The starting point for the ERIFORE project was to map Europe’s research and pilot plant facilities for advanced biobased products within and outside the project consortium. This extensive study reviewed current state-of-the-art of infrastructures for all steps in the value chain: from the forest biomass, processing, separation and purification up to conversion into products. Capability check and bottleneck analysis revealed that ERIFORE consortium consisting of 13 partners has a significant set of complementary capabilities in the form of knowledge, skills and infrastructure. The main research fields and technology areas related to forest biorefinery value chains are well covered by the partners, but there are also notable research and innovation facilities outside the ERIFORE consortium.
The project has outlined some main opportunities to enhance the utilisation of open access research and innovation infrastructures:
1) improved awareness of the available capabilities and facilities,
2) better coordination and cooperation in use and development of the facilities, and
3) enhanced integration of relevant research fields and technology areas for the development of new biorefinery concepts.
Promotion of research integration and cooperation with supporting funding and policy activities, and coordination of the available capabilities and facilities are crucial to foster the development of scientific and technological advancements.
Utilisation of forest biomass to new value added products require the combined understanding of the whole development chain, from biomass sourcing, composition, its deconstruction and further conversions to products. Future biorefinery concepts will go beyond of how biomass is used today. This is directly reflected in the infrastructure needs to realize excellent research, innovations and the most up-to-date education that are required for industrial renewal.
The main result of the ERIFORE design study project is the action plan to become a distributed research infrastructure on the ESFRI roadmap in 2020. The ERIFORE Infradev-1 project has produced the first drafts for (1) business plan and activities, (2) governance model and structure and (3) financing and investment plans of the distributed research infrastructure. Next phase of the ESFRI planning will more carefully address the preconditions for the RI long-term sustainability and secure formal commitments from both Members (countries) and Partners (RI owning RTOs and universities).
Preparation for ESFRI Roadmap submission (2018-2019) The plan is to submit an ESFRI project application for the next up-date of the ESFRI roadmap for 2020. The lead-up to submission has to be used to mature the business plan and in particular to ensure adequate commitments from the main stakeholders being national governments and other policy makers, partner organisations and related scientific and industrial interest groups.
ESFRI project: preparation phase (2020-2022) Having achieved ESFRI project status, it will be a continuous task to build awareness through informing and engaging stakeholders.
From ESFRI project to landmark: implementation and operational phases (from 2023 on) Eventually all legal and contractual arrangements are ready for the distributed RI to become operational. The aim is to ensure that the distributed RI remains at the forefront of science and technology to offer the European research community and industry best opportunities to stay competitive in transferring scientific discoveries into novel concepts, products and services.
