The MINEYE project is realized by a Consortium of 13 partners from 9 different European countries, coordinated by AIMPLAS (ASOCIACION DE INVESTIGACION DE MATERIALES PLASTICOS Y CONEXAS)
AIMPLAS is a technology centre with more than 30 years’ experience in the plastic sector. We add value to companies to generate wealth and create employment. AIMPLAS has an extensive experience in different areas across the entire plastics value chain. Our activities are focused on projects, technological services, training, among others. AIMPLAS has focused recently in the bioplastic sector, helping companies to give their waste another end-of-life, by transforming it into high-value added products using fermentation.
ROLE IN THE PROJECT: Technical and management coordinator of the project. Leader of WP1&4. Isolation of microorganisms and characterization. Optimization of the hydrolyzate culture conditions to maximize the production of 2,3-BDO. Improvement of PHBV extraction and purification. End-of life validation. SSbD.
The Regional Institute of Castilla-La Mancha for Agri-Food and Forest Research and Development (IRIAF), which belongs to the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Rural Development of the Regional Government of Castilla-La Mancha (JCCM), consists of eight different research centres with extensive experience in R&D&I, as well as dissemination and training activities related to the agri-food and forest sectors. One of these centres is the CLAMBER R&D Biorefinery, a public demonstrative scale biorefinery that serves companies and other entities and is dedicated to scientific research, scale-up experiments and the development of new processes and high-value products from lignocellulosic and fermentable biomass, both residual and cultivated.
ROLE IN THE PROJECT: In the PROMOFER project, IRIAF – CLAMBER is mainly in charge of lab-scale optimisation and demo-scale validation of VFA production from liquid agrifood side streams, VFA accumulation into PHVB and PHVB extraction.
Paques Biomaterials is a Dutch company that is creating a natural biodegradable alternative to plastic. Paques Biomaterials developed a technology for microbes to produce a biopolymer (PHA) from organic residual streams with high added value and broad applicability. The Paques Biomaterials team has been working on scaling up this technology for more than a decade. It doesn’t modify bacteria genetically and needs no fossil-based feedstocks. This is the start of a global, new circular chain to produce a natural alternative to plastic that is naturally biodegradable in all environments without leaving harmful microplastics behind.
ROLE IN THE PROJECT: Within the PROMOFER project, Paques Biomaterials will produce PHBV in mixed cultures using residual streams from the agri-food industry.
Bio Base Europe Pilot Plant (BBEPP) is an independent, state-of-the-art facility for process development, scale-up and custom manufacturing of biobased products and processes. Bio Base Europe Pilot Plant is a service provider operating from laboratory to multi-ton scale. A wide and flexible spectrum of modular unit operations combined with the experience of highly competent engineers and technicians enables BBEPP to translate biobased lab protocols into viable industrial processes. Bio Base Europe Pilot Plant enables the conversion of renewable feedstocks into biochemicals, biomaterials, biofuels and other bioproducts by using technologies such as biomass pretreatment, biocatalysis, (gas)fermentation, green chemistry and product recovery and purification.
ROLE IN THE PROJECT: BBEPP is leading WP5 “Improvement of the downstream process to produce PHBV and 2,3-BDO”.
Celignis is a globally recognised leader in the provision of analytical and bioprocess development services to bioeconomy stakeholders that are looking to valorise biomass and wastes.
ROLE IN THE PROJECT: In PROMOFER Celignis is providing lignocellulosic sugars to partners for subsequent fermentations. This work involves development and optimisation of pretreatment and hydrolysis processes, undertaken at Celignis Bioprocess. Key to these optimisations are accurate and detailed characterisations of the solid and liquid inputs and outputs of each node of the process, undertaken by the team at Celignis Analytical. Within PROMOFER Celignis is advancing its bioprocessing capabilities from TRL5 to TRL7 (m3 scale).
Novamont, a Versalis (Eni) company and a Benefit Company certified B Corporation, is among the leading international players in the bioplastics sector and development of bioproducts and biochemicals that are wholly or partially derived from renewable resources. A pioneer in the circular bioeconomy sector, in addition to its own plants (4 in Italy and 1 in Estonia), Novamont has also 1 R&D Centre and 2 technological hubs covering a wide range of skills and specialist areas with facilities ranging from lab scale units to innovative pilot plants.
Over the years, it has developed and engineered 13 proprietary technologies, 4 of which were world firsts, for the production of bioplastics and bioproducts, creating synergies between different areas of study (bioplastics, biotechnology, biotechnology, agronomy, organic chemistry, green products). Novamont has its headquarters in Novara, manufacturing facilities and technology hubs in Terni, Bottrighe (RO) and Patrica (FR), a production facility in Dagö (Estonia), a Joint Venture with Versalis, Matrìca, in Porto Torres (SS), and research and development laboratories in Novara, Piana di Monte Verna (CE) and Porto Torres (at Matrìca). It has foreign branches in Germany, France, Spain and the United States.
ROLE IN THE PROJECT: In PROMOFER, NOVAMONT will valorize polymers obtained from lignocellulosic biomass and food industry byproducts by the partners into biomaterial formulations with application in agricultural and paper packaging.
Vegea is an Italian SME founded in 2016 with the aim of offering the fashion market a biobased and sustainable alternative to traditional synthetic leather. Since its foundation, Vegea is specialized in the formulation and coating of innovative biobased PU and PVC, with a high percentage of raw materials of vegetable origin and recyclable, thanks to a recycling technology designed and patented by Vegea. Vegea’s products are high-performance biobased synthetic leathers and technical fabrics for fashion, automotive and furniture.
ROLE IN THE PROJECT: In PROMOFER, Vegea will carry out the physico-chemical analysis of the 2,3-BDO produced in the project and its validation as a cross-linking agent for PU for the production of biobased technical textiles. In addition, Vegea will contribute to the task regarding the recycling of the materials produced, the SSbD assessment and the dissemination and exploitation activities.
Process Design Center is a Dutch non-profit SME that provides support in the design, techno-economic and life cycle assessment of processes that have environmental/societal benefits. For this purpose, it uses unique methods and tools like PROSYN expert system that provides a digital, structured approach to conceptual process design. It has been used in numerous industrial projects that have achieved capital and operating cost savings of up to 50% compared to existing state-of-the-art designs. PDC’s expertise in conceptual process design, techno-economic assessment, energy efficiency and sustainability bridges the gap between R&D and industrial application.
ROLE IN THE PROJECT: In PROMOFER project, PDC will perform the conceptual process design (CPD) of different fermentation and downstream separation processes. Secondly, the economic feasibility of the identified scenarios will be assessed including life cycle costing (LCC). Finally, the environmental effects caused within the project will be defined and quantified, by means of life cycle analysis (LCA).
The Hellenic Biomass Association (ΕΛΕΑΒΙΟΜ | HellaBiom) is a non-profit organization and one of the prime renewable energy associations in Greece. Sectors of interest include biomass power generation, combined heat and power (CHP) with biomass, district heating, standardized solid biofuels (pellets – briquettes), biomass valorization technologies (combustion, gasification, pyrolysis), carbon sequestration and carbon removal technologies (Bioenergy Carbon Capture & Storage – BECCS, Biochar Carbon Removal – BCR), circular bioeconomy and bio-based products, biomass value chains’ optimization (agricultural, forest, agro-industrial). HellaBiom has strong international collaborations through its membership in Bioenergy Europe, European Biochar Industry Consortium, European Pellet Council, Bio-based Inductries Consortium. HellaBiom is also a National Supporting Body (NSB) for the biomass sustainability certification scheme SURE. HellaBiom has a nationwide network of members, consisting of legal entities (corporations, academic and scientific institutions, clusters, co-operatives) & individuals (scientists, engineers, researchers) sharing common interests in sustainable biomass valorization through bioenergy and bio-based products.
ROLE IN THE PROJECT: Within PROMOFER project, HellaBiom will co-ordinate the collection and initial pre-treatment (mechanical size reduction) of lignocellulosic biomass from agricultural residues (wheat straw, rice straw, and olive tree pruning) through the mobilization of its network of farmers and agricultural co-operatives. In parallel, the concept of “Green Biomass Points/Hubs” will be studied and implemented.
ΕΤΑΜ S.A. is a development planning and business consulting company, founded in 1993, based in Heraklion, Greece. Currently, ETAM employs a multidisciplinary team of 23 managers, senior consultants and consultants, all experts of high academic education. The company is certified with ISO 9001:2015, ISO 14001:2015, ISO 27001:2013, ISO 27701:2019 & ISO 37001:22017 and is a full member of the Hellenic Association of Management Consulting Firms (member of the European Federation of Management Consultancies Associations). With its long-listed track record (over of 700 projects since 1993) ETAM is specialized in a variety of fields such as Market Analysis, Business Planning, Communication, Dissemination and Exploitation, Cross-border and Transnational Cooperation, Rural Development, Environmental Management, Feasibility Studies and Field Research.
For more than 30 years ΕΤΑΜ has been providing high-quality studies and consulting services for companies, agencies and organizations. Armed with many years of market presence, high scientific expertise and a skilled and experienced workforce, has succeeded in becoming one of the largest consulting firms in the Hellenic periphery. With strict consistency and professionalism, ETAM provides a wide range of consultancy services for all types of business ventures, research and development initiatives.
ROLE IN THE PROJECT: ETAM is leading WP8 Dissemination, Communication, Exploitation and Market Update
We Right Click is a non-profit association based in France that promotes social innovation and empowerment through co-creation, education, and behavior change. Its primary activities include setting up and coordinating citizen labs and urban hubs to ideate, co-create, test, and scale new solutions to society’s biggest issues; engaging with people and networks to build strong communities and raise awareness through events, workshops, and experiences; and deepening knowledge and skills through capacity building and educational activities to transform society and transition to a more sustainable future.
ROLE IN THE PROJECT: In PROMOFER, We Right Click will be analyzing and supporting the social acceptance of these circular bio-based products through a Social Life Cycle Assessment (S-LCA).”
