EARTO INNOVATION AWARDS 2020 - Technology for a better world - www.earto.eu
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EARTO INNOVATION AWARDS 2020 European Association of Research and Technology Organisations Technology for a better world - www.earto.eu
European Association
of Research and Technology Organisations
EARTO - European Association of Research
and Technology Organisations
Founded in 1999, EARTO promotes Research and
Technology Organisations and represents their interest in
Europe. EARTO network counts over 350 RTOs in more
than 20 countries. EARTO members represent 150,000
highly-skilled researchers and engineers managing a wide
range of innovation infrastructures.
CONTRIBUTE
EU RD&I PROGRAMMES
GLOBAL CHALLENGES
EUROPE’S
INDUSTRIAL COMPETITIVENESS
EUROPEAN RESEARCH AREA
2 EARTO
TABLE OF CONTENTS
EARTO INNOVATION AWARDS 2020 06-07
IMPACT DELIVERED
FIRST PRIZE 10-11
Helmholtz – Slowing down osteoporosis
SECOND PRIZE 12-13
CSEM – Non-obtrusive technique needed
THIRD PRIZE 14-15
Fraunhofer – Safe and non-toxic fire-protection gel
MORE INNOVATIONS 16-22
IMPACT EXPECTED
FIRST PRIZE 26-27
VTT – Eggs without chickens
SECOND PRIZE 28-29
TECNALIA – Paralysed patients are not alone
THIRD PRIZE 30-31
RISE – Superheroes’ filaments come to life
MORE INNOVATIONS 32-37
RTOs INTERNATIONAL NETWORK (RIN)
DISCOVER
DISCOVER MORE INNOVATIONS
INNOVATIONS FROM
FROM EARTO RINRTOs
MEMBERS 16-33
40-49
Innovation Awards 2020 3
TO EARTO
Sine Qua NonEARTO EARTO
EARTO EARTOProsperity
For Productivity, EARTO EAR
And Growth: Investments In
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Research, Development
EAR
TO EARTO EARTO EARTO
And Innovation
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TO EARTO EARTO EARTO
Governments around the globe are currently working on reinforcing their public health
sectors fighting COVID-19 and taking actions to alleviate the socio-economic impact
of the pandemic. As key RD&I actors, RTOs are supporting those efforts.
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Thanks to their technological competences, digital tools and data analysis capabilities,
EARTO members are actively supporting the health sector with upgrading the
manufacturing capabilities, quality testing and distribution of key medical supplies
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and equipment, while supporting the pharmaceutical development of testing and
diagnosis, as well as of new treatments and vaccines. RTOs worldwide are working
alongside their governments in today’s crisis management. EARTO members support
their governments in developing specific policy measures to alleviate the pandemic’s
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socio-economic consequences, helping the society to recover from the crisis.
Understandably, many are focused on the immediate survival. But even deeper crises
are ahead of us unless we respond in time: climate change and the collapse of natural
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ecosystems must be stopped.
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4 EARTO
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It would be a great pity if we were unable to imagine a better world than the one we
had before this crisis. We must look far ahead into future and seize opportunities that
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can offer well-being also decades from now. Science, technology and innovation open
up numerous paths for us, as long as we dare to take them. Deployment of new
technologies requires investment: laboratories, research and experimental facilities
for trial and error and learning - professional research environments, where European
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companies can develop and scale-up new solutions.
Tackling the crisis and ensuring Europe’s economic recovery and industrial
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competitiveness cannot be successful without Research, Development and Innovation
(RD&I) investments. Given that RD&I investments are the key drivers of productivity,
prosperity and growth, the European leaders need to put forward an ambitious EU
RD&I policy and related investments that reduce the level of uncertainty of private
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RD&I investments, enhance Europe’s technology sovereignty and make the green and
digital transition a reality. As stated in the EARTO policy recommendations, fostering
cross-border RD&I collaboration and supporting a European RD&I ecosystem approach
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along strategic value chains is the only solution to face the global societal and industrial
challenges of today. The Pillar II of Horizon Europe is crucial and, more than ever
before, now is the time to act as strong and competitive Europeans and aim at targeting
3% of GDP spending on R&D. The future of the European Research Area (ERA) will be
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at stake without increased investments in research and technology.
The research community and RD&I stakeholders (RTOs, Industries, Universities),
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including EARTO, joined forces to bring research at the heart of the institutional
negotiations and discussions. To answer future pandemics and challenges, and to
have a hope for a brighter future, R&D should be THE priority in Europe.
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This year, the EARTO Innovation Awards 2020 achieved the impossible. EARTO
members showcased 32 impressive and real-life innovations, which are set in the
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next pages. Not only do they demonstrate meaningful examples on how RTOs create
significant socio-economic impact, they also focus on today’s challenges.
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Sky has no limits, so does RTOs’ impact!
RTO EARTO EARTO EART Antti Vasara
President & CEO, VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland
Innovation Awards 2020 5
12
EARTO INNOVATION
AWARDS 2020
YEARS
From the lab to your everyday life. RTOs
innovate to improve your health and well-being,
your safety and security, your mobility
and connectivity. Their technologies cover
all scientific fields. RTOs are non-profit
EARTO
organisations with public missions to support
society. To do so, they closely cooperate with
industries, large and small, as well as a wide
INNOVATION
array of public actors. The innovations
presented in this brochure give a flavour of
their work. They include real life examples
AWARDS
which illustrate RTOs’ focus on solving
real-world problems and addressing today’s
challenges! The EARTO Innovation Awards
celebrate this year its twelfth edition.
NUMBER OF
APPLICATIONS SO FAR
262
APPLICATIONS
51
RTOs
22
COUNTRIES
NUMBER OF
WINNERS SO FAR
51
WINNERS
16
RTOs
12
COUNTRIES
6 EARTO
Impact Delivered
For this category, the rewarded innovations (product or services) have social and/or
economic relevance, innovative originality, are today on the market and have proven
their impact.
Impact Expected
For this category, the rewarded innovations (product or services) have social and/or
economic relevance, innovative originality, are not yet on the market as a final product/
service but promise to have a great impact.
The award competition is adjudicated
by an independent jury
Peter Dröll Simon Edmonds Christian Ehler
Director, Deputy Executive Chair Member of the
DG Research & Innovation, & Chief Business Officer, European Parliament
European Commission Innovate UK
Jana Kolar Ernst Kristiansen Juan Antonio Tébar
Member of the Governing Board, Vice-President Research, Director,
EIT SINTEF CDTI
Innovation Awards 2020 7
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Discover
ED IMPACT DELIVERED
more innovations
from RTOs
IMP
PACT DELIVERED IMPACT DE
LIVERED IMPACT DELIVERED
ED IMPACT DELIVERED IMP
LIVERED IMPACT DELIVERED
ED IMPACT DELIVERED IMP
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ELIVERED IMPACT DELIVERE
D IMPACT DELIVERED IMPA
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PACT DELIVERED IMPACT DE
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Innovation Awards 2020 9
01
IMPACT
DELIVERED
FIRST PRIZE
HELMHOLTZ ASSOCIATION
Slowing down osteoporosis
ABOUT 1,000 KITS HAVE BEEN SOLD
94-100%
TO CUSTOMERS AND APPROXIMATELY SENSITIVITY
CAN BE REACHED COMPARED
RECEIVED €240,000 IN THE FIRST TO PREVIOUS DXA METHOD
SIX MONTHS
THERE ARE CURRENTLY 120 INTERNET-BASED SALES PER
15 HOME - AND MED-KIT ORDERS MONTH ARE EXPECTED IN THE THIRD
PER WEEK QUARTER OF 2020
Helmholtz Association is Germany’s largest scientific organisation. It represents more than 40,000
employees in 19 research centres across Germany. The Helmholtz Association conducts top-level research
to identify and explore the major challenges facing society, science and the economy. Its work is divided
into six research fields. Helmholtz transfers scientific knowledge into innovation and on into the market and
so contributes to creating the technological basis for a competitive society.
GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel is a world-wide leading institute of marine research.
It investigates chemical, physical, biological and geological processes of the seafloor, oceans and ocean
margins and their interactions with the atmosphere.
www.helmholtz.de www.geomar.de
10 EARTOLove your bones and prevent
future “break-ups”
In Europe, more than 20M people suffer from reach many billion euros. The Helmholtz Centre for
osteoporosis. Estimations project that this number Ocean Research Kiel (GEOMAR), member of the
will further increase due to the expanding population Helmholtz Association of German Research Centres,
on the continent. That means, 33.9M people will be has developed a technology that diagnoses
diagnosed with osteoporosis in 2025, corresponding osteoporosis years earlier compared to current
to an increase of 23%. Osteoporosis mostly affects standards and long before the disease becomes
the elderly, and among those primarily women, who serious. The innovation has been officially
suffer from chronic skeletal pain and reduced commercialised by a spin-off company from
mobility after a bone has fractured, which also often GEOMAR, which is working with a strategic medical
results in psychological distress such as depression, laboratory to collect additional individual basic
loss of mobility and isolation resulting thereof. It is medical data, providing an optimal individual
true that the individual quality of live increases when diagnosis and medical result for each patient.
osteoporosis is diagnosed and treated earlier than it
is currently possible. The estimated economic costs,
spent for the treatment of osteoporotic fractures,
The osteolabs technology makes it possible to diagnose calcium loss and osteoporosis in humans earlier and more
accurately than ever before.
Leveraging the current Lighting up new Creating high-added
diagnostic gap opportunities value kits
The current standard DXA method of diagnosing The Helmholtz Association of German GEOMAR’s spin off "osteolabs" received funding
osteoporosis uses low intensity but invasive Research Centres, a member of EARTO since from the European Fund for regional
radiation to measure bone density. Therefore, 2015, has enabled this change with its development (EFRE). To date it has launched
this method is mostly applied only after a bone osteolabs CIM (Calcium Isotope based Marker) two test-kits, the "med-kit" for the doctors’
has broken to verify its cause. The used X-rays technology which detects the disease days to office and the "home-kit" for home private use.
can also allow different interpretations, which weeks after bone loss starts. This CIM method It has now a European client base covering
depend on the experience of the medical staff. introduces a new, powerful, and practical set Austria, Switzerland, Belgium as well as Turkey.
The radiation based on this DXA method is of completely new diagnostic tools, which is The initial user of this CIM method are
relatively insensitive and osteoporosis can only much more sensitive and harmless for the institutional customers, which ordered more
be diagnosed if more than 30% of the original patient. Due to its non-invasive nature, doctors than 1,000 test-kits. Outcomes of online-based
bone mass is already lost. As a result, many can take preventive measures and monitor its sales are also expected to increase. The test
osteoporosis cases are overseen due to the success almost in real time, adapt them comes at a fraction of the price compared
limitations of the DXA method. individually or change them if necessary. The to the medical costs for the treatment of
therapy monitoring can be performed only osteoporotic fractures, thereby reducing
with a small amount of blood and urine, treatment costs significantly and offering good
without any X-ray laboratory needed. This chances of preventing or slowing down the
process significantly saves resources, money disease’s progress.
as well as specialist personnel.
Innovation Awards 2020 1102
IMPACT
DELIVERED
SECOND PRIZE
CSEM
Non-obtrusive technique needed
CSEM’S TECHNOLOGY IS EXPECTED TO
PENETRATE 2% OF THE TOTAL MEDICAL CSEM’S TECHNOLOGY CAN
POTENTIALLY HELP AROUND
MARKET, LEADING TO ANNUAL REVENUES
OF APPROXIMATIVELY 1.4B HYPERTENSIVE PEOPLE GLOBALLY
$40M IN 5 YEARS
CSEM’S TECHNOLOGY ALLOWS
CSEM CURRENTLY HOLDS A LARGE PATENT
HYPERTENSIVE PATIENTS TO HAVE A FULL
7 PATENTS
PORTFOLIO ( ) IN THE
24-HOUR VIEW OF THEIR
DOMAIN OF BLOOD PRESSURE MONITORING
BLOOD PRESSURE PROFILE
CSEM is a Swiss private, non-profit research and technology organisation with 35 years of Deep
Tech development and transfer to industry. A bridge and catalyst for the transfer of technology and
know-how between science and the economy, CSEM continually adapts its research focus
to meet industry’s needs. Today, CSEM supplies a broad range of markets - including
automotive, medical, machine tools, and space exploration - with an even broader range of
technological solutions.
www.csem.ch
12 EARTOWorry less with cuff-less blood
pressure monitoring
Hypertension is one of the greatest global health blood pressure consistently and effectively over
epidemics. Around 1.4B people are hypertensive time. Responding to this challenge, CSEM has
worldwide, from whom 50M Europeans. According developed a patented sensing technology which is
to statistics, less than 50% of treated individuals capable of estimating blood pressure values from
have their blood pressure under control. This optical signals. Through collaborations with Ava,
“silent killer” has a significant associated cost Biospectal and CSEM’s start-up AKTIIA, this highly
which could be reduced once regular monitoring is accurate technology has overcome all limitations
made possible. The greatest barriers to managing of traditional inflatable cuffs for blood pressure
hypertension are difficulty in providing monitors at monitoring in various form factors.
a global scale, and tracking patient/population
CSEM’s patented technology offers a wearable multi-sensor solution for a cuff-less blood pressure monitoring.
No more blood Tracking blood pressure Offering accurate blood
pressure cuff through optical means pressure solutions
The only existing non-invasive and medically EARTO member CSEM, in collaboration with its CSEM’s patented technology is considered one
certified method to measure blood pressure start-up AKTIIA and two other Swiss entities, of the most breakthrough solutions in the field
and thus to help manage hypertension is Biospectal and Ava, have created an easy-to- of vital sign monitoring. In the recent years,
through the inflatable blood pressure cuff, use sensing technology which provides CSEM has validated its medical accuracy in 8
either automated or using a stethoscope. continuous blood pressure estimations capable published clinical studies and is bringing this
However, this traditional way of measuring of tracking short- to long-term blood pressure innovation to the market by supporting its
blood pressure has certain limitations when it variations. This optical monitoring technology commercialisation in various form factors
comes to availability to the general population, can easily be integrated in various form factors through its partnership with AKTIIA, Ava and
measurement comfort and cost. Several such as smartphones, bracelets or textiles. For Biospectal. CSEM’s technology provides a
companies have addressed this medical instance, when embedded in a wearable device, promising tool for fighting the increasing
necessity by proposing cuff-less alternatives it measures blood pressure in an inconspicuous incidence of hypertension. Not only does it offer
with wearable devices. Nevertheless, no clinical manner, providing the user with a full 24-hour an affordable and medically certified wearable
acceptance and medical-grade accuracy has view of their blood pressure profile. monitoring solution, but also represents an
been achieved so far. interesting business opportunity, with a chance
to grasp a significant share of the market
of blood pressure monitoring devices in
the years to come.
Innovation Awards 2020 1303
IMPACT
DELIVERED
THIRD PRIZE
FRAUNHOFER
Safe and non-toxic fire-protection gel
FRAUNHOFER’S HYDROGEL DEVELOPMENT THE INNOVATION WON THE TENDER FOR A
WAS DESIGNED IN A PERIOD FOR ONLY
CONSTRUCTION OF A 110m TOWER IN
4 YEARS (2015 TO 2018) FRANKFURT
THE NEW GLAZING PRODUCTION METHOD FRAUNHOFER AND COLLABORATOR
CAN REDUCE FIRE PROTECTION GEL HÖRMANN VERIFIED THE FUNCTION OF
THICKNESS BY3mm FIRE-RESISTANT COMPONENTS IN GAS
AND WEIGHT BY 12% BURNERS OF UP TO 1,000°C
The Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft is a leading research and technology organisation with 74 institutes
and research institutions throughout Europe. It employs a staff of around 28,000 who work with an
annual research budget totalling €2.8B, 70% of which is generated through collaborative research
with industry and publicly-funded projects.
The Fraunhofer Institute of Environmental, Safety, and Energy Technology (UMSICHT) specialises in
sustainable energy and raw materials management.
www.fraunhofer.de www.umsicht.fraunhofer.de
14 EARTOFire-protection glazing goes now
hand in hand with a digitalised
glass production
The use of glazed elements as fire-protection closure quality-controlled production is challenging. The
is a challenge. The fire-protection glazing using Fraunhofer Institute of Environmental, Safety, and
hydrogels has been developed since 1970. However, Energy Technology (UMSICHT) in collaboration with
the establishment of such systems is characterised industrial partner Hörmann has developed a new
by the use of carcinogenic elements. As a result, the type of non-toxic fire-protection gel which contributes
operational staff, who handles these chemicals to less use of resources and leads to a safe automated
by hand, could face occupational difficulties production process.
and process management, reproducibility, and
Fraunhofer UMSICHT's innovative fire-protection-gel and resulting fire-protection glazings based on gels, enables operational
staff for the most suitable and safe tool in their hands.
Industrialising non-toxic Continuous, automated, and Opening up new market
gel components digitalised production process opportunities
The performance of the fire-protection gel as EARTO member Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, on Fraunhofer UMSICHT's innovation has paved
well as its dangerous using methods urged the behalf of the Fraunhofer UMSICHT and industrial the way for reducing the thickness of the fire-
need to establish a new gel production process. partner Hörmann KG Glastechnik, developed for protection gel, by 3mm and saving 12% weight
According to the present state of knowledge, the first time a brand-new production process in a large area of a three millimetres’ glazing.
there is no information regarding the interaction for the manufacture of continuous, automated, This process can, thus limit resources and CO2
between the synthesis parameters of hydrogels and digitalised fire-resistant glazings based on output by saving raw materials and reducing
and the fire-protection properties. The scientists a non-toxic gel component, rich of water and transport weight. Fraunhofer UMSICHT
systematically studied these interactions, electroytes, which is filled in the interspace of along with its industrial collaborator, Hörmann,
scientists transformed the idea into a plant two glasses. This novel methodological have verified the function of fire-resistant
technology process, which builds up a new state approach depends on the gel formulation and components in standardised tests and
of art. This process allows a continuous mixing the parameters selected during the gel established a new, digitalised, quality controlled,
and processing of its reactive components. production, using a new type of mixing element and automated fire-protection glazing
in an innovative polymerisation synthesis production facility, under the VITRAFIRE® brand
process. This enables the industrial production of Hörmann, in accordance with the existing
of fire-protection gels, and leads to a international standards and norms. The system
high performance fire-resistant glazings, also offers excellent opportunities for further
which meet the desired criteria in terms of developments, as it is scalable and not limited
toxicology, occupational safety, transparency, in terms of extended quantities, while extending
UV resistance, and fire-protection behaviour. the process chain and implementing the
production of blank panes.
Innovation Awards 2020 15VULKANO: the new solution for Deep learning keeps rail
energy efficiency networks safe
Currently, the most intensive industries, such as industrial furnaces Nowadays the public transport infrastructure has an important role to
are exploring ways to improve their competitiveness and energy, play and the massive investment in railway networks across Europe has
environmental and cost performance. To this end, the development created enormous challenges in sustaining both quality and passenger
of improved designs based on new materials, alternative equipment safety. The current “diagnostic trains”, which are used in the inspection
and integration of permanent monitoring and control systems into processes, provide many false findings and cannot satisfy the rapidly
new and existing furnaces seem to be the essential instrument to growing requirements in keeping infrastructure quality at its necessary
meet those demands. level with the available track methods.
Innovation: EARTO member CIRCE – Research Center for Energy Innovation: EARTO member CSEM developed an easy-to-use AI software
Resources and Consumption developed the VULKANO solution, a holistic solution which fully processes the large amount of vision data created by
system to increase the energy and environmental efficiency in existing the high speed diagnostic trains. CSEM’s disruptive innovation consists
preheating and melting industrial furnaces currently fed with natural of deep learning algorithms, deployed in a full processing pipeline which
gas. It has a life cycle perspective based on 4 leading-edge working includes pre-processing, analysis, fingerprinting (unique identification of
methodologies and 1 software development that overcomes limitations each defect), support for maintenance planning and life-long learning
of durability, reuses waste heat at high temperatures and improves in a complete system.
monitoring and control systems.
Impact Delivered: CSEM’s innovative rail software reduces the effort
Impact Delivered: This innovation is a collaboration of 12 partners to find, classify and track defects. It minimises time spent on often
and has been developed under the H2020 project VULKANO. It aims at dangerous visual inspections, optimizes repair planning, and contributes
increasing Europe’s energy efficiency by 20% and reducing fossil fuel on improving punctuality. The algorithms of CSEM will be further
consumption by 40% and furnaces’ costs of the companies by 15%. deployed by the lead customer Swiss Federal Railways (SBB) in 2020.
VULKANO has been implemented in three different industrial sectors and This business opportunity could save 1M Swiss Franc (CHF) in the first
is extending its technologies to other sectors that share common phases five years and, potentially, 100M CHF at global scale.
in the production process.
CIRCE is a technological centre founded in 1993 and seeks to CSEM is a Swiss private, non-profit research and technology
provide innovative solutions for sustainable development. organisation with 35 years of Deep Tech development and transfer
to industry. CSEM supplies a broad range of markets with an even
broader range of technological solutions.
www.fcirce.es www.csem.ch
16 EARTOFibre injection in Perfect mattress for the
manufacturing technology perfect comfort
The urgent need for fuel costs’ reduction and a greener environment The demand for eco-friendly mattresses is one of the key emerging
has been escalated as a top priority worldwide in the last years. As a trends in the mattresses’ market in Europe. The mattresses recycling
result, light-weighting technologies become more and more important sector is based mainly on manual processes. Only 4 installations have
in many sectors, including the transport industry. These technologies been identified using automatic or semi-automatic processes with
can be applied to a wide range of high-added value products, offering limited results. So far, there is no sustainable mattress on the market
innovative solutions for the environment as well as the society. made from recycled products.
Innovation: EARTO member Eurecat developed a Continuous Fibre Innovation: AIMPLAS, EARTO member through Fedit, developed the
Injection Process (CFIP) technology, a 3D printing post-process which ECOPURE process which offers clean and wasteless mattresses. This
enables the manufacturing of highly optimised structures with high- newly developed process allows to recycle current mattresses and/or
performance materials. This brand-new solution has two main values: produce other high added-value products, such as sofa, chairs, seats
it allows the efficient manufacturing of large and strong structures, but and isolation panels, for many industrial sectors. The use of recycled
also uses the most efficient material and manufacturing technology in materials allows ECOPURE to have a better performance in terms of
each zone of the structure, according to mechanical requirements. fatigue and comfort aspects.
Impact Delivered: The CFIP technology contributes to reducing CO2 Impact Delivered: This innovation can offer a cost reduction of
emissions, fuel and electricity costs in transport industry by 20%. It 35%, compared to petrol-based applications, higher mechanical
also increases the European competitiveness and productivity, while and sustainable performance with a competitive price. It has already
reducing the manufacturing costs. This disruptive innovation has been reached three markets by introducing two state-of-the-art products:
outperformed in several projects and different sectors, in collaboration high and medium quality sustainable mattress and recycled foam core
with top companies, such as Airbus and Asics. The revenue from for mattress application. It is expected to double its production capacity
competitive projects was estimated to €500K. with an additional turnover of €3.2M per year in the five coming years.
Eurecat is the largest cross-sectoral and trans-national RTO in Fedit is a Spanish association of research and technology
Catalonia, Spain, with 700 professionals covering all technological organisations whose main mission is to boost and encourage
specialities to deliver added value to our society. innovation, technological development and private research.
www.eurecat.org www.fedit.com - www.aimplas.net
Innovation Awards 2020 17Fresh coffee smell when you Using technology
get your shoes on to save lives
Several companies are conducting studies on the integration of In March, the World Health Organisation declared the COVID-19 virus
coffee waste into different products and in multiple sectors. Given its as a pandemic. With more than 13M confirmed infections in more
properties, coffee and its coffee waste are able to reduce or, even, than 184 countries, this virus has currently caused more than 1M
totally eliminate bad smell, due to its pleasant aroma. However, no deaths. Assuming that a high percentage of confirmed cases require
research advancements have been found in the footwear sector which the use of ventilators, it is high time to face this increasing global
is now focusing on having both antimicrobial and aromatic character demand for ventilators and reduce their prices as well as the time to
in the new eco-friendly products. reach the market.
Innovation: The Footwear Technology Center of La Rioja (CTCR), Innovation: EARTO member Leitat developed “Leitat 1”, a 3D-printed
EARTO member through Fedit, developed aromatic and antimicrobial field ventilator for COVID-19 patients at ICUs requiring mechanical
shoe soles and midsoles out of coffee waste which comes from the ventilation. This device, which was designed in less than 48 hours, can
hotel industry. These coffee soles inhibit the growth of bacteria by control the respiration’s cycle, volume and pressure. It is composed of
using a microencapsulation process of coffee oils. CTCR conducted a a mechanical system mainly formed of a resuscitating balloon (AMBU)
whole life cycle analysis to evaluate its production capacity in a normal and two actionable blades, and an electric system, which will allow
shoe production process, moulding and cooling each shoe. setting the parameters and actioning the mechanical part. Leitat 1
also includes several sensors and alarms to ensure safety. Thanks to
Impact Delivered: This novel footwear incorporates 15% coffee 3D technology, manufacturing time is shorter and cheaper compared to
grounds in its sole formulation, reducing its carbon footprint by 11.3% regular manufacturing processes.
compared to the normal shoe model. CTCR’s methodology reduces the
use of fossil resources, toxic processes and inorganic compounds. In Impact Delivered: Leitat 1 has a high production capacity (50 to 100
2020, during its first year of commercialisation, it is assumed to sale units per day), as well as a lower production cost, €5K per unit. The total
approximately 6K pairs and gradually increase its production by 5% in spending would be 90% cheaper than the traditional ventilators, given
the following year. that the price of a commercial ventilator is around €50K.
Fedit is a Spanish association of research and technology Leitat is a leading Catalan RTO that offers disruptive solutions
organisations whose main mission is to boost and encourage to the technological needs of companies, with a clear
innovation, technological development and private research. orientation towards generating competitive value.
www.fedit.com - www.ctcr.es www.leitat.org
18 EARTOBoosting the 3D talent Meeting e-needs thanks
of the future to the eLF platform
Nowadays, 3D printing technologies are at the forefront of the Online services’ platforms have been created to manage digital services
new industrial revolution, offering many advantages compared to and eliminate the costs of providing and updating information. In some
traditional manufacturing methods: they use less material and allow countries, such as Poland, the growing number of digital services sometimes
new geometries, so products can be up to fifty per cent lighter. They makes existing platforms inefficient, given the necessity of their constant
also have a significant added-value to the environment by reducing management. Implementing and updating services is usually very time and
transportation costs and distribution emissions, among others. money - consuming as it requires to involve IT developers. To answer those
needs it was necessary to find an alternative solution with new architecture
Innovation: EARTO member Leitat has driven the first European 3D and technology.
incubator that aims to boost the most promising initiatives based on
3D printing. It provides a wide range of services including production Innovation: The Institute of Logistics and Warehousing, EARTO member
of 3D printed parts, innovation and business consultancy, testing, through Łukasiewicz Research Network, developed the eLF platform, a
internationalisation and market entry support. It features a complete software, available in multiple languages, which enables to implement
high-tech 3D printing lab with 6 different technologies. It has 4 and maintain digital services in real-time without engaging extensive
state-of-the-art industrial 3D printers and mini printers; as well as programming work. The eLF innovation introduced a tool called “e-service
post-processing, metrology and quality control equipment. configurator”, with a graphical interface and great capabilities which
meets all legal requirements.
Impact Delivered: The 3D Factory Incubator was promoted by
Leitat and Consorci de la Zona Franca de Barcelona (CZFB), with Impact Delivered: The eLF platform, launched in early 2020, is
the support of the European Regional Development Funds (ERDF) currently used by the Polish Ministry of Economic Development and
through Incyde Foundation. It is the home of 37 companies and has a huge potential when it comes to commercial use, with more than
has provided more than 500 services to the incubated companies 250K registered users and 120K submitted applications. It delivers high
during its first year, which have generated more than 40 highly economic and social performance, including cost reduction of provision
qualified jobs. and updating e-services.
Leitat is a leading Catalan RTO that offers disruptive solutions The Łukasiewicz Research Network is the third largest research
to the technological needs of companies, with a clear network in Europe. It occupies 7,500 staff and has 33 research
orientation towards generating competitive value. institutes located in 11 cities across Poland.
www.leitat.org www.lukasiewicz.gov.pl
Innovation Awards 2020 19Super-efficient monitoring system Natural products out of
for pregnancy and labour supercritical CO2 technology
By 2030 all countries aim at reducing the global maternal, foetal and Natural ingredients and clean labels are on the top of food and cosmetics
newborn mortality. Responding to this target, there is a vital need sectors´ trends. Consumers awareness about diet and beauty products
to further develop perinatal surveillance systems to increase the safety and quality boost new product release. Low fat products, plant-
effectiveness of mortality detection in early stages. based proteins and fine oils are being increasingly demanded, even
more those coming from natural resources. However, a clean technology
Innovation: The Institute of Medical Technology and Equipment, that could contribute to a circular economy is necessary, that does not
EARTO member through Łukasiewicz Research Network, developed the use organic solvent nor generate waste.
MONAKO System – an innovation for pregnancy and labour monitoring to
ensure comprehensive care for the foetus and mother. It is a computer- Innovation: AINIA, EARTO member through REDIT Innovation Network,
aided system, with automated vital signal analysis software and perinatal developed a supercritical CO2 extraction plant named ALTEX. It is an
database, enabling the monitoring of many patients simultaneously to innovative cost-effective way of producing natural high quality products
support the medical staff and to increase the surveillance efficiency. by using CO2 at supercritical stage. This is a green industrial process
with two mainly applications: to extract and separate a high variety of
Impact Delivered: This innovation is currently offered only in the Polish added value substances, and to remove non-desired substances such as
market. However, it has shown a significant potential, reaching sales of pesticides, traces and chemicals.
€100K in 2019. More than 130 systems have been installed in hospitals
and clinics, in various configurations tailored to the client's needs. The Impact Delivered: Due to the high quality and purity of getting products,
MONAKO System can thus increase the effectiveness of detection of its alignement with market trends and because of being a technology
early signs of foetal distress and therefore reduce the perinatal mortality. that supports circular economy, ALTEX supercritical CO2 extraction
technology is demanded worldwide. ALTEX addapts its solutions to
customers specific requirements. ALTEX contributes to increasing
employment indirectly, by creating new job positions.
The Łukasiewicz Research Network is the third largest research The Network of Technological Centres of the Valencian Community
network in Europe. It occupies 7,500 staff and has 33 research (REDIT) is a private non-profit association that integrates and
institutes located in 11 cities across Poland. represents the 11 technological centres of the region.
www.lukasiewicz.gov.pl www.redit.es - www.ainia.es
20 EARTOOne Smart-SHOP for hydropower MotorBox: the new toolbox for the
Hydropower can serve as a complete enabler for a fully renewable electric motor industry
energy system and its storability, flexibility and controllability is of
critical importance. However, the complex spatial-temporal coupling of The electrification is at the core of many European challenges in
water releases makes it difficult for human operators to keep complete societal and technical development. Electric motors consume 50%
overview of all relevant factors when participating in fast-paced power of Europe’s electricity. As a result, the demand on electric machines’
markets. To maximise the utilisation of hydropower in both energy and designs require better understanding and more complex methods. This
capacity markets, there is a need for a precise calculations and decision involves using highly specialised software for each individual step of
support models. the engineering process, which is difficult to be fulfilled.
Innovation: EARTO member SINTEF developed SHOP, a Short-term Innovation: Linz Center of Mechatronics GmbH (LCM), EARTO member
Hydropower Optimisation Program. It is a totally innovative and efficient through UAR, developed the SyMSpace MotorBox, a high-end tool for
tool – fit to all types of rivers – which enables the hydropower operators electric motor design for fast set-up and reduced complexity. Once
to maximise their potentials. This software, composed of advanced created, the motor design workflows can be stored, executed, and
modelling techniques and solution methodologies, provides critical optimised. The multi-objective optimiser uses high-end algorithms and
decision support to hydropower producers by determining an optimal Artificial Intelligence methods, while offering an interactive viewing
and reliable operating policy for either a single hydropower plant or an for result analysis, third-party tools, better simulations, increased
integrated system. computing performance or user-specific models.
Impact Delivered: The SHOP solution contributes to an energy system Impact Delivered: SyMSpace has been developed by LCM for more
that is reliable and secure, as well as economically and environmentally than 10 years and used by 8 long term partner companies, mostly from
sustainable. SHOP is used daily to optimise more than 60K MW of the electric machine manufacturing business. Over the past two years,
hydropower, corresponding to 28% of the installed European hydropower 42 customers have directly been serviced using SyMSpace MotorBox in
capacity. The SHOP model is an integrated component of more than 25 a total of 89 individual projects. Thanks to its efficient and competitive
major hydropower producers so far, and has been brought to market solutions, the economic performance of SMEs and other industrial
by Powel AS. players could be increased.
SINTEF is a broad, multidisciplinary research institute with UAR (Upper Austrian Research Gmbh), together with its associated
international top-level expertise in technology, medicine and RTO companies, is promoting innovative solutions at the crossroads
the social sciences. where fundamental research meets applied research and offering
businesses access to high quality R&D.
www.sintef.no www.uar.at - www.lcm.at
Innovation Awards 2020 21Innovative algorithm designs a Ice prevention that allows
more sustainable wooden future maximum energy production
In the wood processing industry, simple rule-based algorithms are Wind energy is one of the most eco-friendly and sustainale energy
used to control machines at the execution level. These rules are often sources, contributing to delivering on the Paris Climate Agreement.
extremely specific to the given product configuration and raw materials. Especially, in Europe wind energy has a significant annual turnover,
This can therefore lead to complex operational results and inefficient use creating thousands of job opportunities. Many wind turbines have been
of raw materials. Today’s powerful computing resources can be used to installed in cold climates due to their favourable wind conditions and
solve this situation by using new approaches for machine control. low population density. However, the electricity generated is negatively
affected by the icing, which lowers the energy production of the wind
Innovation: RISC Software GmbH, EARTO member through UAR, turbine and reduces its lifetime.
developed a sophisticated optimisation algorithm which processes a
wide variety of raw materials and allows an optimal control of machine Innovation: EARTO member VTT developed an innovative heating
execution during the machines’ cycle time. This “branch and bound” technology, WIPS (Wicetec Ice Prevention System), which is currently
software enables a sustainable wood processing and ensures high- commercialised by VTT’s spin-off Wicetec. It has a unique worldwide-
performance for both plants and machines’ computing hardware in patented heating and ice detection technology, enabling wind turbines
almost real time. running in icing conditions and maximising its renewable energy
production only when needed. The heaters, made of a thin layer of
Impact Delivered: This innovation can be seen as a pioneer project carbon fabric heating elements, protect from icing the area critical to
which sets new production standards. It also offers an eco-friendly and energy production.
“cost and benefit” solution for a greener pattern of consumption and
production. The solution of RISC Software is operational since 2019 and Impact Delivered: VTT sold the IPR to Wicetec in 2014, who productised
can be used in several future projects. and standardised the technology, and made further developments. WIPS
innovation has already been commercialized to Wicetec’s customers
located in different countries around the world. WIPS can recover 90%
of icing losses and reduces the cost of energy by 6–8 %. During the first
five operational years, Wicetec’s sales have increased, reaching a total
of €2M in 2019.
UAR (Upper Austrian Research Gmbh), together with its associated VTT is a visionary research, development and innovation partner.
RTO companies, is promoting innovative solutions at the crossroads VTT is one of Europe’s leading research institutions. Its goal is
where fundamental research meets applied research and offering to turn large global challenges into sustainable growth for
businesses access to high quality R&D. businesses and society, through science and technology.
www.uar.at - www.risc-software.at www.vttresearch.com
22 EARTOInnovation Awards 2020 23
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24 EARTOPECTED IMPACT EXPECTED
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Innovation Awards 2020 2501
IMPACT
EXPECTED
FIRST PRIZE
VTT
Eggs without chickens
VTT’S TECHNOLOGY WILL ENABLE FOOD THE COST TO PRODUCE EGG WHITE
PRODUCERS TO DECREASE GREENHOUSE PROTEIN BY CELLULAR AGRICULTURE
GAS EMISSIONS BY UP TO 74% AND ISCOMPETITIVE , WHEN
COMPARED TO THE PRODUCTION COSTS
LAND USE BY 90%** OF EGG PROTEINS FROM CHICKENS
THE PRODUCTION COST OF THE EGG
WHITE PROTEIN IS ESTIMATED TO VTT’S CURRENT AND UNDER
BE LESS THAN €10 PER KG NEGOTIATION PROJECTS IN THE
CELLULAR AGRICULTURE DOMAIN ARE
AND IS SUITABLE FOR LARGE SCALE
INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION WORTH NEARLY €9M
( >300.000 LITRES)
VTT is a visionary research, development and innovation partner. VTT is one of Europe’s leading
research institutions. Its goal is to turn large global challenges into sustainable growth for
businesses and society, through science and technology. Its research concentrates in 5 main
themes: climate action, resource sufficiency, good life, safety and security and industrial renewal.
www.vttresearch.com
26 EARTOTaking the egg white protein
production to the next level
Food production currently requires a large amount food ingredients, such as egg white protein, using
of natural resources, such as water, and extensive new biotechnology-based protein production
use of land area. Due to the expected global increase technologies, also known as cellular agriculture.
in population, along with the high demand for This technology provides a vital alternative to
reducing the environmental impact caused by various animal and plant-based ingredients and
conventional agriculture, innovative solutions in makes the food value chain more sustainable, while
food production are necessary. Indeed, the need to introducing completely new food products. VTT has
find alternative ways to produce animal-based turned the complex chemistry of selected organisms
ingredients has challenged the food industry, for into so-called “Cell Factories” and developed its
example, the need to find alternative solutions for own patent IPR. VTT has also exclusive license
making high performance ingredients of chicken rights for different patents on critical improvements
eggs. Therefore, VTT developed a way of producing to the microbial production technologies.
VTT’s cellular agriculture-based technology enables sustainable production of high value animal and plant-based food
ingredients, such as egg white protein.
Rebuilding the food Producing egg protein Huge business
production chain in the lab opportunities
Almost all food industries use eggs, and thus, EARTO member VTT developed a unique VTT’s innovative cell factory technology
egg proteins dominate the protein ingredient technology, which enables mass production of represents a low-cost solution for egg white
market. Millions of tons of eggs are needed every many important food ingredients, such as high protein production and supports a sustainable
year, from which a significant percentage goes value proteins (e.g. egg proteins), without using food system, with new food ingredients of
to protein ingredient production. A profound animals and with low environmental impact. high nutritional value and low environmental
change in the global food and agricultural Bringing its long history and top-class expertise footprint. VTT, being a key partner in the cellular
systems is needed. A new approach to produce on industrial biotechnology, VTT’s egg protein agriculture domain, is currently developing
food ingredients with high nutritional value is production technology takes the manufacturing the microbial production technology along
vital to enable more sustainable and ethical of food components a leap forward and with several leading start-up companies, and
food production and to find new business decouples the food production from traditional with its long-term research and licensing
opportunities with better price predictability. agriculture. By developing a new cellular agreements. So far, the expected financial and
The key solution for future food industry is to agriculture-based food business, VTT enables commercial demand for cellular agriculture
transform food production in a way that it will bringing various high value food ingredients globally is extremely high. In this regard, VTT
not be dependent on growing seasons or land to the market. has negotiated new projects and licensing
availability. The disruptive change that cellular deals with two international companies
agriculture brings about can be compared worth at least €3.5M. Thus, this is not only
to the agricultural revolution from the 1700s about chickens or about eggs; it is about
to the 1900s. creating completely new businesses to disrupt
the food industry.
** The figures are obtained from preliminary calculations, and were done in
collaboration with sustainability assessment experts from University of Helsinki.
Innovation Awards 2020 2702
IMPACT
EXPECTED
SECOND PRIZE
TECNALIA
Paralysed patients are not alone
TECNALIA'S ISMORE WILL DIRECTLY
SAVE MORE THAN €13M FOR
60% OF STROKE SURVIVORS
COULD BENEFIT FROM
EUROPEAN HOSPITALS AND HEALTH TECNALIA'S ISMORE
CARE SYSTEMS ANNUALLY
REDUCTION OF STROKE SEVERITY
CAN DECREASE AT LEAST 30% OF ISMORE IS EXPECTED
POST-STROKE REHABILITATION COST TO ACHIEVE SALES OF €11M
AND 1-2 HOSPITALISATION DAYS
OVER THE FIRST FIVE YEARS
PER PATIENT
TECNALIA is a Spanish RTO aiming to transform technology into GDP, helping companies to be
more competitive and generate wealth and employment. Its key scopes of action are: Digital
Transformation, Advanced Manufacturing, Energy Transition, Sustainable Mobility, Urban Ecosystem
and Health. Experts from 29 different nationalities in 23 offices all over the world, visualise,
identify and develop comprehensive technological solutions with creativity and imagination for
more than 4K clients.
www.tecnalia.com
28 EARTOGroundbreaking brain-muscle
control breaks the “stroke” ceiling
Incidence as well as prevalence of stroke constitute Universities of Tübingen, University of California
an unsolved problem and a leading cause of serious Berkeley and supported by the Basque Country
and long-term disabilities. In Europe, there are Health System, the University of Basque country
almost 8M severely impaired and chronic patients and Université Libre de Bruxelles, accomplished
and, in parallel, stroke costs are estimated at around something impossible. Not only has TECNALIA’s
$34B globally per year. Current rehabilitation ISMORE achieved to develop a system which bridges
therapies are not efficient enough, and a more the gap between brain and muscles, but also to
intense treatment is needed. Indeed, the problem boost the existing therapies. ISMORE provides the
has been also shifted to clinics, healthcare systems patients with an efficacious therapy, allowing them
and insurances that have to bear the costs of stroke to execute functional movements interacting with
rehabilitation, accounting for thousands of euros objects, activating functional neuroplasticity and
per patient. TECNALIA, collaborating with the achieving a faster personalised treatment.
ISMORE is an innovative system that reconnects brain, muscles and movements of paralysed patients.
Improving existing Decoding Achieving great
robotic therapies brain algorithm preliminary interest
Conventional electrical stimulation therapies EARTO member TECNALIA developed a system ISMORE’s novelty has already been
as well as recent robotic therapy clinical trials which directly hacks the nervous system and protected by two international patents. The
have proven to be uncapable of solving patients’ decodes the movement intention to restore commercialisation roadmap plans to complete
needs. It is true that the robotic clinical trials joints’ control. Unlike current methods, the clinical validation during 2020-2022,
have given important results, reducing 25% TECNALIA’s ISMORE novel solution links brain while, in parallel, the first industrial prototype
total health care expenses with a high-intense and muscles again, via instrumental learning, to (non-invasive therapy) will be available in
therapist intervention. However, these new non- induce functional neuroplasticity even in the two years. A new start-up company will bring
invasive neural approaches do not yet fully meet unsolved worst-case scenario. Thanks to the solution to the market in 2022 with the
the high expectations, as they deliver on limited TECNALIA and to its partners a brain-muscle support of TECNALIA Ventures, with public and
or even poor results. They exclude 20% patients shared control algorithm ensures a real-time private hospitals to be the first targets. ISMORE
and yet, they are the most successful existing brain control of arm and hand movements business opportunity has also been presented
cost/efficacy therapies. In this regard, American combining robotic exoskeleton and to potential investors, achieving preliminary
and European guidelines for post-stroke care physiotherapy. ISMORE’s neural interface interest from several venture capital firms. In
and rehabilitation continue to recommend robot allows a ten-times’ accurate, single-trial, real its first three years, ISMORE aims to have a
assisted therapy for rehabilitation. time decoding and a three-times’ technological turnover of €5.3M by selling over almost 70
improvement compared to the best existing entire services.
stroke rehabilitation method.
Innovation Awards 2020 2903
IMPACT
EXPECTED
THIRD PRIZE
RISE
Superheroes’ filaments come to life
RISE’S PRODUCTION PROCESS RESULTS
IN FILAMENTS THAT ARE
CO2 EMISSIONS CAN BE REDUCED
2 TIMES STIFFER AND BY40-50% WITH RISE’S SUPER
STRONGER COMPARED TO THE
FILAMENTS
BEST COMMERCIALLY PERFORMING
CELLULOSE-BASED FILAMENT
WITH THEIR INTENSE AND CONTINUOUS
SUPER FILAMENTS CAN LOWER THE
WORK, SUPER FILAMENTS CAN BE
MATERIAL USAGE, REDUCING THE
WEIGHT BY 50% PRODUCED AT 1KM PER DAY
(0.1 G/DAY)
RISE is an independent, state-owned research institute. As an innovation partner for every part of
society, RISE helps developing technologies, products, services and processes that contribute to
a sustainable world and a competitive business community. RISE does this in collaboration with
and on behalf of companies, academia and the public sector. RISE also has a special focus on
supporting small and medium-sized enterprises in their innovation processes.
www.ri.se
30 EARTOA circular bioeconomy is worth the
fight with super bio-based materials
Filaments can be found in many existing products, with funding from Knut and Alice Wallenberg
from clothing to composites. Today, it can be noted Foundation, FORMAS and RISE responded to this
that most of the commercially available filaments challenge, by developing a bio-based and non-toxic
are fossil-based. In parallel, the bio-based production process for stronger filaments. This
alternatives are scarce and have disappointing innovation utilises the renewable material, cellulose
properties. The idea of replacing for example glass from paper pulp, to achieve filaments with high
fiber would not only make the material use more performing and unique properties, suitable in a rich
efficient but it would also result in avoiding landfill, variety of products. This innovation is a superhero
as being the only end of life option. A collaboration within bio-based materials.
between RISE and KTH Royal Institute of Technology,
The innovation “Super filaments” is a 100% bio-based and renewable production process for the stiffest
and strongest filaments.
The greatest power Learning to pick renewable Filaments
comes from the most materials back up with high potentials
natural products RISE’s solution was a critical one: to replace the RISE’s superheroes’ filaments are 2 times
Strengthening the transformation to a more existing filaments’ production process and to stiffer and stronger compared to the best
circular bioeconomy is not any easy process. pave the way for a new natural-based performing products and, at the same time, 8
The transformation from fossil-based materials development that would fulfil all environmental times stiffer than spider silk. However, there
to renewable materials has been in high and economic requirements. The innovation is is still process optimisation needed to move
demand for many years and has the potential to aiming to achieve all these targets by to a pilot scale continuous production. At the
create a positive impact on the society. By using outperforming other commercial systems moment, licenses have been sold to 2 material
cellulose, which is a natural resource and the which uses renewable cellulose from wood. producing companies. These could supply the
backbone of trees and plants, it can be ensured RISE, with a strong background in developing raw material, upscale the spinning process
that the raw material is not going to run out, energy efficient production processes, towards a commercial production or incorporate
which is the case for fossil-based materials. developed a water-based filament spinning the filaments in their products within coming
Switching to sustainable forestry is well in line process in collaboration with KTH Royal years. The filaments have already proven to be
with preserving trees, producing less waste, University of Technology, producing filaments cost-competitive in high value markets, serving
and using innovative, efficient, and eco-friendly with the highest mechanical properties of any as textile for biomedical applications and as
cellulose-based filaments. biobased material. All project collaborators fiber reinforcement in high value composites.
were crucial during both the initial development Interest has been raised from raw material
and the transition of the development to reach manufacturers, end application producers and
high TRL levels. The “Super filaments” have private investors.
strong mechanical properties and are easy to
functionalise, making them unbeatable for both
high-value and high-volume segments.
Innovation Awards 2020 31You can also read
