IBISBA-DIALS WP3

IBISBA-DIALS: IBISBA - Delivering the Infrastructure As a Legal Structure

A solution to industrial biotechnology's barriers

In the quest for sustainable, circular economies, industrial biotechnology is a game-changer. However, unlocking its full potential hinges on addressing complex challenges and streamlining research and innovation (R&I). In this context, the EU-funded IBISBA-DIALS project aims to reshape the R&I landscape by establishing a European Research Infrastructure Consortium (ERIC) that will drive smart biomanufacturing and responsible innovation. The work will be carried out by a core group of project partners representing the most committed EU Member States. However, all work will be performed in close cooperation with a wider group of IBISBA stakeholders bound by a memorandum of understanding.

Objective

IBISBA is a European research infrastructure (RI) project included on the ESFRI roadmap. Its mission is to deliver a range of R&D services, contributing to the development of industrial biotechnology as a key enabling technology of smart, circular economy. So far IBISBA has benefitted from two Horizon 2020 projects, one providing preparatory phase funding. Following on from the preparatory phase (which entered its final year in 2023), the IBISBA-DIALS project aims to complete preparatory work, create and launch IBISBA as a European Research Infrastructure Consortium.

During IBISBA-DIALS work required to submit compliant statutes will lead to the creation by the European Commission of the IBISBA-ERIC legal entity. Results will ensure that the entity is well structured and sustainable, possessing a central HQ and solid national nodes located in several EU members states. IBISBA-DIALS will also confer the future RI with vital tools and procedures, securing operational status immediately after its creation. Moreover, the project will provide IBISBA-ERIC with a committed stakeholder base, the potential to expand into new European or associate countries, and international visibility. Finally, IBISBA-DIALS will reinforce IBISBA’s scientific and technology excellence, while embedding its activities in a framework of responsible research and innovation and developing its role as an essential component of education in industrial biotechnology. Work in IBISBA-DIALS will be performed by a core group of project partners representing the most committed EU member countries. However, all work will be performed in close cooperation with a wider group of IBISBA stakeholders bound by a memorandum of understanding.

In the medium-term standpoint, IBISBA-DIALS will provide the European RI landscape with a new landmark RI that uniquely produces translational research services in the fields of industrial biotechnology, thus supporting the development of smart biomanufacturing.

Fields of science (EuroSciVoc):

Keywords:

• Industrial biotechnology
• synthetic biology
• translational research
• research infrastructure
• ERIC