Four companies invest in forest-based innovation – new round of the Forest Business Accelerator underway

The new round of the Forest Business Accelerator has now officially started. Run by BizMaker in collaboration with SCA, IBM and RISE through the Processum Biorefinery Cluster, the programme aims to help innovative companies reach the market faster. Sweco has also been welcomed as a new programme partner this year.

Four companies are participating in this year's round developing forest-based solutions, either using the forest as a raw material or as a platform for technological development.

"These companies are developing innovations in forestry, materials, health, and technology. We can support them by connecting them with the right contacts in relevant industries to help them progress in their commercialisation journey. We can also provide opportunities to carry out tests in our test and demo environments, which may be valuable for several of the companies,” says Jonna Almqvist, Project Manager at RISE.

Three of the companies are based in Västernorrland and one in Skellefteå. Although they represent different technological fields, they all share the forest as a common starting point. One of the participants is RM Labs AB, which develops innovative food ingredients using forest resources.

‘Through the programme, we aim to accelerate the path to industrialisation. The next major step is to scale up from pilot to large-scale production, initially through third-party manufacturers and ultimately alongside a pulp producer. Collaboration with RISE is crucial, both for regulatory matters and for the analyses, testing and research and development expertise that support our innovation journey,” says Stefan Sångberg, CEO and co-founder of RM Labs AB.

Participating start-ups – autumn 2025

• Sleipner Robotics develops autonomous electric work vehicles for rough terrain with the aim of improving efficiency and reducing the climate impact of forestry logistics.
• Scandinavian Woodprinting creates sustainable 3D-printed products based on wood fibres and bio-based binders.
• RM Labs is an innovation lab that develops sustainable ingredients for the food, beverage, and health sectors using the forest as its primary resource.
• Conifer Vision develops AI-based decision support systems for forestry to help landowners plan and optimise sustainable forest management.

Supporting companies on their journey from lab to industry

Through the Forest Business Accelerator, this year's companies have the chance to test, develop and refine their ideas in close collaboration with industry and research. The Processum Biorefinery Cluster is a supporting partner throughout this process, providing access to relevant contacts and environments, as well as the necessary expertise at various stages of development.

“The combination of technology, testing opportunities and networks allows us to shorten the route from idea to market for these companies. This is absolutely crucial for making more bio-based solutions commercially viable,” says Helena Näsström, Project Manager at RISE.

In test and demo environments in Örnsköldsvik, companies on the FBA programme can trial their concepts on a pilot scale, receiving support from experts in areas such as biotechnology, chemical process development, energy systems, and techno-economic analysis.

“The transition to a bio-based economy requires new ideas, new collaborations, and a shared willingness to think bigger. The Forest Business Accelerator is a catalyst for that, and we are proud to be part of this journey,” says Helena.

The Forest Business Accelerator is run by RISE within the project Innovationsplattform Bioekonomi, which is funded by the EU’s regional development fund, Region Västernorrland, Örnsköldsvik Municipality and RISE.

Read more about the Forest Business Accelerator and the participating start-ups of 2025 here.