Funded Projects Biopolymers and their Applications

Success stories of EU-funded projects on biopolymers and their application have been analysed under the successive FP. Data have been collected, through a search in the Community Research and Development Information Service database (CORDIS) [53], to give some examples on how the EU has funded the biopolymers issue in their different applications throughout the development of the research programmes. 

Starting from FP4, several projects were financed, differing largely in budget allocation, consortium composition and the subprogramme under which they were funded. 

Moving from the older FP through to FP7, it can be noted that the latter projects have been funded under a higher number of subprogrammes, demonstrating the growing interest and awareness of the importance of the research and application of biopolymers and their application, in areas such as health. 

Recently, a new study, using the electronic research system in CORDIS, has been carried out by the University of Graz focusing on polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA), polylactic acid (PEA) and starch-based plastics throughout the FP. The task was extremely complex due to the fact that information in the CORDIS system is lacking certain data and information on the project objectives is often very weak, but the study also reached the conclusion that the importance of bioplastics and bioderived plastics has not grown linearly. Much less money was spent in FP2-FP4 than in FP5-FP7, whilst funding reached its maximum in FP6 and FP7 [54]. 

Regarding consortia composition, we note that the highest success rate in the projects belongs to academia, whereas in terms of industry participants [55], it can be noted that industry, which actually participates extensively, is deterred to a greater degree than other researchers which may be due, in part, to the weight of bureaucratic burdens and, on occasion, by a perception of insufficient flexibility in work programmes. 

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