Members

Company members

Bionto provides industrial R&D and manufacturing services covering the entire bioproduct development process from ideas to end products, or parts of it according to the customer's needs. Bionto's core competence lies in understanding how to anchor a hypersecreting filamentous fungus, Trichoderma reesei, for commercial biotechnology purposes. The Bionto team has more than 20 years of industrial experience in biosolutions and a track record of developing biological products to the mass-market under several brands.

Brightplus is an innovative renewable materials manufacturing company from Finland. We specialise in design and development of new functional properties for industrial biomaterial solutions. We cater for industries like packaging, construction, cosmetics and consumer goods. Our expertise is based on developing solutions to multiple industries and providing fast prototyping and full fit for customers’ production lines.

The best biomass fractionation technology in the world. We provide the world’s only technology which gently extracts all of the main components of biomass in one process. The resulting biomaterials – dissolving cellulose, polymeric hemicellulose and sulphur-free lignin – are extremely pure and close to their natural form.

Ductor is a global biotech company changing the world through ground-breaking innovation, design and circular economy. We are striving to be the sustainable leader in biogas and fertilizers, currently working with a team of 50 people in Europe and the Americas. Ductor's patented tecnology recovers nitrogen from organic materials and converts it to liquid organic nitrogen, used as fertilizers. The nitrogen reduced material is suitable for biogas production and digestates can be upgraded into solid organic-based fertilizing products.

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Kemira is a global leader in sustainable chemical solutions for water-intensive industries. Our customers include industrial and municipal water treatment operators, and pulp & paper industry among others. We provide the best-suited products and services to improve our customers’ product quality, process, and resource efficiency. Our focus is on water treatment, renewable solutions, and digital services. We want to become the leading provider of sustainable chemical solutions for the water-intensive industries and increase the share of biobased products in our portfolio significantly by the end of 2030.

Founded in 1919, Kiilto Oy is a Finnish, family-owned producer of chemical industry products for construction and industry. Our business involves the development, manufacturing and marketing of adhesives and closely related products – comprehensive expertise on fastening.

Mirka Ltd is a world leader in surface finishing technology and offers a broad range of groundbreaking sanding solutions for the surface finishing and precision industry.

Decades of experience and a strong commitment to product development has seen us become a pioneering specialist in flexible abrasives and revolutionary, patented products which allow customers to enjoy a truly dust-free surface finishing process.

Additionally, we have through our innovative research and development program, also launched new microfinishing products for optimised engineered surface finishing processes, as well as a full range of polishing compounds.

Moreover, the growing Mirka Power Tools department develops and manufactures advanced sanding and polishing machines, providing outstanding ergonomic and functional benefits to users. These innovatively designed tools combined with a range of effective, high-quality accessories, give Mirka's customers unmatched access to a complete sanding solution to meet their individual needs.

Mirka is a globally expanding company with 18 subsidiaries located in Europe, Middle East, North and South America as well as Asia. Headquarters and production are located in Finland. More than 97% of our products are exported and sold in over 100 countries.

Orion is a globally operating Finnish pharmaceutical company - a builder of well-being. Orion develops, manufactures and markets human and veterinary pharmaceuticals and active pharmaceutical ingredients. The company is continuously developing new drugs and treatment methods. The core therapy areas of Orion's pharmaceutical R&D are central nervous system (CNS) disorders, oncology and respiratory diseases for which Orion develops inhaled Easyhaler® pulmonary drugs.

Roal Ltd is one of the world´s largest enzyme companies. We produce enzymes for different industrial applications, e.g. baking, food, technical and feed industries. Our core competence areas are Trichoderma, Bacillus and Aspergillus production platforms. In our process we combine modern biotechnical research and knowledge with state-of-the-art technology and professional personnel.

Roal Oy was established in 1991 as a joint venture by former Finnish Alko Ltd and German Röhm Enzyme GmbH. Both companies had a decades-long history in enzyme research and production. Today we are proud to be owned by Altia Corporation and Associated British Foods plc. In the marketing and selling our products we co-operate with AB Enzymes GmbH in Darmstadt, Germany. Over 90 % of our products are exported globally.

Solar Foods Oy is developing an innovative edible protein made from electricity and carbon dioxide. This revolutionary way of producing food is possible without any environmental or agricultural limitations in climate, weather, or soil conditions. The food production connected to solar energy can produce protein more effectively through sun light than through photosynthesis. Therefore, the land efficiency for Solar Foods’ production methods is 10 times greater than for example the production methods of soy. There is no need for pesticides or land watering which, in turn, means less environmental effects such as greenhouse gasses, water pollution, eutrophication or even less water supply problems. The production can happen everywhere in the world which benefits both developing as well as already developed countries.

In a few decades, St1 has developed from a Finnish petrol station chain into a Nordic energy group whose vision is to be a producer and seller of CO2-aware energy. Throughout its history, St1 has maintained its entrepreneurial operating model, as well as the passion to see and do things in a new way. St1 operates in Finland, Sweden and Norway. The focus of our operations is on fuels marketing activities and renewable energy solutions as well as developing and refining liquid fuels.

University and Research Institute Members

Aalto University, is a multidisciplinary university in the fields of science and technology, economics, architecture, and art & design, employing 380 professors with student body of 20,000. School of Chemical Engineering (CHEM) is one of Aalto’s six schools, with research areas related to new materials and sustainable processing of natural resources.

Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems (Bio2) is at the forefront of cutting-edge biotechnology and forest products technologies. Research at Bio2 focuses on products derived from nature through green chemistry or biotechnological methods. Bio2’s core competencies include industrial biotechnology, synthetic biology, biochemical processing and lignocellulosic biomass treatment.

Bioprocess engineering laboratory emphasizes on fermentative production and downstream processing of biochemicals viz. proteins, biofuels, acids, biopolymers, and rare sugars. Current research is also striving to utilize in-situ bacterial cellulose modifications for its high-end applications. Modeling and control of continuous biochemical reactions with design and operation of modified bioreactors is also encompassed.

Häme University of Applied Sciences (HAMK) is a multidisciplinary higher education institution located in seven campuses in southern Finland. Education is given in 34 sectors including natural sciences, technology, well-being, business and design. HAMK has four research units: HAMK Bio, HAMK Edu, HAMK Smart and HAMK Tech. HAMK Bio is specialized in biotechnological value chain from sustainable biomass production to downstream processing of different products, such as food or value-added compounds. Evo forest, Lepaa garden, Mustiala farm and bioprocess engineering laboratory in Hämeenlinna provide excellent facilities to produce and refine various kinds of biomass. HAMK Tech supports utilization of bio-based products and materials with technological solutions. HAMK Tech has knowledge and capabilities to utilize bio-based products into further applications, such as colorants or coatings. HAMK Smart has strong focus in the analysis, utilization and interpretation of data collected from the value chains of bio-based products. HAMK Smart also specializes in the IoT and machine learning applications in the rapidly growing area of digitalizated bioeconomy. The main focus areas of HAMK Edu include the competence for the future, excellence, career counselling and lifelong learning, teacher education, competence management and leadership as well as new learning solutions and digital competence.

Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke) is a research and expert organization promoting bioeconomy and sustainable use of natural resources. Luke comprises the state research institutes MTT Agrifood Research Finland, the Finnish Forest Research Institute, the Finnish Game and Fisheries Research Institute, and the statistical services of the Information Centre of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry.

Luke brings together expertise in renewable natural resources and responsible food production and provides innovative solutions that promote new business activities. The cross-disciplinary research data and expertise support responsible decision-making both domestically and internationally. Research on natural resources benefits the consumers by providing information on health and well-being, and by supporting the vitality of Finnish nature.

The industrial biotechnology research at Tampere University (TAU) is carried out by Bio and Circular Economy research group, in the faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences (ENS).

TAU is one of the most multidisciplinary universities in Finland. TAU was created in 2019 by the merger of the University of Tampere and Tampere University of Technology, which joined forces to create a new university. The ENS brings together extensive expertise in natural sciences and the major branches of engineering. We are renowned for our cutting-edge research activities that not only encompass basic research in natural sciences and applied research in the fields of engineering but also bring measurable added value to our partners.

The aim of the Bio and Circular Economy research group is to develop processes to improve energy and eco-efficiency, to conserve the limited resources of raw materials and to reduce environmental emissions. The goal of the group is the production and recovery of energy, biochemicals, metals and nutrients from different feedstocks. To achieve the goals, the group covers research ranging from molecular-level to large-scale processes. The group has expertise in various biotechnological processes as well as their integration with physical and chemical processes for closing material cycling loops.

The University of Eastern Finland (UEF) is an international, participatory and inclusive scientific community. We have four faculties: the Philosophical Faculty, the Faculty of Science, Forestry and Technology (from Jan 1st, 2023), the Faculty of Health Sciences, and the Faculty of Social Sciences and Business Studies. Our campuses are located in Joensuu and Kuopio. The University of Eastern Finland’s high standard of interdisciplinary research provides solutions to global challenges and builds a sustainable future. Our research is based on open science that makes an impact. Our versatile research environments enable a high standard of scientific research at UEF. The University of Eastern Finland offers a great variety of Master’s and Bachelor’s degree programmes taught in English, as well as non-degree programmes that cater, in particular, to the needs of exchange students. Many of our Master’s degree students stay on board at UEF to continue their studies in our doctoral programmes.

The University of Oulu is an international research and innovation university engaged in multidisciplinary basic research and academic education. The University cooperates closely with industry and commerce, and has broad connections with hundreds of international research and educational institutions. The research and education on industrial biotechnology is conducted at Bioprocess Engineering Laboratory which operates at the Department of Process and Environmental Engineering in the Faculty of Technology. The main focus areas of the laboratory include biorefining technologies, high throughput bioprocess development, and development and optimization of recombinant production processes.

VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland is a globally networked multitechnological applied research organization providing high technology solutions and innovation services. We also have comprehensive expertise in industrial biotechnology, food technology, pharmaceutical development and diagnostics.

Our focus is on effective use of renewable natural resources in the production of industrial chemicals, biofuels and materials using enzyme biotools and cell factories. VTT hosts the Centre of Excellence in White Biotechnology – Green Chemistry, nominated by the Academy of Finland. VTT has large global networks both with the industry and academia. We employ 3150 professionals, from which approximately 500 are working in the area of biotechnology.