Proposals under this topic should:

• Map existing infrastructures for pilot, testing and upscaling bio-based processes in Europe, building on and going beyond existing databases, with a geographic distribution encompassing all EU countries. Create an open database of such infrastructures.
• Create and manage a community bringing together facilities, SMEs/startups and researchers, encouraging the access of the latter to the scale up ecosystem. The community should also involve large companies and market actors, investors and finance actors to provide networking and matchmaking opportunities for the SMEs and startups.
• Establish assistance, training and support services for SMEs and startups (e.g. related to process design, access to finance) in view of scaling up their process technology. Create opportunities for knowledge exchange and commercial development of the scaled-up innovations by connecting innovators and market/finance actors.
• Work in synergy with the European Strategy Forum on Research Infrastructures (ESFRI) and other R&I infrastructure-related initiatives to develop an integrated and efficient ecosystem of research infrastructures (RIs) in Europe which includes pilot plants and test rigs, labs for testing and upscaling bio-based processes, including regions where access to such facilities is currently lacking.
• Deploy actions to create or improve awareness of the opportunities related to the network of open access facilities, with a specific focus on under-represented countries and regions.
• Develop a viable business model with a credible revenue generation stream to make the database and community self-sustainable beyond the project duration. Test the exit strategy and revenue generation model already during the project duration to prove the business model and establish the foundations of future self-sustaining operations.

A maximum of €50 000 per third party might be granted. Conditions for third parties support are set out in Part B of the General Annexes. Consortia need to define the selection process of organisations, for which financial support will be granted. Maximum €300 000 of the EU funding can be allocated to this purpose. The financial support to third parties can only be provided in the form of grants.