Finnish Metsäklusteri Oy initiated a five-year research program Future Biorefinery

Apr 21, 2009. /Lesprom Network/. The Finnish forest industry’s research company, Metsäklusteri Oy, has initiated a five-year research program, Future Biorefinery. With a budget of Euro 50 million, the investment is intended to develop innovation and revitalize the forest industry, as Papernet informed Lesprom Network. The objective of the research program is to further increase utilization of wood raw material. New products – biochemicals and new material – will be developed from cellulose, lignin and hemicelluloses. Some of the technology expected to result from the research venture will be utilized in the forest industry’s current plants and processes, but also provide entirely new utilization possibilities for future biorefineries. The first research results are expected to be presented in about one and a half years. Future Biorefinery was initiated by Metsäklusteri, the cooperation organization between the paper industry and universities and colleges in Finland, which was established in spring 2007.