The next part of the ExpandFibre journey has started with the ExpandFibre Transition Phase led by Metsä Group
NewsThe 4-year ExpandFibre programme officially ended in August 2024, initiating the next chapter in the story of ExpandFibre. From September 2024 onwards, ExpandFibre has started a new Transition Phase, hosted by Metsä Group, to continue the programme’s commitment towards accelerating the development of sustainable bioproducts. Katariina Kemppainen, SVP, Group R&D, Metsä Spring, will remain in her role as the Programme Manager of ExpandFibre.
During ExpandFibre’s duration 05/2020-08/2024, over 140M€ R&D funding was steered towards initiatives developing sustainable bioproducts. As the Business Finland funding to Metsä Group & Fortum ended in 08/2024, consequently the activities within the ExpandFibre ecosystem came to their close in their originally intended form. However, several new ecosystem projects have just recently started, leading to a continued need to keep selected key dissemination and networking activities alive in the ecosystem built during 2020-2024.
Thus, Metsä Group led by Programme Manager Katariina Kemppainen have decidedto initiate the ExpandFibre Transition Phase to continue the company’s commitment towards accelerating the development of sustainable bioproducts – a mission at the fundamental core of ExpandFibre. For now, Metsä Group is planning to continue the ExpandFibre Transition Phase until the end of 2025. The main activities of ExpandFibre that will continue into the Transition Phase include:
- Accepting as new project members those projects that have recently received Business Finland funding from the ExpandFibre roadmap
- Dissemination about new and ending ecosystem projects
- Hosting Ecosystem member exclusive ExpandFibre Online Platform
- Annual Ecosystem seminar scheduled for autumn 2025.
Activities originated during ExpandFibre, but discontinued by Metsä Group in the Transition Phase include:
- Accepting new organisation members
- ExpandFibre webinars and other thematic events
- Funding from Business Finland to the ExpandFibre R&D&I roadmap.
CLIC Innovation, which participated as a member in the Ecosystem Steering Group of ExpandFibre, is planning to collaborate with Metsä Group in the Transition Phase by offering their expertise in organizing thematic workshops and other possible events, facilitating in matchmaking and networking as well as supporting in possible project preparations. This collaboration between Metsä Group and CLIC Innovation will undoubtedly help to boost ExpandFibre’s impact in the new Transition Phase.
In addition, other still ongoing Veturi programmes, such as Beyond Circularity coordinated by Valmet, SHAPE coordinated by Mirka, SPIRIT coordinated by Borealis and FOOD 2.0 coordinated by Valio have strong links to parts of the R&D&I roadmap of ExpandFibre, helping to advance the thematic focus areas of ExpandFibre after the official end of the programme.
Next steps
The main dissemination channels of ExpandFibre – the programme homepage and LinkedIn profile – will be maintained as normal and updated continuously when new articles are published. The ExpandFibre homepage will also be fully updated to accommodate to the newly started Transition Phase, with the updating work to be completed by the end of September 2024.
The ExpandFibre team hopes you will continue following closely what’s to come in the next chapter of ExpandFibre – stay tuned!