The objective of the project is to establish structural co-operation between national bioenergy research programmes in the member states. To support the implementation of the co-operation a direct step by step, pragmatic and flexible approach will be followed, leading towards pilots of transnational research. Based on experience gained a joint bioenergy research strategy will be developed, to ensure that the co-ordination action (CA) will lead to an on-going integration process lasting beyond the period of Community financial support. Involvement of high level management from each of the ERA-NET partners in the project will facilitate appropriate governance and the embedding of project results in the national research policies.

The main goals of the project are:

• Strengthened European efforts to realise the potential for renewable energy production from biomass and industrial production, by enhancing research co-operation and co-ordination on a European level through networking among bioenergy RTD programmes of national governments;
• Improved cost efficiency of the public funding and improved quality of programme results.

In order to reach these goals a range of networking activities will be carried out:

• Systematic exchange of information and best practices on national programmes and networking: to set national research priorities, and share existing evaluation practices and programme management practices;
• Set up common strategic issues: to analyse research activities that could lead to multinational schemes, and identify administrative or legal barriers that could hinder transnational co-operation, practical networking activities and mutual opening mechanisms;
• Joint activities: to develop multinational evaluation procedures, common programme monitoring and evaluation, enable personnel exchange at programme manager level, and develop a joint bioenergy research strategy;
• Implementation of transnational research activities: to set up pilots of joint work programmes.

Expected results of ERA-NET Bioenergy are:
1.  An agreement on the umbrella structure of ERA-NET Bioenergy, ratified by the partners;
2.  A platform for information exchange between program managers and pilots of transnational bioenergy research in joint work programmes;
3.  An agreement between the participants (i.e. existing and new partners) on the continuation of ERA-NET Bioenergy beyond the duration of the project.

Dissemination of project results to stakeholders, research institutes, industry and politicians in other EU states will embed the approach of co-ordinated international research. In the duration of the project new partners will actively be encouraged to participate in ERA-NET Bioenergy and expand the consortium.