What is BECOTEPS?

BECOTEPS stands for "The Bio-Economy Technology Platforms join forces to address synergies and gaps between their Strategic Research Agendas". Nine European Technology Platforms (ETPs) active in the Knowledge-Based Bio-Economy (KBBE) sector are joining forces in this support action funded by the European Commission's Seventh Framework Programme. The overall objective of the project is to contribute to the creation of a strong KBBE in Europe. More information and contact details are available on BECOTEPS website.


Workshop 2: ‘Opportunities for new business concepts with the combined non-food biomass chains under the KBBE umbrella’.

Venue: Brussels, Crowne Plaza Brussels Airport Hotel
When: 7-8 October 2009
Participants: 40
Organiser: Forest-Based Sector TP, Andreas Kleinschmit, Ulla Vänttinen


The aim of the non-food value chain workshop is to bring together experts of the ETPs covering different aspects of the non-food chain, in order to define development opportunities and cross-sector research needs.

One outcome of the workshop will be the identification of similarities, differences and synergies between agricultural and forest biomass production and transformation value chains for non-food use . Collaboration and cooperation between stakeholders in the forest-based and agricultural biomass users are very limited within and between the two sectors with some exceptions like Agro-Forestry systems in the Mediterranean region. Increasing the cooperation between value chains and combined use of sustainable managed biomass in new applications will lead to the production of a new generation of added value products.

Traditionally the business models and the supply chain management are separated between the two sectors. Therefore one goal of the workshop will be the better understanding of the present boundaries and opportunities, as well as hurdles that hinder combined biomass production and utilisation. The understanding of the differences in the primary production processes and logistics of the two important biomass value chains, forest-based and agricultural, and needs and opportunities along these chains are the basis for elaborating ideas for new business concepts and models, including actions towards lead markets.