Boosting the bioeconomy of the North Savo area - bioboost project

In the BioBoost project, extensive field testing and piloting is carried out, combining the expertise and infrastructure utilization of the University of Eastern Finland and Savonia University of Applied Sciences , utilization and commercialization of new biobased materials together with local companies and operators. The project focuses especially on the business development of new products for the circular economy of companies, the production of new fossil-free products and the enhancement of the hydrogen economy locally. In previous projects, the project consortium has developed and piloted a cost-effective operating method between project actors and companies. In the fall of 2023, a continuously operating thermal biomass reactor (Biomass Reactor project complex) will be completed for the project consortium, which can be used to extensively process materials from the bioeconomy to produce biochar.
Biobased materials can be processed extensively with the consortium’s equipment such as bio-gasification, fermentation and slow pyrolysis into liquid and solid materials. These have been previously developed and tested, e.g. as circular fertilizers, raw materials for composites, peat-free growing media and for combating plant diseases. The goal is to make use of processes of a clearly larger class, e.g. with the currently implemented continuous thermochemical biomass reactor. In this way, it is possible to produce both solid substances (biochar) and liquids (distillates) in batches of up to a few thousand liters, which are intended to be tested in real growing experiments both in greenhouses and in the field in square-scale experiments.
The strategic goals of the project are (1) to develop the know-how of operators in the North Savo region related to bioeconomy raw materials and product R&D, (2) to strengthen the utilization of know-how and new technologies in the needs of companies, (3) to increase the sharing of critical information that supports commercialization / transfer of information among industry operators in the region, (4) promote economic activity related to the above-mentioned expertise and (5) promote circular economy in Pohjois Savo, e.g. enabling the development of the market for soil improvers and recycled fertilizers.
The actual target groups of the project are bioeconomy companies from Northern Savonia, service companies, operators, agricultural and forestry operators, and educational and research institutions. In addition, the target group is actors in the bioeconomy sector and authorities more broadly nationally.