New biomaterials competence centre aims for leading role in Europe

A new biomaterials competence centre will be opened in Lappeenranta by the LAB University of Applied Sciences and LUT University, providing support to both business enterprises and research institutes. The business ecosystem that will start to revolve around the competence centre is expected to employ hundreds already within a decade. 

“We’re aiming for a leading European role in the field. Our goal is for the business ecosystem around the competence centre to generate 300 million euros in revenue and employ up to 300 people by 2030,” envisions Mikko Ojapelto, project director at LAB. 

Biomaterials, such as wood, straw, or the common reed, are already utilised for textile fibres, composites, and bioplastics. The future target is to increasingly replace fossil raw materials with biomaterials, even in advanced applications such as the chemical, food, cosmetics, and pharmaceutical industries.

Accelerant for the international market entry of innovations

LAB and LUT’s joint competence centre stems from collaboration with the region’s forest industry. LUT University conducts top laboratory research in fibre technology, whereas LAB’s contribution focuses on product and process development in a pilot plant, the commercialisation of innovations, and breaking through to international markets. 

“The utilisation of forest industry and agriculture side streams offers a wealth of global opportunities. LUT boasts top know-how that can help to process cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin into new raw materials for completely new uses,” says Katja Lahikainen, director of the Centre for Separation Technology at LUT University. 

LAB’s and LUT’s experts foresee that the biomaterials competence centre will also help tackle global challenges stemming from food production side streams, including the further utilisation of biomass from the cultivation of cereals, coffee, citrus fruit, cocoa, and olives. The competence centre will enable testing and solving problems on an industrial scale that exceeds conventional laboratory environments. 

In addition to forest industry actors, LAB, and LUT, the project partners include the South Karelian high-technology enterprises Nordic Bioproducts Group, Synbio Powerlabs, and Fiber-X.

Growth and vitality to South Karelia

The LAB University of Applied Sciences received financing in the amount of 2.6 million euros for the competence centre from the just transition fund of the Regional Council of South Karelia – the all-time largest amount of funding LAB has applied for and received. The competence centre also received 360 000 euros from the City of Lappeenranta for the years 2025 and 2026.

“The competence centre is an investment in the future. It embodies the strategic targets of South Karelia. The funding granted enables the credible and business-oriented development of bioeconomy research and business,” says Kirsi Vainio, development director at the Regional Council of South Karelia.

“We in Lappeenranta believe the further processing of biomaterials is the way forward. Our city provides an excellent operating environment for growth companies, and the area’s forest industry side streams ensure the local availability of bio-based raw materials. Innovative local growth companies in cooperation with LUT and LAB lay a strong foundation for the future business-focused competence centre,” states Ding Ma, director of economic development of the City of Lappeenranta.

“We are facing our greatest, highly inspiring challenge. The competence centre will allow us to expand our innovation activities and corporate collaboration and take our research to an international level in a new way,” summarises Kirsi Taivalantti, director of the Faculty of Technology at LAB.