BioTop Project Website - Project Description

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Project Description

BioTop Objective

The overall objective of the BioTop project is to identify technical opportunities and research needs for Latin America in order to maximize synergies in the biofuels sectors of Latin America and Europe.

Thereby, the following specific objectives are:

to provide a broad overview of the existing biofuel sectors in all Latin American countries. This also includes a broad overview of biofuel policies and strategies focusing on RTD in the field of 2nd generation biofuels in both LA and the EU up to 2030;

to identify priorities, needs and opportunities in the field of RTD for sustainable biofuel production and biomass conversion technologies at both the national and the regional level in Latin America;

to inform European and Latin American actors in the biofuel sector about specific, mutually interesting areas for increased collaboration and partnerships;

to harmonize the agenda between Latin America and the EU on sustainable biofuel production and the integration of biofuels into the energy matrix;

to facilitate and advance mutual knowledge and technology transfer between biofuel stakeholders in LA and the EU;

to make recommendations on RTD and policies for the production and utilization of biomass conversion technologies.

BioTop Activities

BioTop provides a broad overview of the existing biofuels sector in Latin American counties. Key focus of the project is the identification and assessment of improved 1st and 2nd generation biofuel conversion technologies. Sustainability, standardization and trade aspects of future large-scale biofuel production are investigated, and scenarios, roadmaps and recommendations are developed. Exchanges between stakeholders active in RTD of biofuel conversion technologies are promoted and BioTop activities are effectively linked with existing networks. Outcome of the BioTop project is increased awareness about EU-LA opportunities for collaboration in the area of biofuels and the identification of suitable areas for biofuels RTD cooperation.

BioTop Work Packages

The overall strategy of the work plan includes two types of work packages: on the one hand two cross-cutting work packages (WP1 and WP8) will provide the framework for successful project implementation and dissemination; and on the other hand six thematic work packages (WP2 – WP7) will contribute to the in-depth assessment of RTD needs and opportunities of biomass conversion technologies in LA.

The six thematic work packages are structured in four levels regarding their content and timing as follows:

1^st level: State of the art mapping (WP2)
2^nd level: Identification of RTD needs and opportunities (WP3, WP4, WP5)
3^rd level: Development of explorative scenarios (WP6)
4^th level: Recommendations on RTD cooperation (WP7)