FACHAGENTUR NACHWACHSENDE ROHSTOFFE EV

Their core work

FNR (Agency for Renewable Resources) is the German federal government's central coordinating body for research and market development related to renewable raw materials, bioenergy, and the bioeconomy. They manage national funding programmes, coordinate ERA-NETs and European Technology Platforms, and drive public awareness and policy implementation for bio-based industries. Their core function is bridging the gap between research funding, policy frameworks, and market uptake of bio-based products and bioenergy across Europe.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

In the early period (2015–2017), FNR focused broadly on bioeconomy coordination, ERA-NET alignment, raw materials roadmapping, and biomass-to-energy demonstrations from landscape management and marginal lands. From 2018 onward, their focus sharpened toward SET-Plan implementation for renewable fuels, circular bioeconomy strategies, and expanding bioeconomy adoption in Central and Eastern Europe (BIOEAST). The shift reflects a move from broad agenda-setting toward concrete policy implementation and geographic expansion of the bioeconomy agenda.

FNR is moving from broad bioeconomy awareness toward concrete renewable fuel deployment and circular economy implementation, making them an increasingly relevant partner for projects needing policy-to-market bridging.

How they like to work

FNR operates as both a consortium leader (8 of 20 projects coordinated) and an active partner, showing comfort in either role depending on the topic. With 191 unique partners across 41 countries, they function as a network hub — their agency role gives them connections across national funding bodies, research institutes, and industry associations. Their project sizes are modest in funding but large in consortium reach, typical of a coordination and support action (CSA) specialist rather than a research performer.

FNR has collaborated with 191 unique partners across 41 countries, making them one of the most broadly connected bioeconomy organizations in Europe. Their network spans from Western European research leaders to Central and Eastern European bioeconomy newcomers, reflecting their role as a pan-European coordination body.

What sets them apart

FNR is not a research performer — they are a national programme management agency with a European mandate, which gives them a rare combination of government authority, funding expertise, and cross-sector coordination capacity. Unlike universities or research institutes, they bring policy alignment, public procurement knowledge, and direct links to the German Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture. For any consortium needing a credible German partner to handle coordination, dissemination, or policy interfacing in bioenergy or bioeconomy, FNR is a proven and well-connected choice.

Highlights from their portfolio

• ADVANCEFUEL
  Largest single EC contribution (EUR 411,605) and coordinator — focused on market roll-out of renewable fuels in transport, a high-impact policy topic.
• ETIP-B-SABS 2
  Second iteration of the European Technology and Innovation Platform for Bioenergy — demonstrates sustained EU trust in FNR to manage this strategic platform.
• BIOEASTsUP
  Signals FNR's geographic expansion into Central and Eastern Europe for circular bioeconomy, a growing strategic priority for EU policy.