UPM collaborates with leading research organizations and small to medium sized companies in order to create a new ecosystem and novel wood-based innovations for the biomedical sector.
The sector faces a growing need for products sourced from natural materials that are free from animal-derived components as they offer many advantages over currently used materials.
UPM has been active in biomedicals for many years and has already commercialized GrowDex® nanocellulose product for cell culture. GrowDex provides an environment close to that found in the human body, giving researchers a tool to replicate and study the effect of diseases on cells. Plant-based biocompatible materials can accelerate market breakthrough for several new applications and technologies. In addition to cell culture, wood-based materials can be used e.g. in clinical applications and diagnostics.
Wood as a raw material in the biomedicals area has many attractive qualities and UPM is looking to expand its portfolio further.
