SPINVERSE
11.5.2018 06:49:09 CEST | Business Wire | Press release
SWEETWOODS is a 43-million-euro joint pilot project that was recently granted 21 million euros in funding under the EU’s Horizon 2020 programme’s Bio-Based Industries financial instrument.
“Receiving the funding is a major victory for all parties involved in the project. Specialists representing the EU and bioindustries ranked the project as the best of the round of financing, giving the project full marks,” describes Peep Pitk , the R&D Manager of the Estonian Graanul Invest Group.
The SWEETWOODS project covers the entire material process. Breaking down the wood into pure sugars and lignin makes it possible to further refine the material into high added value products that can be used to replace oil-based chemicals and plastics.
“The project can revolutionise the future of the entire global material economy,” states Spinverse’s Managing Director Laura Koponen , who has been in charge of project preparation.
The objective is to implement the technology at a full industrial scale in four years. The project will create new material economy value chains where wood plays a vital role.
The biorefinement concept can transform 80 tonnes of hardwood into high added value products like bioplastics, insulation materials, cushions, fuels and sweeteners.
“The project allows us to produce with wood what is currently made with oil.” comments MetGen’s Chief Technology Officer Matti Heikkilä .
The project is based on collaboration between several companies. The responsible manager is the Estonian Graanul Biotech specialises in wood processing. The Finnish MetGen’s pioneering enzyme technology plays a key role in the efficient extraction of pure biomaterials for further processing. The biomaterial is used, for example, by the German Tecnaro GmbH for biocomposites, Armacell via Ultima Gmbh for elastomeric foams, the French Global Bioenergies for biofuels and the Belgian Recticel N.V. for polyurethane foams. The Finnish Spinverse is orchestrating the project.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180510005041/en/
Contact:
MetGen
Matti Heikkilä,
CTO
tel.
+358403540701
matti@metgen.com
or
Spinverse
Laura
Koponen
, Managing Director
tel. +358403500898
laura.koponen@spinverse.com
or
Graanul
Invest Group
Peep Pitk,
R&D Manager
tel.
+37255604106
peep.Pitk@graanulinvest.com
Link:
About Business Wire
Subscribe to releases from Business Wire
Subscribe to all the latest releases from Business Wire by registering your e-mail address below. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Latest releases from Business Wire
AGC Pharma Chemicals Validates Facilities for CDMO Services via Scientist.com’s VERIF.i® Program1.7.2026 13:55:00 CEST | Press release
Scientist.com, the life sciences industry’s leading AI-enabled R&D orchestration platform and digital marketplace, and AGC Pharma Chemicals, a leading global Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization (CDMO) for small molecule API and HPAPI, announced today that AGC has successfully completed an onsite assessment of its new Barcelona facility using the VERIF.i® supplier pre-assessment program. The newly expanded Barcelona site strengthens AGC’s position as a global leader in the development and commercialization of complex small molecule Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs) and highly potent APIs (HPAPIs). Designed for maximum flexibility, safety, and energy efficiency, the facility expands AGC’s end-to-end capabilities from gram-scale to ton-scale production under the highest quality and sustainability standards. “At AGC Pharma Chemicals, we place the highest priority on the integrity of our operational processes and the expertise of our frontline teams,” said Jun Kurihar
Introducing Arbex: a New Global Leader in Tissue and Hygiene1.7.2026 13:37:00 CEST | Press release
$3.4 billion joint venture between Suzano and Kimberly-Clark launches independent operations and reveals key corporate details Upon launch, Arbex becomes one of the world’s largest tissue and hygiene businesses, operating across more than 70 markets on five continents, with its headquarters in the Netherlands and an operational office in London. The company will produce and sell leading global and regional brands including Kleenex®, Scott®, Cottonelle®, Andrex®, and Viva®, with 22 manufacturing sites in 14 countries. Ehab Abou-Oaf, previously President of International Family Care & Professional at Kimberly-Clark, will directly transition in as Arbex’s CEO, with the role to be based in the United Kingdom alongside the majority of the global executive team. Arbex, a new global leader in tissue and hygiene, today commences operations as an independent business and unveils details of its brand, leadership team, and company structure. Announced in June 2025 as a $3.4 billion joint venture
Klarna has received a favorable ruling in PriceRunner litigation, awarding damages of $1.97 billion1.7.2026 13:19:00 CEST | Press release
Klarna Group plc (NYSE: KLAR) today announces that the court has ruled in PriceRunner’s favor, awarding $1.97 billion in damages in an antitrust case brought by PriceRunner against Google. The award compensates for lost revenue caused by Google's preferential treatment of its own comparison-shopping service over independent price-comparison services, conduct that also drives up costs for consumers. "When markets work well, everyone benefits. Consumers get higher quality at lower cost, companies stay focused on serving customers rather than defending position, and society is better off for it. This ruling supports a healthier, more competitive market for the way people compare products and services — and that is good for everyone who shops," said Dan Greaves, Head of Communications and Policy, Klarna. Klarna acquired PriceRunner in 2022 to add rich product discovery, price comparisons, and product reviews to the Klarna app, and drive high-intent traffic to retail partners. Klarna has si
Objectway Acquires Swiss Private Banking Technology Business From FNZ to Strengthen Its Pan-European Positioning1.7.2026 13:10:00 CEST | Press release
The acquisition consolidates its pan-European footprint, by expanding in Switzerland and Liechtenstein, as well as creating opportunities to expand in other international wealth centres. The investment enhances Objectway’s core-to-digital banking capabilities and strengthens its end-to-end offering for private banks and their cross-border wealth business.Key takeaways Objectway strengthens its positioning in Switzerland and in key international cross-border wealth management hubs. The acquisition enhances Objectway’s end-to-end private banking proposition for mid-sized to large institutions, leveraging core banking expertise and scalable digital solutions. Objectway extends international operational footprint across Switzerland, Singapore and Tunisia, accelerating its growth strategy and reinforcing its ability to support banks facing cross-border expansion, consolidation, regulatory pressure and increasing operational complexity. Objectway, a global wealthtech partner for banking, wea
NIQ Completes Acquisition of Flywheel’s China and Southeast Asia eCommerce Data & Insights Business, Expanding Digital Commerce Intelligence Capabilities1.7.2026 13:00:00 CEST | Press release
NielsenIQ (NYSE: NIQ), a leading consumer intelligence company, today announced that it has completed the acquisition of Flywheel’s China and Southeast Asia eCommerce Data & Insights business. The acquired business operates in China under the YiMian (“一面”) brand and is a leading provider of eCommerce, social commerce, and digital shelf solutions. The acquisition expands NIQ’s capabilities across China and Southeast Asia and strengthens its ability to measure and understand consumer behavior across retail, eCommerce, social commerce, and digital environments — advancing NIQ’s mission to deliver The Full View™, the most complete understanding of consumer behavior across online and offline channels. It also enhances NIQ’s data and analytics foundation by expanding access to rich digital commerce signals that support the development of more advanced analytics and AI-powered solutions. By bringing together NIQ’s global intelligence, analytics, and retail measurement capabilities with the ac
In our pressroom you can read all our latest releases, find our press contacts, images, documents and other relevant information about us.
Visit our pressroom