With increasing demands for sustainability and reduced environmental impact, innovative solutions for alternative proteins are essential. The PLANTOMYC project brings together plant and fungal proteins, using mycelial protein biomass (MPB) to develop nutritious, tasty and minimally processed meat substitutes.
Alternative proteins on the plate are becoming more common. Using advanced fermentation techniques, the PLANTOMYC project aims to recycle by-products such as starch-rich pea protein residues into meat substitutes to provide breakthrough solutions for the sustainable food of the future. This near-zero waste approach not only reduces waste, but also generates value-added products such as flavour-enhancing ingredients and functional beverages from the fermentation process. These will undergo extensive evaluation to assess their nutritional benefits, functional properties and sensory appeal. By increasing the technology readiness level (TRL) with the support of industrial partners, PLANTOMYC aims to strengthen Europe's competitiveness in the global market for alternative proteins. The project thus paves the way for a sustainable and innovative future in food production.
PLANTOMYC aims to address the major environmental and consumer challenges in the alternative protein market. Through innovative solutions, the project aims to increase consumer acceptance of alternative protein sources and strengthen the sustainability of food production through the following initiatives:
With this holistic approach, PLANTOMYC is helping to shape the sustainable food system of the future.
RISE is coordinating the project, which combines state-of-the-art fermentation technology, circular resource use and consumer-oriented product development to optimise the production of alternative protein sources by combining pea protein isolate (PPI) and MPB. RISE's expertise in fungal biotechnology includes screening, fermentation and optimisation of mycelial protein biomass (MPB) production using recycled by-products such as pea protein starch. Work is also carried out to assess the techno-economic feasibility of our innovations.
The work will be carried out at RISE's modern research facilities in both Örnsköldsvik and Gothenburg, which are part of the Bioeconomy Arena.
The Bio-FlexCLC project aims to develop and demonstrate a full-chain technology that utilizes biogenic residues and wastes for flexible CHP production with the possibility of cost-effective CO2 capture.
The goal of Bio-FlexCLC is to establish an efficient, and scalable process to convert low-value biogenic residues and organic waste to heat and power with negative or zero emission through CLC-CFB coupled with gas cleaning and CO2 liquefaction.
The idea is to combine the break-through chemical-looping combustion (CLC) technology with conventional circulating fluidized bed (CFB) boilers, a technology widely used in Scandinavia and Europe for combined heat and power production. Bio-FlexCLC concept operating in CLC mode enables CHP production with negative emissions at low-cost while the concept is flexible to switch to CFB boiler mode to produce CHP with net-zero emissions.
The concept has the main features of
Investing in CHP technologies utilizing biogenic and waste fuels, as developed in the Bio-FlexCLC project, offers a range of enduring advantages:
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Bioeconomy Arena: test and scale up bio-based solutions with RISE
Power production
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RISE coordinates the project SOURCE which is a European funded initiative bringing together key industry partners to create sustainable solutions for producing battery-grade synthetic graphite.
SOURCE helps to accelerate the transition to a more sustainable and cost-effective battery supply chain. Sustainable rOUtes foR synthetiC graphitE production for high-performance lithium-ion battery anodes.
By using alternative raw materials such as bio-waste, and recycled carbon sources, the project seeks to reduce dependence on petroleum-based resources while improving energy efficiency in the production process.
The innovative solutions will be tested in industry-relevant prototypes, enabling rapid adoption across the industry to promote a cleaner, more sustainable battery supply chain. The key outcome of the SOURCE project is the development of environmentally and economically viable methods to produce battery-grade synthetic graphite.
The project will introduce energy-efficient production processes, efficient recycling technologies, production of sustainable graphite from biomass, and the creation of high-performance battery grade anode materials.
This will significantly reduce the reliance on petroleum-based coke for synthetic graphite production and strengthen the competitiveness of EU graphite suppliers and anode manufacturers in the global market.
The project members recognize the challenges of reducing the current dependence on petroleum-based coke, as well as the high energy consumption and production cost of graphite. As such, they have laid out specific objectives to address these challenges and improve the sustainability of the entire EU EV battery value chain.
It's a downward spiral that needs to be broken: climate change is affecting the availability of food resources, while the world's population is growing. Our eating habits contribute to new greenhouse gas emissions that fuel climate change.
Does the solution lie in alternative foods?
Food production in the future is likely to look very different from today. Work is already underway to supplement conventional ingredients and animal products - with bacteria and fungi.
"We need to find new types of food to replace environmentally unfriendly products, while ensuring long-term supply. It's all about using resources more efficiently to produce equivalent food for people," says Gunnar Westin, who is responsible for RISE's new food technology infrastructure for biotechnology in Örnsköldsvik.
His team works with microbial ingredients, which are microorganisms that either become part of a food or produce components for a food.
"Together with a customer, we can improve something they have tested on a smaller scale or develop something completely new. A common product in supermarkets today is soy protein in various forms, and our facility can test the production of similar foods but with different raw materials to make the process more sustainable," explains Gunnar Westin.
So how does it work? Put simply, it involves growing micro-organisms such as fungi, yeasts and bacteria in a controlled environment. Fermentation tanks, where the temperature, pH and oxygen supply are controlled, is an example of such an environment.
The micro-organisms need a carbon source to grow and produce biomass (in this case, what eventually becomes food). The Örnsköldsvik plant uses carbon from agricultural and forestry waste streams, such as the cellulose found in sawdust. Biotechnological methods are used to break down the residues into sugars in particular, which can be consumed by microorganisms and converted into protein and other nutrients.
The first projects to be launched at the Örnsköldsvik facility will involve the development of meat analogues (meat substitutes), plant-based cheeses and kefir.
"We can work with tens of thousands of micro-organisms in parallel. We can also scale up a process on a very large scale and produce several tonnes of material or ingredients. For example, to verify a new process or for a large-scale market test," says Gunnar Westin.
The fact that the facility in Örnsköldsvik is food-grade means that the products made there can be consumed by humans. This is an important factor for food companies that conduct tests with RISE to be able to use a taste panel and conduct market research.
"At RISE, we have expertise across the food chain, including sensory science, process development and product design. The investment in the new infrastructure is an important addition, giving us new opportunities to use our expertise in biotechnology and food to develop new products and technologies. For example, biotechnology allows us to develop new components that we think would work well in a meat analogue, but to turn it into a product that will be well received by the general public, further development steps are required," says Gunnar Westin.
Getting a new product accepted by consumers is perhaps the biggest challenge in alternative food.
"It's not enough for a food to be healthy, people have to choose it. Sometimes it's a matter of imitating something that many people like, sometimes it's a new type of product that we have to get used to," says Gunnar Westin.
Another challenge is to create the right economic conditions. Today, the knowledge and capacity exists to produce almost anything, but consumers are not prepared to pay for such a process by choosing a vegan substitute that costs many times more than the traditional product.
"Where a lot of effort is required to produce a product, it is important that the process is efficient so that the required quantity is actually produced. And if we take a step back, we first need to identify which of the advances in alternative food research are relevant for actual implementation in society," says Gunnar Westin:
With my team's technical expertise in biotechnology and our research colleagues' expertise in food, together we can provide companies with answers as to whether a new idea is worth pursuing or not.
"With my team's technical expertise in biotechnology and our research colleagues' expertise in food, together we can help companies decide whether or not a new idea is worth pursuing. It's very much about combining the experimental part with the economic modelling, so that you get figures on what a process could look like and what it would cost."
In the end, the companies have enough information to take an investor on the road to commercialisation. What started as a single-celled yeast could then end up in the shops as a meat analogue with an acceptable price tag.
Alternative foods are foods that can be used as a substitute for conventional ingredients and animal products. Examples include oat milk, which can replace cow's milk, and extruded pea protein, which can replace traditional meat products. In Örnsköldsvik, RISE uses micro-organisms and enzymes to produce proteins for food.
The aim of developing alternative foods is to reduce the impact on the climate, improve animal welfare and provide consumers with healthier or more allergy-friendly alternatives.
Scale-up and evaluation of technical innovations at a commercially viable scale within a simulation environment is crucial for advancing new value chains into practical business concepts. Rise experts can help you with Aspen Plus® simulation tool.
Scale-up and evaluation of technical innovations at a commercially viable scale within a simulation environment is crucial for advancing new value chains into practical business concepts. Rise experts can help you with Aspen Plus® simulation tool.
Aspen Plus® is a commercial simulation platform used to develop comprehensive value chains, aiding in the assessment of plant process performance. RISE experts within process simulation and evaluation can support actors in society and business within biorefinery, carbon capture and storage/utilization, and circular economy areas. Our services include:
The life sciences industry aims to improve human health. At the same time, the sector is responsible for a significant climate impact. And the transition faces particular challenges.
"We in the research community can help to better understand what can be changed and provide relevant assessment methods and tools. This will help focus efforts where they are needed and where they will be most effective," says Björn Gregertsen at RISE.
The production, distribution and use of medical devices and medicines have a large climate and environmental footprint. The life science industry needs to do something about it.
“The keys to a green transition lie in many areas: from switching to green carbon sources and reducing material flows, to preventing toxic substances from reaching the ecosystem and making transport more efficient,” says Christina Jönsson, Vice president Marketing, division Materials and production at RISE.
As the life science industry is multifaceted, it is difficult to account for the industry's total climate impact. However, calculations show that the healthcare sector is estimated to account for 4-5 per cent of global carbon dioxide emissions. The majority, 70 per cent, comes from the supply chain, and mainly from transport. And the sector faces particular challenges. The industry is highly regulated, making circular change more difficult to implement than in many other industries.
“Just think of all the disposable items used in healthcare. They have to be of high quality, sterile and non-recyclable due to the risk of infection,” says Björn Gregertsen, Vice President, Life Science, Chemical Processes and Pharmaceutical Development at RISE.
Packaging that is in direct contact with medicines and sensitive medical devices - such as sampling devices - is also exempt from the EU's Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) requirements on recyclability and recycled content until 1 January 2035.
"However, the EU is working intensively on sustainability issues and several other bodies regulating the life sciences industry are also reviewing their regulations. The industry itself is also driving the transition," says Christina Jönsson.
She believes that one way forward is to work much more with differentiation and gives an example:
”The tubes in IVs or catheters that go into the body should probably not be made from recycled products or be recycled. But the disposable plastic gloves that staff use might be.”
Life science companies working on environmental sustainability in harmony with patient safety will gain market advantage
Finding the balance between stable production, economic viability and proven benefits for biodiversity and climate is a challenge.
“Us researchers can help improve understanding of what can change and contribute with relevant assessment methods and tools. This will ensure that efforts are targeted where they are needed and most effective," says Björn Gregertsen.
Reducing the carbon footprint in the pharmaceutical industry necessitates addressing various issues across the entire value chain.
“By embracing green chemistry principles, companies can minimize harmful emissions and waste,” says Björn Gregertsen. “Additionally, adopting energy-efficient production methods and reducing reliance on fossil fuels for transportation can significantly lower overall carbon emissions. Also, addressing areas like pharmaceutical packaging will make a difference. These combined efforts pave the way for a more sustainable future in the pharmaceutical sector.”
RISE's experts can support companies that want to reduce their impact on people, the environment and the climate through this type of 'green innovation'.
“We're offering advice and circular business models in areas such as material conversion, green chemistry, pharmaceutical development and product life cycle analysis," says Björn Gregertsen.
It can be wise to get on board with the transition right from the start. Although many of today's regulations have had exemptions for the life sciences industry and healthcare, this is likely to change.
“The issue is on the table but nothing has been decided yet on where, how and when it will be more clearly set out in legislation. But the fact that the discussion is now taking place is a signal for companies to be aware of. The life science companies that work with ecological sustainability in harmony with patient safety will gain market advantages,” says Christina Jönsson.
The life sciences sector includes all activities that develop medical and technological innovations that improve the life and health of people, animals and nature. It also includes the activities of universities in the fields of medicine, biology and health.
Many research projects are underway to address the sector's transformational needs. Here are some examples of projects that RISE is working on:
Green chemistry in the pharmaceutical industry involves developing methods to reduce the use of organic solvents and other environmentally harmful chemicals in synthesis and manufacturing.
The focus is on designing chemicals that can be degraded into harmless degradation products that do not enter the environment after use. It is also a matter of making energy use more efficient and switching from black, fossil-based carbon sources to green, bio-based ones.
The aim of FUNBREW is to establish bioprocessing technologies for the synthesis in situ of functional compounds in BSG.
Brewer´s spent grain (BSG) is a byproduct of beer manufacturing and is rich in fibers and protein. Today it is used as animal feed or discarded. The aim of FUNBREW is to establish bioprocessing technologies (fermentation and enzyme treatment) for the synthesis in situ of functional compounds in BSG, such as exopolysaccharides and antioxidants. Bioprocessing results in improved structure as well as enhanced bioavailability of BSG constituents. BSG will be used as an ingredient in pasta, bread and breakfast cereals.
This transnational project is part of the ERA-Net SUSFOOD2 with funding provided by national/ regional sources FORMAS and co-funding by the European Union´s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program.
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The next big breakthrough in the bioeconomy is just around the corner. By participating in our international Bioeconomy Research Programme, your company can help drive developments. This programme brings together leading researchers and innovative companies to co-create the sustainable solutions of tomorrow.
Collaboration between industry and RISE creates competitiveness with sustainability at its heart. We work strategically to:
Maximise resource efficiency through innovative processes
Transforming raw materials and materials into high value products
Turn waste into valuable assets
Experience shows that collaborative research is more than the sum of its parts. When companies join forces in research projects, both knowledge and resources grow. Collaboration creates a platform for further development in tailor-made projects.
The new programme builds on the experience and results of the 2021–2024 programme, which focused on areas such as pulp and cellulose, wood and biorefinery, and packaging materials. The established collaborations and networks from the first programme period provide a solid basis for further development.
Based on in-depth dialogue with industry and analysis of future trends, we have identified strategic research areas for the programme that started in January 2025.
The research programme will provide companies with the tools to:
Ensure competitiveness in 5–10 years
Develop sustainable solutions to meet future needs
Build strong research collaborations
When companies choose to do research with us, they get:
Access to world-leading expertise
Enhanced expertise in strategic areas
An international network
Cost-effective research through shared funding
Faster time to results and market
Possibility of tailor-made projects
Secure management of intellectual property
Each participant contributes their expertise and gains access to new knowledge to implement in their business. Together we tackle both long-term research challenges and short-term process improvements.
All projects are evaluated on their contribution to the UN Sustainable Development Goals and a sustainable society. Our work is driven by the ambition to create solutions that have a positive impact on society, now and in the future.
Objective: Biobased alternative barrier materials to replace fossil-based laminates. Concept development from lab to pilot scale.
Consortium manager: Astrid Glasenapp
Objective: Improve the performance and reliability of corrugated board and packaging through improved properties and relevant measurement methods as well as prediction of performance from properties.
Consortium manager: Astrid Glasenapp
Objective: Improve the performance of papermaking additives by tailoring complexes of additives to the fibre surfaces. Explore the possibilities to improve the unit operations by adjusting bleaching parameters.
Consortium manager: Anna Sjöstedt
Objective: To optimise lignin production, focusing on lowering production cost, CAPEX and OPEX and improving quality by implementing new in-process measurement techniques and post-treatment methods
Consortium manager: Mattias Wennerstål
Objective: To improve packaging performance, including how it behaves mechanically, how it looks when printed and how efficiently it can be converted.
Consortium manager: Ida Östlund
Objective: To improve the pulping process by applying synergistic implementation of impregnation techniques, oxygen delignification and high defibration point to increase overall yield.
Consortium manager: Oskar Westin
Objective: To optimise pulp mill processes with a focus on improving runnability and energy savings, decreased water footprint, and improved wastewater management and valorisation.
Consortium manager: Mattias Wennerstål
Objective: To improve recycling processes for difficult to recycle materials and understand how fibre and process water quality is affected by different process conditions.
Consortium manager: Pernilla Karlsson
Objective: To investigate how alternative fibres, enzymatic treatment, extended oxygen delignification and different embossing patterns influence tissue properties and/or sustainability of tissue paper.
Consortium manager: Ida Östlund
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SULPHURREAL demonstrates an innovative approach to the direct storage of concentrated solar energy in solid elemental sulphur. The basic idea is to use concentrated solar energy to cyclically drive a series of chemical reactions that interconvert sulphuric acid and sulphur.
SULPHURREAL aimed to demonstrate and validate a breakthrough approach for next generation, carbon-free, direct conversion of solar energy into chemicals storable for a virtually unlimited time, based on elemental sulphur produced and consumed on-demand via an integrated solar-aided thermochemical cycle. The concept is a combination of three major process steps, namely the H2SO4 decomposition, SO2 disproportionation and elemental sulphur combustion. The proposed combination integrates renewable energy sources (solar energy) with valorisation of non-CRM substances currently produced as industrial by-products from oil and gas (solid sulphur) and steel industries (Fe-containing slags) and industrial-scale chemicals production (sulphuric acid industry) in absolute accordance with a circular economy environment and industrial symbiosis.
RISE leads the work package with system integration, conducting life cycle assessment, and hazard and operability analysis (HAZOP) to provide input regarding environmental aspects and risks and safety in the development phase.
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Energy storage
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