TASC Eco-efficient Use of Biomass for Bulk and Fine Chemicals Production (TA-Biomass)

The TASC Innovation Programme (Technology Areas for Sustainable Chemistry) is a public-private partnership programme under NWO/ACTS. It comprises the four separate Technology Areas (TA):

• Low Energy Routes to Bulk Chemicals (TA-Low Energy Routes);
• Eco-efficient Use of Biomass for Bulk and Fine Chemicals Production (TA-Biomass);
• Syngas, a Switch to Flexible New Feedstock for the Chemical Industry (TA-Syngas);
• Comprehensive Analytical Science and Technology (TA-COAST).

This call for proposals is related to TA-Biomass.

Currently, many efforts are directed at converting biomass into sustainable fuels, chemicals and energy. Despite notable advances in the field, many challenges still have to be addressed. Although biorefineries are increasingly becoming reality, full valorization of the renewable feed to a palette of products is not yet within reach. Similar to current oil refinery operations, highly integrated biorefineries fully optimized for energy efficiency and resource utilization have to be developed. (Bio) catalyst development, feedstock and process characterization and biomass recovery and fractionation have been identified as major technological barriers for the realization of the full potential of the biorefinery.

The TA-Biomass is structured around five themes: 1) Hard-to-convert feedstocks,
2) N-compounds, 3) Furan chemistry, 4) Chiral molecules and 5) Terpenes.

These topics will be studied with five defined integrative approaches:

• Chemocatalysis & Biocatalysis;
  • Non-Noble Metals
  • Novel Enzymes
• Analytical science in relation to catalytic biomass conversion (in collaboration with TA-COAST);
• Recovery and fractionation;
• Non-classic catalytic technologies.

Who can apply

Group leaders (assistant, associate, or full professors) at a Dutch university or NWO approved research institute can apply. Each project consortium must include at least two private partners and one knowledge institute. Private partners cannot receive funding and are considered as co-applicants.

More information on the terms and conditions for application can be found in the call for proposals.

What can be applied for

• The maximal governmental subsidy that can be requested per research proposal is k€ 600. Private contributions in excess of k€ 300 are welcome but shall not be eligible for matching by governmental subsidy;
• The grant can be used for temporary personnel (PhDs and postdocs only), consumables (fixed amount) and equipment related to the research proposal;
• The project should employ at least one researcher for at least two years;
• Only in exceptional cases may the grant be used to purchase highly specific equipment that is solely applicable in the context of the research proposal. Motivation and specification is necessary and will be evaluated. The maximum eligible equipment costs to be considered for governmental subsidy is k€ 147;
• The grants are paid as a lump sum once per year over the duration of the grant. Personnel costs are subsidized in accordance with the most recent Agreement on Employers' responsibilities NWO-VSNU.

When can be applied

• Closing date for submitting preliminary proposals was 12 January 2012, 23:59 hrs
• Closing date for submitting full proposals was 12 April 2012, 23:59 hrs

Extra Information

• The private partners in the project contribute in total a minimum of 1/3 of the total expenses to the project;
• SME companies (in Dutch MKB: midden- en kleinbedrijf) shall contribute a minimum of 1/3 of the partner’s contribution to the project in cash. In-kind contributions in excess of 2/3 of the SME’s contribution are not eligible for matching of the requested subsidy. Note, the overhead and networking costs (management costs) cannot be matched by in-kind contributions;
• Each private partner (non-SME) contributes largely in cash (minimum of 7/10 of the private partner’s total contribution to the project). In-kind contributions in excess of 3/10 of the private partner’s contribution are not eligible for matching of the requested subsidy. Note that the overhead and networking costs (management costs) cannot be matched by in-kind contributions;
• In-kind costs contributed by private partners may comprise:
  • man hours (up to a maximum of € 100/hour);
  • materials;
  • (use of) equipment.

More information on the in kind contributions of private partners in TASC and the IPR framework (Dutch only) can be found in the call for proposals (annexes 6.3 and 6.4). Translations in English can be downloaded here.

Criteria

The following assessment criteria apply:

• Fit to the scope of TA-Biomass;
• Scientific quality of the proposal;
• Quality of the consortium;
• Valorisation potential.

Procedure

• The pre-proposals will be assessed by a Technology Area (TA) committee;
• The TA-committee checks the pre-proposals against the description of the scope of the programme and provides –if of relevance- the applicants with advice to improve their application;
• Applicants are notified about the results of the pre-proposal phase.
• The full proposals will be assessed by a R&D Review Committee (RRC);
• Applicants will be given the opportunity to respond to the review of the RRC in writing with a rebuttal;
• A final ranking of the proposals will be drafted by the RRC considering all arguments, including the applicant’s rebuttal.

The Executive Board of ACTS will take a decision on the allocation of funds based on the funding recommendations of the RRC.

Committees

The pre-proposals will be assessed by a Technology Area committee. This TA-committee is composed of experts from academia and the private sector.

The full research proposals will be assessed by an independent, international R&D Review Committee consisting of academic/private sector scientists with relevant expertise. The composition of the committee will be posted on the programme website after the decision making process has been completed.

Budget

The TA-Biomass’ budget in this first call will be circa M€ 3 (M€ 2 subsidy from government, M€ 1 to be funded by cash and in-kind contributions from private partners (industry, research institutes, SMEs), plus implicit matching in-kind contributions from knowledge institutes (NWO definition, mainly universities)).

Financiers

The TASC Programme, and thus TA-Biomass, is co-funded by the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Agriculture & Innovation, by NWO and by the participating private partners.

Contacts

• Dhr. M.J.T. Schmets MSc.
  phone: +31 (0)70 344 05 37, e-mail: m.schmets@nwo.nl