bioenergy (ETIP-Bioenergy), the Center for the Study of Democracy (CSD) and Research Institutes of Sweden (RISE.) are organising a biofuels and bioenergy innovation challenge - TRUSTxBio: Empowering Trust and Innovation in Biofuels and Bioenergy Challenge.
The Challenge endeavours to engage stakeholders from the research and innovation communities of bioenergy in a collaborative effort to increase the use bioenergy and biofuels, fostering higher social acceptance of these technologies and enhancing transparency and trust.
Applications are now open and will be reviewed on a rolling basis. The application deadline is 8 September 2024.
Selection of candidates
The challenge is open to all innovative concepts, including products, technologies and solutions, that are developed beyond the research stage and fall under one of the technologies or value chains in the scope of ETIP Bioenergy, for example:
- novel technologies harnessing established or new types of feedstock;
- improving or developing conversion technologies;
- making entire value chains more efficient or sustainable, etc.
Applications are welcome both from individual businesses or institutions (e.g. research organisation, university etc.) and from teams formed of two or more entities. All applicants must be registered in the EU.
Challenge stages
Application stage
All applications will be reviewed by an internal selection committee, which will assess the relevance of the concepts against the challenge goals. The most promising concepts will move onto the next stage where teams will be equipped with a library of materials to help participants further enhance their ability to present and promote their concepts.
Presentation of concepts
All teams will then present their concepts to a Jury of experts, which will assess the concepts using a more detailed set of criteria, including technological readiness, sustainability, innovativeness and societal readiness considerations. The Jury will select the finalist teams that will then proceed to the next stage.
Finalists
All finalists will be awarded by ETIP and will be able to present their innovation during an international conference in March 2025 in Brussels, Belgium. They will be able to pitch their concepts to attract further funding from financing institutions. All participants will be provided with additional details about the prize during the challenge.
Recognition and follow-up
All challenge participants will receive feedback on their concepts from the jury members to enable them to further develop their ideas. After the challenge completion, they can continue building on the links established during the competition through:
- Mentoring opportunities from ETIP members and experts;
- A dedicated working group focused on pressing issues identified by the participants;
- A targeted newsletter from ETIP, covering interesting events, networking opportunities and industry developments.
The winner will have the chance to pitch their concept to a leading funding institution in Europe.
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Early applications are encouraged.