Fortum and Metsa have collaborated with Business Finland to create a R&D programme with pulp fibre from renewable and sustainable sources as its node. The four-year programme, called ExpandFibre, aims to develop ground-breaking technologies and smart business concepts required to convert straw and wood pulp fibre into novel bioproducts, like textile fibres.
The R&D programme has been granted €20 million from Business Finland. ExpandFibre will be part of a global innovation ecosystem. The ExpandFibre partners Fortum and Metsä want to encourage members of the ecosystem to significantly accelerate their efforts within the circular bioeconomy. Members of the ecosystem can apply for financing from Business Finland or from the EU, according to a press release by Metsa.
ExpandFibre is a unique collaboration scheme to be launched during the summer of 2020 and extending until August 2024. The programme focuses on seven research themes which include textiles, biocomposites, packaging materials, other new fibre products, hemicellulose, lignin, and sourcing and fractionation of straw.
The value chains of interest to the ExpandFibre programme are all based on renewable and sustainable raw materials, namely straw and Northern wood. Importantly, ExpandFibre is challenging other actors of related value chains to accelerate their efforts in building a world-leading innovation ecosystem together and, subsequently, enabling new bioproducts and green businesses to reach commercial maturity.
