BAYERISCHE FORSCHUNGSALLIANZ BAVARIAN RESEARCH ALLIANCE GMBH

Their core work

BayFOR is Bavaria's dedicated EU research liaison organization, connecting Bavarian universities and companies with European research consortia. They operate as a node in the Enterprise Europe Network (EEN), providing innovation management and SME support services across the region. In H2020 projects, they typically handle dissemination, communication, stakeholder engagement, and project management — acting as the bridge between Bavarian research performers and the wider European research ecosystem. Their recurring InnoBavaria projects demonstrate a sustained mandate to enhance SME innovation capacity through structured advisory services.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

In 2014-2018, BayFOR focused heavily on building its EEN innovation management services (InnoBavaria series) alongside technically narrow projects in building insulation (INNOVIP) and computational science (ExaHyPE). From 2019 onward, the portfolio diversified significantly into circular economy (CIRCULAR FLOORING, CIRCULAR FoodPack), sustainable agriculture (UPSCALE, ONEforest), and energy storage (HyFlow), reflecting a broader engagement with sustainability topics. The EEN activities continued but the technical projects shifted from materials science toward environmental and bioeconomy themes.

BayFOR is increasingly embedding itself in circular economy and green transition projects, making them a well-connected dissemination partner for sustainability-focused consortia targeting the German market.

How they like to work

BayFOR never coordinates — they join as a participant (13 times) or third party (5 times), providing project management and dissemination support rather than scientific leadership. With 175 unique partners across 36 countries, they are a high-connectivity hub that rarely repeats the same consortium, indicating they serve as a gateway to the Bavarian research landscape for diverse European partners. Working with them means gaining access to their regional network and professional communication infrastructure, not deep technical R&D capacity.

Exceptionally broad network of 175 unique partners across 36 countries, far exceeding what their 18 projects would normally produce. This reflects their intermediary role — each project connects them with entirely new consortia rather than repeating established partnerships.

What sets them apart

BayFOR occupies a rare niche as a professional research liaison — not a university, not a company, but a dedicated intermediary that makes Bavarian research accessible to European consortia. Their dual role as EEN node and project partner means they understand both the SME business perspective and the mechanics of EU-funded research. For consortium builders, BayFOR offers a single entry point to Bavaria's research ecosystem plus proven dissemination and project management capabilities.

Highlights from their portfolio

• LIGNOFLAG
  Largest single grant (€588,840) — a flagship biorefinery demonstration project, showing BayFOR can support large-scale industrial innovation actions.
• HyFlow
  Energy storage project combining vanadium redox flow batteries with supercapacitors (€424,554), representing BayFOR's expansion into clean energy technology.
• UPSCALE
  Unusual geographic scope — sustainable agriculture in East Africa — demonstrating BayFOR's reach beyond European borders into development-oriented research.