Corporación Tecnológica de Andalucía (CTA), as a member of the European project SCALE-UP, has launched a Call for Expressions of Interest to support innovative initiatives related to the olive bioeconomy in Andalusia. The call, open until 29 May, will support the market entry of two new products or services offering bio-based solutions based on the use of olive biomass. Companies of different sizes, research institutions and non-governmental organisations can apply.

The SCALE-UP project, funded with €2.9 million by the European Union, aims to generate tools and synergies based on six European regions’ own biomass valorisation options. It aims to generate bio-based solutions at regional level that can be scaled up. Andalusia, with its olive-growing area, is one of these regions, joined by North Sweden, Mazovia (Poland), the Atlantic Arc of France, Upper Austria and Strumica (North Macedonia).

The Call for Expressions of Interest and the subsequent SCALE-UP business development programme have been designed by CTA and will be replicated in the previous areas. In total, the European project will support the emergence of twelve new innovative circular bioeconomy proposals (two per region), supporting them from inception to market entry.

Selection criteria

To participate in the SCALE-UP Call for Expressions of Interest in Andalusia, the proposed bio-based solutions must focus on the social, ecological and economic benefits that the use of olive biomass can bring to local communities.

The proposals will be evaluated by a committee including members of the Andalusian Bioeconomy Platform of the SCALE-UP project, as well as innovation experts from CTA and a group of international experts. The rules and the participation form, to be filled in until 29 May, can be found at the following link: https://www.scaleup-bioeconomy.eu/es/eoi/

SCALE-UP Andalusian Bioeconomy Platform

Within the SCALE-UP project, CTA organised last March the first meeting of the Andalusian Bioeconomy Platform, composed of various entities that will analyse the potential of the Andalusian bioeconomy and, specifically, of the olive value chain. By holding regular meetings, the platform will facilitate the exchange of knowledge and the creation of new cooperation networks for sustainable rural development related to the olive grove.

The entities that participated in the launching meeting of the Andalusian Bioeconomy Platform of SCALE-UP are: the Regional Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Rural Development of Junta de Andalucía, the CIDAF Technology Centre, the Regional Development Institute of the University of Granada (UGR), the Andalusian Institute of Agricultural Research and Training (IFAPA), Acesur, Agro Sevilla, Cooperativa Agrícola San Isidro de Loja, Dcoop, Healthy Food Ibérica, Alter Capital and Axon Partners Group.