Document / search engine: Overcoming hurdles for innovation in industrial biotechnology in Europe Finland Workshop Report
Framework project: The Industrial Biotech Research and Innovation Platforms Centre - towards Technological Innovation and solid foundations for a growing industrial biotech sector in Europe
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Website link: http://industrialbiotech-europe.eu/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/Finland-Workshop-Report.pdf
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The fourth BIO-TIC regional workshop was held at the Finlandia Hall, Helsinki, Finland on 3rd October
2013 and brought together 18 experts to discuss the potential for IB, to identify hurdles and enablers,
and to suggest novel mechanisms by which IB uptake could be facilitated in the Nordic region.
Reflecting the long history of Finland in forestry, some bio-based sectors (e.g. enzymes and biofuels),
research and engineering, the participants considered feedstock availability, logistics and technical
know-how as the main regional strengths. On the other hand, the main weaknesses were identified to
be related to business development and to two interlinked themes – cost competitiveness issues and
the lack of supporting policies to stimulate market demand.
With regard to market development, the experts emphasised
identification of local strengths (high value added products utilising local raw materials)
support for innovative start-ups and SMEs
need for investment (both domestic and foreign), and
creation of an operational environment that does not depend on subsidies.
In R&D, the participants called for
closing the gap between basic and applied research
reduction of production costs by more efficient downstream and recovery technologies
technologies for specialty products
tree breeding and optimisation of feedstock utilisation
In the area of feedstock and policy, the participants called for
developing agriculture and forestry into a business and thus ensuring the availability and costefficient production of local feedstocks
identification of waste based feedstocks and consequent development of recycling systems
clarification and stability of regulations and rules on the definition of waste, calculation of
emission reductions, and biomass certification
A wide range of mechanisms by which the IB industry could be further promoted in Finland were
suggested and discussed within the workshop. Several actions to reduce the cost of biomass so that it
could be effectively used in IB processes were discussed including mobilization of forest biomass,
increasing the amount of agricultural residues and waste biomass collected, and improving logistics, for
example through biomass terminals. Support for demo and flagship projects, combined with a stable
long term and market sensible policies can help develop new technologies and provide more support for
businesses. Enhancing cooperation between academia and industry could be addressed through
mechanisms such as new project models focusing on entire value chains from feedstocks to final
products. These would bring together relevant stakeholders but exclude competing companies to avoid
the risk of conflict of interests. In general, it was felt that the Finnish IB industry would be better placed
to focus on fine chemicals and niche markets rather than bulk commodity products.
Countries/regions described/represented: Finland
Year: 2014