During the two-day virtual event, Bioeconomy Co-Creation, experts in the field of forestry, pulp and paper from all over the world gathered to inspire one another, network and find possible co-creation prospects. The event was organized on 2–3 June by the Finnish-Swedish development project Future Cleantech Solutions. The project aims at promoting collaboration opportunities for cleantech companies within the Kvarken region, a region including counties in both Finland and Sweden.

– We had over 170 registered participants from over 10 countries watching the live stream during the virtual event and representatives from 14 different companies sharing their insights through interviews and innovative pitches. We also had the pleasure of receiving greetings from Ibrahim Baylan, the Minister of Business, Industry and Innovation from the Swedish Government at the opening of the event. In his greeting he emphasized that a competitive forest industry is central to achieving our common goals and a good condition for continuing to use the raw material from the forest in a smart, innovative, and responsible way, says Jon Moraeus, International Business Developer at the Municipality of Örnsköldsvik and Organizer for Bioeconomy Co-Creation trough the project Future Cleantech Solutions.

At the end of the event days, all participants had the chance to mingle at the meet and greet session.

– Many of the participants took the opportunity to network and find new areas of collaboration and sharing of ideas in either group discussions or one-to-one meetings during the meet and greet session. The international networking was inspiring to see, says Sanna Näsström, Communicator at Future Cleantech Solutions and Organizer for Bioeconomy Co-Creation.

From large corporations to SMEs – common goal to collaborate

All speakers at the event had a common key message: we must join forces to utilize our forests in a sustainable way in working towards the 2030 climate goals.

Many of the large corporations were looking for collaboration with SMEs having innovative ideas, products or solutions to make use of their residual streams in a sustainable and profitable way. For example, both Katariina Kemppainen, Investment Manager at Metsä Group’s innovation company Metsä Spring and Lars Salomonsson, Project Manager at Metsä Board Husum stated that they are especially interested in collaborating with companies that can use the Metsä Group residual streams for new innovative products.

Also Annika Sundell, Tech. Lic, Executive President Innovation and Development at Walki group stated that they are interested in finding collaboration partners. In their case they want to meet partners with great packaging ideas, suggestions of materials that can bring barriers to the packaging and especially biobased components to packaging. Another area of interest is finding collaborations that enables Walki to take their zero waste concept outside of the packaging.

The Swedish Government is investing SEK 350 million in order to build an biorefinery pilot plant in Örnsköldsvik. Clas Engström, Project Manager at RISE Research Institutes of Sweden, is coordinating the upcoming pilot plant that will be an innovation node for RISE Bioeconomy in Sweden and internationally. It is a scale up building the pilot plant and creating an innovative environment where companies, entrepreneurs and researchers can meet to develop new products and solutions.

All of the SMEs giving short pitches at the event had truly something smart to offer: from innovations that help turn someone else’s waste into something useful to solutions that actually reduce the amount of residue in production. Pitching SMEs were Multi Channel Sweden, Sekab, PR Pulping, Järven Ecotech, Eurocon, Plantvation, Jukolux, Primo Finland, C-Con and Innomost.

I have an innovative solution, how do I proceed?

During the Bioeconomy Co-Creation event, many electronic business cards were exchanged and possible co-operations found, but what if you missed the opportunity to participate?

– It is always possible to contact us at the Future Cleantech Solutions project. We can connect you with our extensive network of professionals in the cleantech field in the Kvarken region. Together we can achieve a greener future, says Moraeus.

• A recording of the event will also be published in a few weeks, with all the contact details of the speakers at the event. Follow our social media updates!
• Welcome to view the visual summaries of the event: Live scribing by Bigbrain.agency

Future Cleantech Solutions runs 2019–2021 and is 60% financed by the EU program Interreg Botnia-Atlantica. Other financiers are Regional Council of Ostrobothnia, Region Västerbotten, Region Västernorrland, Municipality of Umeå, Umeå Energi, Municipality of Skellefteå, Skellefteå Kraft, Municipality of Örnsköldsvik, Vaasa Region Development Company VASEK, Technology Center Merinova, City of Vaasa, City of Kokkola and Kokkolanseudun Kehitys Ltd KOSEK. Kompetensspridning i Umeå AB is the project owner.