Pilots4U was able to setup a visible, easily accessible network of open access pilot and multipurpose demo-infrastructures for the European bio-economy by means of an open DATABASE hosted on the Pilots4U website (
https://www.biopilots4u.eu/)(s’ouvre dans une nouvelle fenêtre): All infrastructures known to the consortium were contacted to list their pilot equipment in this asset database. The existence of the database was communicated widely in and beyond the combined network of the partners, both to asset owners and potential database users. This has been done through different tools and means e.g. an intensive social media campaign; promotional material; press releases; a video and participation in events. By the end of the project, the database contained 451 entries from 82 organisations in 20 countries and has roughly about 500 page views monthly. The ‘About us’ page also shows the number of database searches per week. The Pilots4U network covers the following technological bioeconomy disciplines, that are a translation of the bio-economy fields covered by BIC: algal cultivation, anaerobic digestion, chemical conversion, fractionation and purification, industrial biotechnology, material technologies, pulping, thermal conversion. All defined ‘bioeconomy technological disciplines’ have database entries. Possible mechanisms to keep the database and the network active after the project end were identified. Feedback on these mechanisms was asked during several Pilots4U workshops and roundtables, which resulted in the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Pilots4U Project Partners securing as such the continuation of the network until a new governance and financial model has been fully implemented.
Furthermore, the European capabilities in terms of open access pilot- and demo infrastructure were assessed, based on the database entries, and the knowledge of the consortium. To assure that the network meets the needs of the European bio-economy industry current European pilot and demo-capabilities were compared with the needs of the European biobased industry which were questioned using an online survey. Info from both exercises was used to deliver a gap analysis to identify deficiencies in the provision of bioeconomy scale up needs (from an equipment or skills perspective). The conclusions were presented and validated with a wide range of bioeconomy experts via a series of workshops and webinars.
The outcomes of the gap analysis and horizon scan workshops were used to gain an understanding of the most urgent/high priority needs and gaps, namely investment is:
1. New equipment assets to strengthen existing centres
2. Coordination actions that help pilot plants to maximise the exploitation of existing equipment and expertise
3. Knowledge generation to increase the expertise and tools available at existing European pilot centres.
Associated business cases for investment were developed to drive plans and actions required to bridge identified gaps. Each business case included a detailed explanation of the issue to be addressed, possible options available, benefits of the recommended solution and an estimation of the cost of each proposed intervention incl. potential funding routes.
