THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,
Having regard to Regulation (EU) No 1290/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 December 2013 laying down the rules for participation and dissemination in ‘Horizon 2020 — the Framework Programme for Research and Innovation (2014-2020)’ and repealing Regulation (EC) No 1906/2006, and in particular Article 1(3)(b) thereof,
Whereas:
(1)
Regulation (EU) No 1291/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council establishes the Framework Programme for Research and Innovation (2014-2020) (Horizon 2020) and provides for the involvement of the Union in public-private partnerships, including in joint undertakings, in key areas where research and innovation can contribute to the Union's wider competitiveness goals and help tackle societal challenges.
(2)
Participation in indirect actions under Horizon 2020 should comply with Regulation (EU) No 1290/2013. However, in order to take into account the specific operating needs of joint undertakings established pursuant to Article 187 of the Treaty in the area of bio-based industries, the power to adopt acts in accordance with Article 290 of the Treaty was delegated to the Commission for the duration of Horizon 2020.
(3)
The Bio-Based Industries Joint Undertaking (BBI JU) was set up by Council Regulation (EU) No 560/2014 in the area of bio-based industries for a period up to 31 December 2024 in order to implement the Joint Technology Initiative on Bio-Based Industries.
(4)
Specific operating needs have been identified in order to facilitate and encourage the participation of specific types of participants. Those specific operating needs are a result of the current fragmentation of this nascent industrial sector with many small and medium-sized industrial stakeholders. Participation of those stakeholders together with secondary and higher education establishments and others in the BBI JU should also be facilitated and encouraged due to their recognized strength in research and development. In order to achieve an optimal level of leverage effect on private investment, only those stakeholders should be eligible for funding of actions other than innovation actions by the BBI JU.
(5)
Accordingly, it is appropriate to establish a derogation from Article 10(1) of Regulation (EU) No 1290/2013 in order to limit the eligibility for funding, for actions other than innovation actions, to entities such as small and medium-sized enterprises or secondary and higher education establishments,
HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: