Summary
- Profile Type
- Technology offer
- POD Reference
- TOEE20250424006
- Term of Validity
- 12 May 2025 - 12 May 2026
- Company's Country
- Estonia
- Type of partnership
- Commercial agreement with technical assistance
- Research and development cooperation agreement
- Targeted Countries
- All countries
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General information
- Short Summary
- Estonian company has developed an innovative biorefinery technology converting sustainably sourced forestry residues into high-quality, renewable lignin and wood sugars. They can replace fossil-based chemicals in applications including bio-asphalt, adhesives, resins, bioplastics and other biochemical products. They seek commercial partnerships, joint application development agreements and licensing deals to integrate their renewable materials into industrial processes and consumer products.
- Full Description
-
An innovative Estonian manufactory company specializes in bio-based solutions through advanced biorefining technology. Using proprietary wood fractionation processes, the company transforms renewable forestry residues into high-value, eco-friendly materials - specifically high-purity lignin and wood-derived sugars - suitable for a wide range of industrial and commercial applications.
The company’s core technology is a scalable and environmentally efficient biorefinery process that produces clean lignin and fermentable sugars from wood. These renewable materials can replace fossil-based ingredients in products such as bio-asphalt additives, adhesives, resins, bioplastics, packaging, and chemicals - helping industries lower their carbon emissions.
One of the key innovations is the ability to consistently produce lignin and sugars of high purity and quality from wood residues. This allows for better performance and compatibility across various applications and supports the shift toward a circular bioeconomy by turning low-value biomass into useful industrial inputs.
The Estonian company actively seeks international partnerships with industrial firms, chemical producers, and technology developers. Collaboration opportunities include commercial agreements, co-development of applications, and licensing of the company’s biorefining technology to promote the use of sustainable materials worldwide. - Advantages and Innovations
-
An Estonian company has developed a novel wood fractionation technology that enables full valorisation of lignocellulosic biomass, especially hardwood, into high-purity bio-based materials. Unlike traditional pulping or biorefining methods, which typically focus on extracting cellulose and burn the remaining lignin and hemicellulose for energy, this approach captures and refines all three key biomass fractions: cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin. This significantly improves carbon efficiency and unlocks diverse industrial applications for each component.
A major advantage of the company's process is its ability to produce a high-quality lignin-rich material that is consistent, low in ash, and has tunable properties suited for advanced applications. Traditional kraft lignin is often variable, sulfur-rich, and used in lower-value markets. By contrast, this refined lignin material offers superior compatibility in adhesives, resins, and bitumen products due to its clean composition and predictable performance.
The hemicellulose stream, which contains C5 sugars and organic acids, can be used to produce biochemicals or biodegradable materials, while the cellulose fraction can be converted into various bio-based chemicals or materials. This integrated use of all biomass components supports a more sustainable and circular alternative to fossil-based or less efficient bio-refining systems.
Compared to conventional technologies, this process delivers a higher yield of valuable bioproducts per ton of wood, accommodates a wider range of feedstocks, and results in a significantly reduced carbon footprint. These innovations pave the way for customized, bio-based alternatives in industries currently dependent on fossil-derived chemicals and materials. - Stage of Development
- Available for demonstration
- Sustainable Development Goals
- Goal 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
- IPR status
- IPR granted
Partner Sought
- Expected Role of a Partner
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The partnerships should be primarily with industrial companies, but also open to collaboration with research institutions and academia where relevant.
Activity:
Ideal partners operates in sectors such as chemicals, adhesives, coatings, construction materials (e.g. asphalt or concrete additives), composites, bioplastics, agriculture, and packaging. The company is looking for organizations that are actively working to reduce fossil-based content in their product portfolios by integrating bio-based materials or developing next-generation sustainable products.
Preferred partners should have R&D capabilities or expertise in application development, particularly in resin formulation, polymer chemistry, or material science. Experience with lignin, biopolymers, or renewable carbon feedstocks is considered a strong asset.
Role:
Partners are expected to either integrate the Estonian company’s lignin-rich material or other bio-based fractions into their product formulations or collaborate on the co-development of new applications using these materials. Typical collaborative steps include joint testing, prototyping, and performance validation.
In research-focused collaborations, partners may also contribute to fundamental studies on structure-property relationships, process optimization, or end-of-life considerations such as recyclability or biodegradability. In commercial partnerships, the role may include support for scaling production and providing market insights to drive adoption of sustainable materials. - Type and Size of Partner
- SME 50 - 249
- SME 11-49
- University
- R&D Institution
- Type of partnership
- Commercial agreement with technical assistance
- Research and development cooperation agreement
Dissemination
- Technology keywords
- 07002005 - Wood Products
- Market keywords
- 08001015 - Other speciality materials
- 09005 - Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing, Animal Husbandry & Related Products
- 08001004 - Fibre-reinforced (plastic) composites
- Targeted countries
- All countries