Novel foam materials based on forestry and agricultural by-products
| Reference number | |
| Coordinator | SIK - Institutet för Livsmedel och Bioteknik AB - SIK Göteborg |
| Funding from Vinnova | SEK 500 000 |
| Project duration | May 2013 - January 2014 |
| Status | Completed |
| Venture | Challenge-Driven Innovation – Stage 1 initiation |
Purpose and goal
The aim of the whole project is to develop novel foam materials with tailored functionality (flexibility, absorption, hydrophobicity) mainly for packaging and absorbent applications. An industrial-academic consortium has been formed during the Initialization project and a consortium agreement has been developed in close cooperation with the industrial participants. Background, market needs and state-of-the-art has been determined, a project plan for further work has been developed and a proposal submitted.
Results and expected effects
The Initialization project gathered industrial participants from the whole value chain who established a plan for further development of novel foam materials. The Initialization project was performed in close cooperation with a basic research project on foam materials (Formas) and a project on extraction of wood based chemicals and biopolymers (Vinnova, Furu2Furan). Input from these projects makes it possible to focus this Cooperation Project on upscaling and development of demonstrators to kg-scale.
Approach and implementation
The original consortium of the Initialization Project has met twice together with new, invited partners. A project group has in parallel met regularly to develop a project plan for continued development and a Consortium Agreement. A web page presenting the project (www.smartfoam.se) has been published and the ideas of the project have been disseminated through the networks of the consortium and in newsletters. The different competence areas necessary for the project have been identified and representatives from each area have reviewed published literature commercial needs.