ST2-03: FAPESP Bioenergy Research Program BIOEN: science and technology for a bio-based society

BIOEN is the State of São Paulo Bioenergy Research Program led by the state’s research funding agency FAPESP. The BIOEN Program aims to integrate comprehensive studies on sugarcane and other plants that can be used as biofuel sources, thus assuring Brazil’s position among the leaders in Bioenergy Research. Research includes biomass production and processing to biofuel production and impacts. The BIOEN Program is built on a solid core of academic exploratory research. It is expected that these exploratory activities will generate new knowledge and human resources essential for advancing industry capacity in biofuel related technologies. The program includes partnerships with industry where themes are specified according to the interest of the private partners and to FAPESP commitment to fostering research in the State of São Paulo. The program has 65 projects in 15 institutions in collaboration with institutions in Brazil and 16 countries. The program is built with five divisions: Biomass, Biofuel Technologies, Biorefineries, Engines,  and Sustainability. The Program includes >400 researchers and ~US$200 million in funding. A recent development was the creation of the State of São Paulo Bioenergy Research Center funded by the State of São Paulo Government, FAPESP and the three state universities USP, UNICAMP and UNESP. The center will consolidate efforts and create research facilities for the community as well as hire new bioenergy researchers to build capacity and expand research goals (http://bioenfapesp.org). BIOEN also funds activities within the National Center for Science and Technology of Bioethanol (http://www.inctdobioetanol.com.br/) and the National Laboratory of Bioethanol CTBE (http://www.bioetanol.org.br/).