Wood-based bio-innovation and knowledge in BLOOM
JAMK is building the Bioeconomy Campus as a strong bioeconomy knowledge and innovation hub with the support of international networks and development projects. In addition to RDI2CluB, Horizon2020 project, BLOOM, launched in the end of 2017. The two projects met in Stockholm for a partner meeting in March 21-22, 2018.
BLOOM is a three-year project involving 12 partners, including JAMK University of Applied Sciences. The project is coordinated by the Centre for Social Innovation in Austria. BLOOM aims to raise public awareness and understanding of the bioeconomy products and coming innovations.
BLOOM activities will both instigate public dialogue and involve the society in the bioeconomy innovation via co-creation actions. BLOOM will stimulate activities and dialogue about the bioeconomy at both a regional and EU level. The purpose is also to attract young people to the field.
Project partners in Austria, Belgium, Finland, Germany, the Netherlands, Poland, Spain and Sweden will create five hubs (communities of practice) that will engage a range of stakeholders from civil society, innovation networks, local research centres, industry, teachers and research institutes.
JAMK will work together with the Swedish Vetenskap and Allmänhet (Public & Science) and in dialogue with stakeholders, to develop a regional hub for Finland/Sweden that will have a focus on developing a knowledge hub on wood-based materials and products.
From fundamental research to commercial innovations
Finland and Sweden are both active in research, development and innovation on new wood-based materials and products. The possibilities range from super-strong bio-kevlar materials to super-light foams, from transparent wood-based film or windows to anti-bacterial materials and 3D-printed nano-cellulose products.
Extraordinary research initiatives in Sweden are driving the change forward. In Stockholm, we visited the KHT Wallenberg Wood Science Center, which is a joint research center of KTH Royal Institute of Technology and Chalmers started in 2009. We also learned about the Treesearch initiative, which is a unique industry supported national platform in Sweden for open science on wood-based products.
Wood is indeed versatile. As an example, it might not be long before we have functioning demonstrations of cars made mostly of bio-based materials!
Ps. One of the highlights of the research collaboration between Finland and Sweden is Tandem Forest Values that is a bilateral forest research project that was established in 2017 as Sweden’s official centenary gift to Finland. The gift comprises of 12 postdoc positions, each worth 2 million SEK. The calls for applications are administrated by KSLA, The Royal Swedish Academy of Agriculture and Forestry. More information on the calls and application criteria can be found at the KSLA website (in English).