Boost for bioenergy business through new research programme
Sustainable Bioenergy Solutions for Tomorrow (BEST) is a new research programme launched by two SHOK companies, CLEEN and FIBIC. BEST is the first extensively cross-SHOK and genuinely joint research programme, managed by Spinverse. Tekes has agreed to provide 55% of the programme funding.
”The aim of this cross-SHOK programme is to build up a shared understanding of future business potential related to bioenergy, as well as the necessary know-how and competences in exploiting it for companies’ product and business development projects,” says Christine Hagström-Näsi, CEO at FIBIC.
In terms of the national economy, the major impacts of the programme are provision of employment and energy self-sufficiency. Finnish expertise in the bioenergy field provides also an opportunity for international leadership and a way to expansion of business activity.
New kinds of businesses and solutions
Currently, the global economy is growing fast and thus energy consumption is increasing. Climate change and oil depletion create challenges, and new means are needed to resolve these challenges. The vision of the BEST programme for Finnish businesses and R&D community is to develop the world’s best know-how and an ability to utilise the business potential of bioenergy worldwide.
“Long-term goals of the programme include growth of bioenergy business in Finland, strong and competitive export business, better matching of know-how to the requirements of export destinations, and a radically improved way of operating as an ecosystem of bioenergy, able to provide comprehensive solutions. Attention will also be paid to making full use of the Finnish CHP+ expertise,” says CTO Jatta Jussila-Suokas from CLEEN.
The short-term goal for the Finnish bioenergy community is to have an up-to-date, shared strategic knowledge base. This would enable wise and proactive decision making for companies in changing operating conditions.
The participants to the research programme are small and large forest, energy, technology and consultancy companies (21) and universities and research institutions (13). The duration of the research programme is four years and its annual volume about EUR 4 million. Tekes is funding the programme in its initial two-year period by EUR 4.2 million. The programme constitutes important international collaboration.