Ambitious EU-India biomass alliance 'SAHYOG' kicks off
Research and innovation cooperation plays an important part in the overall relationship between Europe and India. On 10 February the European Commission and the Indian Government signed a Joint Declaration on Research and Innovation Cooperation. This provides an opportunity to step up relations between Europe and India towards an "Indo-European Research and Innovation Partnership". Already a first step was taken by a kick off of the biomass innovation and knowledge exchange programme between India and the European Union SAHYOG. From now until 2014, the programme will explore the possibility of biomass-related partnerships between India and Europe. NL Agency is task leader for the Strategic Research Agenda and Roadmap.
The main objective of SAHYOG (Strengthening Networking on Biomass Research and Bio-waste Conversion – Biotechnology for Europe India Integration) is to map opportunities for partnerships between European Union member states and India, aimed at research activities in both regions regarding biomass production and bio-waste conversion through biotechnological approaches. Kees Kwant represents NL Agency as member of the Steering Committee.
Main activities
A partnership of stakeholders from EU and India involving public and private organizations, as well as representatives from the scientific community will carry out project activities, consisting of the conception and funding of research programs. This will facilitate concerted planning of future EU-India research initiatives in the area of biomass and bio waste. Strong EU-India linkages will be created between on-going and future research and innovation projects with the aim to exploit cooperation synergies for sustainable development. A twinning scheme for existing projects on the EU and India is also on the agenda.
2014: Strategic Research Agenda
An inventory of the biomass and bio-waste potentials and existing research projects is elaborated and analysed within SAHYOG. These inventories will be the basis for the joint Strategic Research Agenda (SRA) finally leading to a Roadmap for policymakers and researchers. When the programme terminates in 2014, the goal is to present a roadmap to governments in Delhi and in the EU that describes joint steps toward a bio-based economy and the ideal role for biomass in various sectors. NL Agency is task leader for the inventories on Research Programs and Projects and the SRA.
Stakeholder meeting on May 10th
The next event on the SAHYOG Agenda is the first stakeholder meeting to be held May 10th in Bruges. The aim of this meeting is to discuss the templates being used for data collection for making the SAHYOG inventories of biomass/biowaste production and biomass research projects.
