Spinverse supported South-Eastern Finland University of Applied Sciences (Xamk) and the international FIBRIX consortium in securing funding from the Circular Bio-based Europe Joint Undertaking (CBE JU) for a project that aims to unlock higher-value uses for underutilised forest biomass. The newly funded initiative will advance bio-based materials and strengthen Europe’s circular bioeconomy by enabling new cellulose- and lignin-based products from forest biomass currently left in the forest or used for energy.
About the project
Coordinated by Xamk, FIBRIX (Forest Integrated Biomass Refining for Innovation and Excellence) addresses one of the key challenges in Europe’s bioeconomy: how to make better use of underutilised forest biomass such as branches, bark and insect-damaged wood. The project will develop a novel value chain that converts these currently low-value feedstocks into high-performance bio-based materials derived from cellulose and lignin for advanced end uses including textiles, carbon fibres and 3D printing. The FIBRIX consortium includes 9 partners in 6 countries.
At Xamk’s FiberLaboratory in Savonlinna, the work focuses on green chemistry-based fractionation methods in collaboration with LUT University and other international partners. Xamk’s Electronics 3K Factory contributes expertise in advanced 3D printing solutions.
Identifying untapped forest biomass streams in Finland, Sweden and Romania
FIBRIX will identify and characterise untapped forest biomass streams in Finland, Sweden and Romania, while developing sustainable harvesting, storage and pre-treatment solutions for their efficient use. The project will also establish a modular fractionation and conversion platform, validate new cellulose and lignin valorisation applications and support digital tools, stakeholder engagement and policy development around sustainable biomass valorisation.
In the longer term, FIBRIX is expected to strengthen rural economies, improve resource efficiency, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and create new industrial opportunities for circular, bio-based materials in Europe.
Spinverse’s role in supporting the consortium
Spinverse supported the consortium throughout the highly competitive CBE JU proposal process, where only 3 out of 45 proposals were selected. This support helped translate the consortium’s scientific ambition into a strong funding proposal. Research director Lasse Pulkkinen from Xamk concludes:
Spinverse provided essential support in consortium building and proposal development, ensuring that all key success factors were thoroughly addressed. Through active dialogue with the coordinator and the consortium, the scientific vision of R&D partners was translated into a successful proposal leading to the funding of the FIBRIX project.
Spinverse also supported the coordinator and the project consortium in their Grant Agreement Process. Project Manager Kati Jordan comments on Spinverse support as follows:
During the GAP phase, Spinverse provided highly structured and responsive support through a dedicated contact person. Communication was clear throughout the process, creating strong confidence that the overall coordination was consistently under control. The support was delivered in a way that enabled continuous learning, providing valuable insights and capabilities for future projects. Both the level and format of support were flexibly tailored to our needs.
FIBRIX is funded by the European Union’s Horizon Europe programme and supported by the Circular Bio-based Europe Joint Undertaking (CBE JU) and its members. The project starts in September 2026 and runs for three years.
Photo credit Xamk: Xamk FiberLaboratory in Savonlinna
Get in touch with our bioeconomy experts if you want to increase your chances of securing CBE JU funding for your project!
Jyrki Salmi
Principal Consultant
jyrki.salmi@spinverse.com
+358 50 305 4970