FIBRIX

Forest Integrated Biomass Refining for Innovation and Excellence

Project details

Type of project
Research & Innovation Action
Feedstock origin
Forestry waste
Feedstock type
Lignin & wood residues
Project period
1 September 2026 - 31 August 2029
Status
Upcoming
CBE JU Contribution
€ 3 499 233,00
Call identifier
HORIZON-JU-CBE-2025

Summary

The EU transition towards a sustainable, circular, and climate-neutral bioeconomy is critically dependent on the efficient and responsible use of its natural resources. Forests, covering over 40% of the EU’s land area, are central to this transition, yet only 60-70% of the annual biomass increment is currently mobilised for wood and fibre supply. A substantial share of feedstock, such as branches, bark, and insect-damaged wood, is used for low-value products (e.g. energy). 

FIBRIX puts forward a novel, funnel-shaped value chain concept that begins with a selection of untapped forest biomass types and narrows towards the production of high-performance bio-based filaments derived from cellulose and lignin. These filaments demonstrate the technical and economic viability of converting low-value biomass into advanced materials for textile, carbon fibres, and lignin-based 3D printing materials. 

By focusing on these high-value outputs, the project provides a tangible pathway for integrating underutilised biomass into competitive, circular, and sustainable industrial ecosystems. 

  • Identify and characterise underutilised forest biomass streams across selected European regions (Finland, Sweden and Romania), including harvesting and thinning residues and insect-damaged coniferous trees, with a focus on their suitability for conversion into high-value materials. 
  • Develop and validate sustainable technologies for harvesting, storage, and pre-treatment that enable the efficient mobilisation and conditioning of heterogeneous biomass, while optimising energy efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and environmental performance. 
  • Assess the needs for developing digital decision-support tools for small forest sector enterprises, forest owners, and industrial stakeholders interested in untapped forest biomass resources. 
  • Establish a new fractionation and conversion platform based on ionic liquids  and pre-treatment, designed to be modular, scalable, and optimised for the efficient mobilisation and conditioning of heterogeneous, untapped forest biomass.  
  • Demonstrate high-value bio-based products by validating cellulose and lignin filaments from low-value forest biomass, proving their viability for advanced material applications. 
  • Ensure environmental sustainability and soil health by preventing soil degradation, biodiversity loss, and carbon depletion during the extraction of underutilised forest biomass. 
  • Foster stakeholder engagement and regional innovation ecosystems, namely forest owners, SMEs, policymakers, and civil society actors, through co-creation workshops, as well as training and dissemination activities.  
  • Advance policy development and certification frameworks for sustainable forest biomass valorisation by delivering actionable, evidence-based policy recommendations and certification methodologies. 

  • Integrate three technologies (microwave-assisted extraction, autohydrolysis, and ionic liquid processing) into a novel, modular biorefinery concept to generate high-purity fractions of lignin and cellulose for future high-value applications. 
  • Unlock currently untapped feedstock potential, boosting the European bioeconomy through increased value creation and reinforced rural economies. 
  • Engage stakeholders and pilot modern harvesting and processing technologies in Romania aimed at increasing female participation in forestry roles. 
  • Benefit employees with improved working conditions, efficiency, and safety, as well as promote sustainable forest management through the application of soil‑ and environment‑friendly harvesting practices in EU forests. 
  • Reduce greenhouse gas emissions and energy consumption during production compared to fossil benchmarks. 

Consortium map

Project coordination

  • KAAKKOIS-SUOMEN AMMATTIKORKEAKOULU OY Mikkeli, Finland

Consortium

  • SUOMEN METSAKESKUS-FINLANDS SKOGSCENTRAL Lahti, Finland
  • HOLOSS - HOLISTIC AND ONTOLOGICALSOLUTIONS FOR SUSTAINABILITY, LDA. MONCAO, Portugal
  • Tornator SRL Brasov, Romania
  • OCOLUL SILVIC DE REGIM GHEORGHENI SA GHEORGHENI, Romania
  • CENTRE TECHNOLOGIQUE NOUVELLE-AQUITAINE COMPOSITES & MATERIAUX AVANCES PESSAC, France
  • LATVIJAS VALSTS KOKSNES KIMIJAS INSTITUTS Riga, Latvia
  • STIFTELSEN SKOGSBRUKETS FORSKNINGSINSTITUT - SKOGFORSK Uppsala, Sweden
  • LAPPEENRANNAN-LAHDEN TEKNILLINEN YLIOPISTO LUT Lappeenranta, Finland