topic Hightech Strategy

ERA-Net Industrial Biotechnology

The ERA-Net Industrial Biotechnology (ERA-IB) was launched in 2006. The European Commission provided initial funding for the network's activities for a period of five years. Funding was approved for another five years in 2011.

The network's objective is to improve cooperation between and the coordination of research and development activities that occur at national or regional level in the Member States or in associated states of the European Union. ERA-IB is a joint initiative of 19 research funding organizations in 13 countries whose work is devoted to industrial biotechnology. The ERA-IB represents a step towards realizing a knowledge-based bioeconomy in Europe.

ERA-IB partners are committed to strengthening cooperation and the coordination of research funding and administration. The first joint call for proposals for transnational R&D projects was announced in 2007. It included eight research projects with a total funding volume of about 10 million euros over a period of three years. A second call was announced in 2009. The BMBF is also contributing to this. The participating funding organizations will provide the ten projects selected with funding of 11 million euros.

A third joint call for proposals was issued at the end of February 2012. The deadline for submission of pre-proposals was 30 April 2012. Full proposals were to be submitted by 31 July 2012. The projects selected for funding are scheduled to start in early 2013.