UK-Finland Sustainability Knowledge Exchange 19-21 October 2020

1. Circular Bioeconomy
Alina Ruonala-Lindgren
Co-creation Manager
UK-Finland Sustainability
knowledge exchange, 21.10.2020
22/10/2020 VTT – beyond the obvious

2. How to make
our planet’s
resources
last for 10 billion
people?

3. 22/01/2020 VTT – beyond the obvious
VTT today
27%
of Finnish innovations
have links with VTT’s
competences
2,103
employees
patent families
406
of turnover from abroad*
47%
9 M€ Other operating income
89 M€ Government grant
147 M€ Turnover (parent 147 M€)
EUR
245M
VTT
is under the state ownership steering of the Ministry
of Economic Affairs and Employment
*VTT Group 2019

4. We are a major international player
22/01/2020 VTT – beyond the obvious
Global customer base
47% of our turnover is international.
European Research Ranking
VTT is the fourth most active operator in the EU Horizon
2020 programme, and the most networked relative to size.
International funding
VTT has acquired 17% of the EU Horizon funding
allocated to Finland (EUR 180 million in total).
Wide range of customers
9% of the world’s Gartner Global 500 companies
have partnered with VTT.

5. ▪ Tailored partnership
▪ Joint projects
▪ Innovation ecosystems
Innovations emerge from
collaboration

6. 22/01/2020 VTT – beyond the obvious
Innovations emerge through cooperation in
our partner network
Public
funding Commercial projectsCustomer
Progressive
and high-quality
scientific research,
decision-making and
training
VTT
Academic
research
Promote financial
growth and create
European
jobs
Research
institutions
+ businesses (EU)
EU funded
projects
Accelerate the global
growth of Finnish
businesses
Enterprises +
research institutions
(FI)
Joint Projects
Overall investment
divided among
precommercial
procurements
VTT +
3+ enterprises
Shared benefit
projects
Company-specific
R&D projects
1+ enterprises
+ VTT
Customer
Direct
customer agreement
Sector-specific
funding, ministries,
foundations,
scholarships, investment
funds
Research
institutions
+ businesses (EU)
Other public research
projects

7. 22/01/2020 VTT – beyond the obvious
Our strategic themes
Good life
Industrial
renewal
Resource
sufficiency
Climate
action
Safety and
security

8. Solutions for circular
economy
Replacing fossil-based raw materials with
renewables
Making materials circulate so that the planet’s
resources last for future generations
22/10/2020 VTT – beyond the obvious
With new
science &
technology
we can

9. We find opportunities in:
22/10/2020 VTT – beyond the obvious
1. Replacing plastics and
other fossil-based materials in
packaging, construction, chemicals and
composites.
2. Creating new high-value
products from biomaterials.
Recyclable, compostable products from
cellulose. Materials as a service.
Renewable materials

10. Thermoplastic cellulose helps
reduce food waste and
microplastics
As material, cellulose is safe, renewable, recyclable
and compostable. VTT developed a compostable,
lightweight packaging material by combining
cellulose films with different, but complementary
properties.
Does not require major changes to production lines
and is compatible with the cardboard recycling
system
Multiple prize winner:
- Circular Materials Challenge 2018 (Ellen
MacArthur Foundation)
- Ecopack Challenge 2018 (Packaging Innovations
ja Marks & Spencer)
22/10/2020 VTT – beyond the obvious
Case: ThermoCell

11. Wood transmits light! – VTT
develops a novel bio-based
optical fibre
VTT researchers were able to transmit light in
wood-based fibre. The optical fibre made of
cellulose is best suited for sensors that benefit
from the biodegradability. In the future, optical
cellulose fibre may allow, for instance, detecting
changes in the moisture level of buildings.
22/10/2020 VTT – beyond the obvious
Case: Bio-based optical fibre

12. Novel cellulose-based textile fibres are emerging
12
Sustainable textiles going towards industrial scale

13. 22/10/2020 VTT – beyond the obvious
Espoo / Bioruukki
Gasification
Pyrolysis
Cellulose fibre spinning
Biomass processing
Hydrometallurgy
Tampere
Polymeric materials
processing
Jyväskylä
Fibre based web production
Foam forming
Fluidised bed combustion
Separation tech
VTT pilot plants for bio and
circular economy
Regional innovation hubs with national,
European and global impact
Key features of VTT pilots:
• We cover the entire
development chain from raw
materials to end products
• Two types of pilots: Process
specific and multi-purpose
• Scale-up of own and
customers’ technology
development
Espoo / Otaniemi
Process chemistry
Food and brewery
Fermentation and bioprocessing
Roll-to-roll coating

14. Not just replacing fossils with
renewables but creating new
superior materials
Redefining Bioeconomy
With advanced
bio-based materials
www.finnceres.fi

15. KEY RESEARCH THEMES
Cellulose as
FUTURE
PLASTIC
Wood-derived
WATER & AIR
purification
systems
Lignocellulose-
based
ELECTRONICS
and ENERGY
HARVESTING
Fundamental scientific discoveries
Solid foundation
for FUTURE BIO-
REFINERIES

16. 1.
2.
3.
FOR OUR MEMBERS
Co-Creation - Companies
Collaboration- Research and innovation organizations and actors
Be in touch – Interested actors and companies
Special Members only-services
Information, chance to influence the Flagship, networking
The content of the collaboration varies between parties
Public seminar, communication (web pages, Twitter, publications etc.)

17. 22/10/2020 VTT – beyond the obvious
www.build4clima.fi

18. Alina Ruonala-Lindgren
Alina.ruonala-lindgren@vtt.fi
@VTTFinland
@AlinaRuonala
www.vtt.fi