What Bio-based Industries Consortium does

Bio-based Industries Consortium (BIC) is a Brussels-headquartered non-profit industry association founded in 2012 that represents and advocates for the European bio-based industries value chain. The organization serves as the formally designated private-sector partner in the Circular Bio-based Europe Joint Undertaking (CBE JU), a €2 billion public-private partnership with the European Commission that channels funding to bio-based innovation projects. BIC's membership comprises 400+ Industry Members (large enterprises, SMEs, and micro-enterprises across agriculture, forestry, aquaculture, chemicals, materials, and waste management) and 350+ Associate Members (universities and research institutes), with a stated vision of making Europe the global leader in a circular bioeconomy by 2050.

BIC's core offerings are a portfolio of platforms and programs rather than discrete products. The BIC Member Area (hosted at bic.elisca.app) is the central networking and collaboration platform, providing access to CBE JU funding calls, profile management, messaging, and event participation. Supplementary platforms include the Investment Portal (documenting €5.2 billion+ in bio-based investments by members), the Regional Funding Platform (connecting 50+ European regions with industry actors), the Open Innovation Competition (linking large-company challenge owners with SME and university solution providers), and the Bio-based Innovation Student Challenge Europe (BISC-E). The annual Matchmaking Event (~380 participants, 1,500+ one-to-one meetings in 2026) anchors BIC's event-driven GTM motion, complemented by policy publications, position papers, and EU-level advocacy on instruments such as the Industrial Accelerator Act and Biotech Act II.

BIC generates revenue exclusively through recurring membership fees across tiered categories, with pricing not publicly disclosed. The organization is governed by a Board (chaired by Katariina Kemppainen since May 2026) and led by Executive Director Philippe Mengal (since March 2026). The lean staff of 1–10 employees supports a membership- and policy-driven model where financial scale is modest but policy influence is substantial, anchored by the unique CBE JU designation that competitors cannot easily replicate.

Name

Bio-based Industries Consortium

Legal name

Bio-Based Industries Consortium

Website

https://biconsortium.eu

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Bio-based Industries Consortium is a Brussels-based non-profit industry association representing 400+ industry members and 350+ associate members across Europe's full bio-based value chain, serving as the private-sector partner in the €2 billion CBE JU public-private partnership with the European Commission.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Brussel

HQ country

Belgium

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: BIC generates revenue through membership fees from Industry Members (400+), Associate Members (350+), and SME clusters. Membership provides access to CBE JU calls, networking events, investment portal, and regional funding platform.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The Bio-based Industries Consortium (BIC) is a non-profit industry association that delivers membership-based services to 400+ Industry Members and 350+ Associate Members across the European bio-based value chain. Its core offering is the BIC Member Area platform combined with networking events, the Investment Portal, Regional Funding Platform, Open Innovation Competition, BISC-E student challenge, and Knowledge Hub, all supporting access to CBE JU funding calls and policy advocacy.

Product overview

The Bio-based Industries Consortium (BIC) operates as an industry association rather than a traditional product company. Its core offering is the BIC Member Area, an online networking and collaboration platform for its 400+ Industry Members and 350+ Associate Members. This is supplemented by a portfolio of innovation support services including the Open Innovation Competition (facilitating challenge owner-solution provider partnerships), the Investment Portal (showcasing bio-based investments by members), and the Regional Funding Platform (connecting regions with industry for local value chains). The Knowledge Hub provides access to publications and reports, while the Bio-based Innovation Student Challenge Europe (BISC-E) fosters student innovation. Annual events including the Matchmaking Event provide networking opportunities. BIC represents the private sector in a 2 billion euro Public-Private Partnership (CBE JU) with the European Commission.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• BISC-E: Bio-based Innovation Student Challenge Europe - a student innovation competition organized by BIC
• Regional Funding Platform
• Investment Portal
• Open Innovation Competition

Products and services

• BIC Member Area
• Open Innovation Competition
• Investment Portal
• Regional Funding Platform
• Bio-based Innovation Student Challenge Europe (BISC-E)
• Knowledge Hub
• Matchmaking Event

Quantifiable outcome

• €5.2 billion in documented bio-based investments through Investment Portal
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered major, core and minor.

• European Bioeconomy Alliance (EUBA)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2026BIC is a founding member of EUBA, an alliance of 16 bioeconomy trade associations. EUBA advocates for bioeconomy policies and has sent letters to EU Commissioners ahead of the new Bioeconomy Strategy.
• Zero Waste EuropemajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 January 2026Joint report on Extended Producer Responsibility for Food Products (EPRFP), arguing EU must make food producers take financial responsibility for food waste prevention and collection to meet 2030 food waste reduction targets.
• Critical Chemicals Alliance (CCA)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2025BIC's Deputy Director Marco Rupp elected as Vice-Chair of the Working Group on lead markets at the CCA's first General Assembly. CCA implements the European Chemicals Industry Action Plan adopted by the European Commission.
• Circular Valley / City of WuppertalmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 November 2024Co-organized Tech Tour Bio-based Industries 2024 in Wuppertal, Germany, gathering innovators, investors and industry experts to advance bio-based sectors. Eight companies received awards for innovations in sustainable materials and circular economy solutions.
• Circular Bio-based Europe Joint Undertaking (CBE JU)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBIC represents the private sector in this €2 billion public-private partnership with the European Commission, focused on strengthening bio-based industries in Europe. BIC mobilizes private investment and coordinates industry participation in CBE JU funding calls.
• Renewable Carbon Initiative (RCI)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJointly commissioned research from nova Institute investigating whether there is enough sustainably-sourced biomass to defossilise the chemicals and materials sector by 2050. Report demonstrates biomass can meet at least 20% of future carbon demand.
• European CommissioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBIC works with the European Commission on policy development for the bioeconomy, including EU Bioeconomy Strategy, Industrial Accelerator Act, EU Biotech Act II, and Horizon Europe. BIC provides feedback on regulations and advocates for bio-based industries.
• ~40 European, national and regional industry organisationsmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBIC joined nearly 40 organisations in calling for ambitious EU Biotech Act II to establish a growth-oriented framework for biomanufacturing scale-up and market deployment across Europe.
• Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs and ClimateminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJanine van Kampen from Dutch Ministry chairs the Working Group on lead markets within the Critical Chemicals Alliance where BIC's Marco Rupp serves as Vice-Chair.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Market position

Competitive moat4 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/biconsortium
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCFympdj-iBwvs-RqZ-UH85g
• Facebookfacebook.com/BIC-Bio-based-Industries-Consortium-105001455428676
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/biobased-industries-consortium

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Bio-based Industries Consortium