BioValue AI launches to advance responsible AI for circular bio-based value chains
Project Scope and Objectives
BioValueAI – Digital Innovations for Circular Bioeconomy is a four-year Horizon Europe project coordinated by Wageningen Research, bringing together 14 partners across research, industry, and innovation. The project combines AI, digital twins and advanced data analytics to support circular, climate-neutral bio-based value chains, while addressing fragmented data infrastructures and the need for trustworthy, transparent innovation.
Work is centred on five industrial use cases: Cacao Valorisation, Bio-based Coatings, Precision Fermentation, Hemp Chain Intelligence, and Biorefinery Feedstock Optimisation. Across these, BioValueAI will develop AI-enabled solutions, reusable digital components, sustainability tools and a Business Model Playbook to support long-term uptake and replication.
Following a multi-actor approach involving industry, researchers, policymakers and citizens, the project embeds responsible AI throughout—addressing ethics, fairness, data protection and societal acceptance—while validating solutions in real industrial settings.
The consortium includes Wageningen Research, EV ILVO, ATB-Bremen, reframe.food, Hyler BV, einzA Farben GmbH & Co KG, VCG.AI GmbH, L. Pernía SA, Bio Base Europe Pilot Plant VZW, HOGENT, Royal Danish Academy, Universität Innsbruck, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague and CluBE – Cluster of Bioeconomy and Environment of Western Macedonia.
VCG.AI’s Role
VCG.AI leads the use case for biorefinery feedstock optimisation. VCG.AI will use AI-driven analytics to identify and valorise organic feedstocks for bio-based production. VCG.AI will integrate organic feedstock availability data across Spain and Portugal to develop the baseline for further analysis and development of biorefining concepts in the region. Feedstock availability data for the region will be built upon an existing dataset covering over 1.5 million tons of quality feedstock generated yearly (quantities, locations, material composition). VCG.AI will also use its predictive analytics system to analyses feedstock sources beyond the primary data that is integrated to achieve a complete feedstock overview.
Based on the geo-location based feedstock analysis, we will apply our AI solutions to
- Identify and validate the most technically viable biorefining opportunities
- Prioritise them based on the product local demand for biobased products (e.g. strong specialty chemicals industry, food and cosmetics industries), and
- Validate the biorefining opportunities based on the interests of the key industry stakeholders.
Project number: 101290181
Project name: BioValueAI: Digital Innovations for Circular Bioeconomy
Project acronym: BioValueAI
Call: HORIZON-CL6-2025-01
Topic: HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-CIRCBIO-09
Type of action: HORIZON Innovation Actions
Project starting date: June 2026
Project end date: June 2030
Project duration: 48 months
Total cost (all project PP): EUR 5 376 480
EU Funding (all project PP): EUR 4 999 984
Total cost (VCG.AI): EUR 627 425
EU Funding (VCG.AI): EUR 439 197.50
Project Website: biovalueai.eu↗
