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Commercial Success of ECLAIR Programme
Overview - 8. ECLAIR in the Context of European Research and Development |
Preface
Executive Summary
Overview
1. Introduction
2. Information Collection
3. Assessment of Commercial Success
4. Sectors, Technology and Markets
5. Industrial Participation
6. Impact of Science and Technology on Commercial Development
7. Political and Legislative Environment
8. ECLAIR in the Context of European Research and Development
9. Conclusions
8. ECLAIR in the Context of European Research and Development
The ECLAIR initiative occurred at a time when the (then) EC was facing increasing problems associated with agricultural surpluses. ECLAIR was seen as one route to reducing these, by encouraging the use of agricultural products as industrial raw materials. This need changed somewhat due to modifications in support systems brought about by the reform of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) at around the time the programme ended. However, the concept gained strength, both within the European Commission (EC) and within Member States, while industry also increased use of natural products as raw materials. The EC followed up the ECLAIR programme with similar activities under both the third and fourth framework programmes. In both cases these new RTD programmes included participation of DG XII (Research), DG VI (Agriculture) and DG XIV (Fisheries), with non-food activities recognized as one sector of broader agricultural and food programmes. The activity continues under the Fifth Framework programme.
AIR (Agriculture and Agro-Industry including Fisheries Programme of Research and Technological Development) was funded as part of the Community's Third Framework Programme (1991 - 1994). It brought together all of the agriculture, horticulture, forestry, fishery, aquaculture, and related food and non-food activities, jointly managed by the Commission services of DGXII E-2 (Agro-Industrial Research), DGVI FII-3 (Agricultural Research) and DGXIV C-2 (Fisheries Research). The main objective was again to help primary production adapt and respond to changing Community policies, linking the primary production sector with the agro-industrial processing sector. The programme was organized into four distinct scientific and technical areas covering: primary production, inputs to agriculture, horticulture, forestry, fisheries and aquaculture, processing of biological raw materials and end use. In fact, this programme was funded at a much higher level than ECLAIR, reflecting the increasing interest in opportunities to reduce dependence on imports of oil and paper-pulp; improve the environment through the reduction of local air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions; and meet the increasing consumer demand for renewable and natural products. The increased budget permitted a wider range of non-food activities, extending to biomass for energy, as well as pulp and paper, forestry and forest products. ECLAIR-type activities continued to be funded in areas such as Green Chemicals and Polymers (which comprised 4 clusters - bioconversion, oils and fats, specialty chemicals and bioplastics), as well as Inputs for Non-Food Crops and Non-Food Demonstration activities.
FAIR (Agriculture and Agro-Industry including Fisheries Programme of Research and Technological Development) continued the previous AIR activity within the Fourth Framework programme (1994-1998). The detailed organisation changed, reflecting advances under previous programmes, with an emphasis on complete production chains from the field to the factory. Non-food activities fell into Area 1 - Integrated Production and Processing Chains, and within this, Area 1.2 Green Chemical and Polymer Chain as well as within Area 2 - Scaling-up and Processing Methodologies. This programme has now been replaced by the current (Fifth) RTD Framework Programme, with funding for the period 1999-2002. The future of non-food activities lies in Theme One - Quality of Life and Management of Living Resources under Key Action 5 - The integrated production and exploitation of biological materials for non-food uses.
In some areas, a progression from initial research, through development and pilot studies or networks (concerted actions) can be seen. This is particularly true in the area of breeding and/or introduction and processing of novel crops for lower value products, where time frames are long and there is a need for an integrated chain and development of a large end-use market. This reflects the steady increase in funding in this area. Including demonstration, AIR funded over 130 non-food projects, with over 1000 organisations spending around 300 million ecu of which the EC contributed around 145 million ecu. These figures include agriculture, forestry, processing, paper, pulp and wood products with about 30% of the budget (50 million ecu) going to green chemicals and inputs for non-food crops. A further more or less equal sum was spent on seven demonstration projects. In FAIR, part of the programme was clearly focused on the production chain from field to 'green chemicals' or 'renewable bioproducts'. In this sector, 80 products involving over 600 organisations received 78 million ecu out of a total cost of around 127 million ecu. Within each programme, the work plan, the nature of the projects selected, the identity of some participants and the chosen projects reflected previous activities, many of which can be traced back to ECLAIR.
ECLAIR also impacted on national activities, although the specific programmes in most Member States tend not to directly reflect the activities funded within the EU. A number of national initiatives have been established, including setting of National Programmes as in Denmark, UK (Alternative Crops Unit, changed to Agri-Industrial Materials - AIMS - in June 1999), in some cases in association with new institutes such as FNR (Germany). These activities reflect the level of industrial activity (established agro-industry in particular), the agricultural crops grown, climate and geography suited to new crops, research strengths and government priorities. In some cases these include educational programmes, environmental (legislative) initiatives, tax concessions and other activities that have improved the national situation as far as rapid development of new manufacturing companies in the non-food area.
In general the extent of information (as summarised on the internet through the website www.nf-2000.org, supported by the EC under contract FAIR3-CT96-1904) that has evolved through these EC programmes and national activities (that can be traced back to ECLAIR) may be used to set clear objectives for the Fifth Framework Programme. These may be determined, both in terms of the importance of industrial participation, the role of coordinators, the clearness of objectives and the anticipated time to market. Obviously the actual sample size represented by ECLAIR projects is small - indeed too small for statistical analysis. However, a number of conclusions can be drawn.
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Updated
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03/07/2007
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