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Oct 15, 2018

The SWEETWOODS project aims to create innovation in wood industry

Nine European bio-innovation companies have joined forces to establish a first-of-a-kind wood fractionation Flagship plant to create new industrial value-chains using sustainable hardwood as a resource.

The project was selected under the name SWEETWOODS, in the frame of the European HORIZON 2020 programme for research and innovation, following a very selective and competitive process led by independent experts.

The SWEETWOODS project covers a total budget of €43.2 million. Non-refundable grants totaling €20.96 million will be provided by the EU, with the remainder being contributed by the SWEETWOODS project participants.

On the 9th of May the consortium announced the signature of a grant agreement and this intense 4-year cooperation made official start with kick-off meeting on the 1st of June 2018.

The 9 participants of the SWEETWOODS project representing 6 EU-member States have signed an agreement with the Bio-Based Industries Joint Undertaking (BBI JU) to demonstrate at the industrial level successful and profitable production of high purity lignin and sugars. They aim to demonstrate these materials in novel applications by combining the technologies and know-how of participants as follows:

  • Industrial wood processing competence by OÜ Graanul Biotech
  • Industrial enzymes for hydrolysis, lignin depolymerization, and sugar conversions by MetGen Oy
  • Post-processing of lignin for bio-composites production by Tecnaro GmbH
  • Production of bio-based elastomeric foams by Armacell, viaUltima GmbH
  • Incorporation of lignin into polyurethane foams production by Recticel N.V.
  • Hydrolysate fermentation to bio-isobutene by Global Bioenergies
  • Life Cycle Assessment of the project by 2B Srl
  • Viability performance analysis by Vertech Group
  • Project management support by Spinverse Oy

SWEETWOODS consortium kick-off meeting in Tallinn 01.06