Project description DEENESFRITPL A novel biocomposite from trees, for trees Forests are invaluable to our planet, producing not only oxygen vital to our existence but also many natural waste products that can be used in other sectors – and now in the forestry industry as well. The Portuguese SME Spawnfoam is developing its product by the same name, a novel biocomposite using forest residues as a matrix in which to grow fungi. The biocomposite has been used to make pots that encourage plant growth by supplying nutrition and water while simultaneously protecting sensitive root systems. The EU-funded Spawnfoam project is helping the team bring these sustainable and biodegradable pots to market, enhancing the success of reforestation initiatives. Show the project objective Hide the project objective Objective Reforestation projects have a failure rate of 25%, which generate internal project losses of around 450M€/year and reduces the financial sustainability of forestation at global level.At the same time, agricultural and forestry production as well as various agro-industries annually produce tons of waste that can be used in the production of 100% biodegradable biocomposites, allowing a useful destination for these wastes and contributing to the circular economy. With a central focus on the circular economy, we have created our company SPAWNFOAM specifically to commercialize our novel biocomposite material constituted by forest residues that function as a matrix that can be colonized by a fungal mycelium that will assume the role of bonding agent.Our first application of the Spawnfoam material is a plant pot specifically engineered for the reforestation market, that increases the survival rate of plants, and also their growth, due to proprietary functionalization of our pot with specific minerals and structures that provide water and nutrients directly to plants, while protecting root systems and are biodegradable.As a startup created in January 2017 specifically for the development and commercialization of SPAWNFOAM, this project is the core of our company’s strategy. We have secured a total of over 75.000€, of which 50.000€ from the Portuguese Environmental Fund to study the proof-of-concept of Spawnfoam and are now closing a 100.000€ grant to implement the pre-industrial proof of concept, our next milestone before large-scale implementation and global market replication, which we wish to study with the SME Instrument Phase 1 Feasibility Study. Fields of science engineering and technologymaterials engineeringcompositesbiocompositesnatural sciencesbiological sciencesmicrobiologymycologysocial scienceseconomics and businessbusiness and managementbusiness modelssocial scienceseconomics and businesseconomicssustainable economyagricultural sciencesagriculture, forestry, and fisheriesforestry Programme(s) H2020-EU.2.3. - INDUSTRIAL LEADERSHIP - Innovation In SMEs Main Programme H2020-EU.3. - PRIORITY 'Societal challenges H2020-EU.2.1. - INDUSTRIAL LEADERSHIP - Leadership in enabling and industrial technologies Topic(s) EIC-SMEInst-2018-2020 - SME instrument Call for proposal H2020-EIC-SMEInst-2018-2020 See other projects for this call Sub call H2020-SMEInst-2018-2020-1 Funding Scheme SME-1 - SME instrument phase 1 Coordinator SPAWNFOAM, LDA Net EU contribution € 50 000,00 Address REGIA-DOURO PARK 5000 033 VILA REAL Portugal See on map SME The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed. Yes Region Continente Norte Douro Activity type Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Total cost € 71 429,00