European Sustainable BIObased nanoMAterials Community (BIOMAC)

Project Information

BIOMAC

Grant agreement ID: 952941

DOI

10.3030/952941

Project closed

EC signature date 6 November 2020

Start date 1 January 2021

End date 30 June 2025

Funded under

• INDUSTRIAL LEADERSHIP - Leadership in enabling and industrial technologies - Advanced materials

Total cost

€ 16 721 764,96

EU contribution

€ 14 807 314,50

Coordinated by

ARISTOTELIO PANEPISTIMIO THESSALONIKIS
Greece

Periodic Reporting for period 2 - BIOMAC (European Sustainable BIObased nanoMAterials Community (BIOMAC))

Reporting period: 2022-07-01 to 2023-12-31

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

Nanostructured bio-based materials (NBM) are anticipated to emerge as highly innovative materials with a significant impact on European markets. However, a major challenge in this field arises from the limitation on the entry of new product concepts into the market. This limitation is due to end-user applications remaining confined to small-scale lab tests, which have a limited capacity for industrial deployment. In order to develop a sustainable plan that aligns with market demands, there is a crucial need to upscale the supply chain for the production of biopolymers and nanoadditives.
To expedite the market penetration of NBMs, BIOMAC aims to establish an Open Innovation Test Bed (OITB) specifically dedicated to upscaling processes and incorporating key developments in this domain. The approach is based on two essential pillars: the generation of knowledge and the capture of business value. An Open Innovation Test Bed (OITB) is a collection of entities that provide common access to physical facilities, capabilities, and services necessary for the development, testing, and upscaling of nanotechnology and advanced materials in industrial settings. The BIOMAC ecosystem will function as a One-Stop-Shop (OSS), accessible under fair conditions and costs through collaboration within the multidisciplinary consortium. This accessibility will be facilitated through a Single-Entry Point (SEP), represented by Industrielle Biotechnologie Bayern Netzwerk GmbH (IBB).
Operating as an open ecosystem, BIOMAC will concentrate on creating and demonstrating novel manufacturing supply and value chains. Technologies developed up to Technology Readiness Levels (TRL) 4-5 will be upscaled and validated to TRL 7, hastening the progression towards market entry. The OITB will also provide services covering aspects such as regulation and safety assessment, sustainability, circularity, and market potential, using modeling, process control, standardization, and characterization. These services will be available under fair conditions and costs. The organization of the OITB will involve four Hubs: the Pilot Plant Supreme Hub, the Validation Services Hub (VSH) addressing feedstock, technologies, and product-related services (Quality Control Hub and Process Validation Hub), the Market Uptake Hub (MUH) addressing business and legalization matters while maintaining test cases, and finally, the Value Chain Assessment Hub (VCH) evaluating developed value chains against economic and environmental criteria within the circular economy frameworks.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

In the initial 36 months of the BIOMAC project, partners focused on establishing an SEP structure for the Ecosystem, serving as a central One-Stop-Shop (OSS) to handle administrative tasks. Simultaneously, internal operating procedures and collaboration protocols were developed for the SEP and Ecosystem members. Drafts of the Framework Agreement and End Used Agreement underwent iterative feedback rounds. The BIOMAC portal (biomac-oitb.eu) was created, housing the BIOMAC Open Innovation Environment (OIE) and the Open Call subsystem, crucial for implementing the Data Management Plan Strategy.
The Pilot Plant Supreme hub was established, and Pilot Lines (PLs) were upgraded and are now operational, with monitoring tools installed. The production of bio-based materials reduced dependence on fossil-based resources, aligning with EU sustainability goals. LCA studies support sustainable production, contributing to EU job growth and innovation. BIOMAC activities aim to enhance collaboration, explore applications, increase knowledge, and raise awareness.
To validate the Pilot Plant Supreme Hub's potential, internal test cases were implemented, demonstrating the capability to produce diverse products across the supply chain. Test Case 1 (Automotive) successfully produced a car sun visor prototype, showcasing the BIOMAC value chain. Test Case 2 (Agricultural applications) validated biobased materials, generating biodegradable products. Test Case 3 (Food Packaging) made progress in composite extraction and coating development. Test Case 4 (Construction) advanced toward completion, focusing on Novel Isocyanate Polyurethane. Test Case 5 (Printed Electronics) achieved significant progress, testing various materials.
The Validation Services Hub (VSH) validates materials and products through exchanges and testing efforts. Techno-economic models of PLs were developed, providing economic insights. The Market Uptake Hub (MUH) generated business plans and guidelines for nanoparticle safety. Tiered assessments assessed potential inhalation exposure and eco-/toxicity.
In December 2023, the BIOMAC open call was launched, selecting six additional Test Cases across various markets. End-of-life management strategies for plastic wastes and a Material Circularity Indicator (MCI) were defined. Preliminary LCAs and cost assessments were conducted for PLs. AXIA demonstrated the Decision Support Tool, marking successful completion.
Progress in achieving Key Exploitable Results (KER) and fortifying Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) protection strategy was noted. External environment analysis for BIOMAC OITB, incorporating recent market estimations, guided strategic decision-making. D&C activities, including conferences and publications, enhanced outreach and visibility.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

BIOMAC is positioned to have a positive impact on the expansion of nanoenabled biomaterials concepts in the European Union. It plans to achieve this by offering accessible and upgraded facilities to mid-sized companies and industries in Europe, ensuring fair conditions and costs. The project's digital interface, dissemination plans, and business exploitation strategies are designed to facilitate effective access to finance and attract new small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) users to existing test beds.
The primary focus of BIOMAC is to enhance industrial processes by improving parameters and accelerating the verification of materials' performance through the utilization of process control, modelling, and simulation. The production of bio-based materials within BIOMAC is based on locally available biomass, aiming to reduce dependence on fossil-based materials and align with the sustainability goals set by the EU. The ecosystem targets a crucial economic sector for EU jobs, fostering innovation and creating growth opportunities for its members and end users.
Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) studies are conducted to support sustainable production, aligning with the goals outlined in the Paris Agreement. BIOMAC's activities are geared towards contributing to European midcap enterprises by promoting collaboration, exploring new applications, increasing knowledge, and raising awareness. Through a robust dissemination and communication plan, BIOMAC aims to inform and persuade audiences about the safety, sustainability, and feasibility of its technologies, seeking acceptance from both the general public and industrial stakeholders.

BIOMAC Pilot Plant Supreme Hub

BIOMAC project at a glance

The BIOMAC OITB