Project description
Turning forest biomass into high-value products
The biomass that Europe’s forests generate could become a valuable renewable resource, supporting climate action and the circular economy. This requires harvesting methods and technologies designed to convert low-value forest residues into high-value materials. The EU-funded FIBRIX project is developing sustainable biorefinery technologies to transform underutilised forest biomass into high-value products, including textile fibres, carbon fibre precursors, and materials for 3D printing. It combines green processing methods, digital tools, lifecycle assessments, and support for forest owners and SMEs. Overall, the project will help create scalable, climate-friendly value chains while promoting sustainable forest management and informing future European policies.
Objective
FIBRIX unlocks the potential of Europe’s untapped forest biomass – including logging residues, small-diameter wood, and insect-damaged trees. It brings together the entire value chain, from biomass mapping and harvesting to the efficient conversion of raw materials into high-value end-products, thereby contributing to EU climate and circular economy goals. By integrating digital tools and regional innovation hubs, FIBRIX supports forest owners and SMEs in adopting sustainable practices, while embedding Safe and Sustainable by Design (SSbD) principles to safeguard biodiversity, soil health, and carbon balance.
FIBRIX will also demonstrate an innovative conversion protocol where heterogeneous biomass can be separated into high-quality fractions of cellulose, lignin, hemicelluloses, and extractives through novel microwave-assisted extraction, chemical-free autohydrolysis, and ionic liquid treatments following green chemistry principles. These fractions are then produced into cellulose filaments for textiles and carbon fibre precursors, and lignin-based compounds for 3D printing. The project will demonstrate all processes up to TRL 5, ensuring their technological maturity and industrial relevance, supported by comprehensive LCA and TEA assessments and the validation of the integrated biorefinery concept. Research organisations’ close collaboration with central hubs and equipment manufacturers will ensure that the developed solutions are compatible with existing machinery and scalable to industrial needs.
FIBRIX will deliver policy recommendations and certification-ready models aligned with EU strategies such as the Carbon Removal Certification Framework (CRCF), Bio economy Strategy, and Forest Strategy 2030. By combining technical breakthroughs with new business models and broad stakeholder engagement, FIBRIX contributes to climate-positive forest management, rural development, and the creation of scalable, high-value applications from untapped forest biomass.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
This project's classification has been human-validated.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
This project's classification has been human-validated.
Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.2.6 - Food, Bioeconomy Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment
MAIN PROGRAMME
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HORIZON.2.6.6 - Bio-based Innovation Systems in the EU Bioeconomy
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Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-JU-RIA - HORIZON JU Research and Innovation Actions
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) HORIZON-JU-CBE-2025
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
50100 Mikkeli
Finland
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.