BioValue Newsletter
May
2015
No. 18
This Newsletter invites BioValue members and interested persons to the inauguration of a
new HTL pilot plant. Read the story of an SMV-project’s visit to Bolivia, where new
partnerships and research can be formed on quinoa production. Finally consider applying for
a pathfinder project in the Climate-KIC, or get involved in projects for the Bio-Based Industry.
BioValue wish to invite you to the
Inauguration of the Hydrothermal
Liquefaction (HTL) pilot plant!
BioValue’s project 6 working on converting lignin
into high value chemicals has reached a significant
milestone, and invites you to come to:
Inauguration of the Hydrothermal Liquefaction
(HTL) pilot plant.
Friday, May 22, 2015 from 12-16 o’clock in
building L 38 at AU Foulum.
The new plant can liquefy biomass to produce bio-oil
for substitution of fossil fuels and chemicals. The
plant is part of the BioBase program – biorefinery
and bio-production by Aarhus University – but is
also available for BioValue partners for test on lignin
conversions and product stream processing.
The program for the inauguration offers lunch, 3
short lectures on i) conversion of wet biomass to
liquid fuel, ii) extraction of proteins from green
biomass, iii) and biology and technology for green
biomass,
and
networking
opportunities
within BioBase, BioCluster and BioValue.
Program is as follows:
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12.00 - 13.00: Lunch in building L38.
13.00: A welcome by rector Brian Bech Nielsen,
Aarhus Universitet
13.10 Conversion of wet biomass to liquid fuel.
Associate Professor Ib Johannsen, Institut for
Ingeniørvidenskab
13.30 Extraction of protein from green biomass.
Professor Knud Erik Bach Knudsen, Institut for
Husdyrvidenskab
13.40 Biology og technology for green biomass,
Seniorforsker Uffe Jørgensen, Institut for
Agroøkologi
13.50 Official inauguration of the HTL-Facility
14.00 Posibillity for short greetings, etc.
14.30 Networking Event with the opportunity to
meet researchers in the field (organized in
cooperation with BioCluster.dk)
Registration for the event must occur no later than
May 18th and can be done via this link.
Official invite see this link
The new HTL pilot plant at AU Foulum to produce biooil and chemicals
Continues…
Official webpage see this link (Danish)
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A visit to the Bolivian Quinoa industry – potential co-op and
research opportunities
By Jacob Mogensen, Inbiom, Administrator of SMV-project on Saponin
May 2015
No. 18
Lots of potential in the Bolivian quinoa
industry
However, there are a lot of indications that the
Bolivian quinoa bran can be turned into a biobased
raw material, which can be valuable for many
At the end of February, representatives from different stakeholders and companies, including
Borregaard BioPlant and the Innovation Network for Borregaard BioPlant's own range of products for
Biomass (INBIOM) visited Bolivia to gather ecological extermination.
information and samples as well as to meet
important stakeholders from the Bolivian quinoa "Locally, it does not seem that there is knowledge about
or technology for application, such as commercial
industry.
refining of the specific biomass. These elements are
The visit confirmed large potentials, as well as a present in Denmark and it, therefore, looks like a good
Bolivian interest in cooperation regarding match despite the distance, and it is one of the most
converting environmentally dangerous waste- interesting projects we have seen in a long time", Jacob
biomass into an environmentally friendly Mogensen, Manager of INBIOM's secretariat states.
commodity of large value. The visit took place as a
part of the SME project: "Saponin Innovation
Center" financed by the BioValue SPIR platform.
In 2014, Bolivia produced more than 100.000 ton of
quinoa - of which about 90% is ecological. Thereby,
Bolivia is the world's largest grower of quinoa.
More than 90% of the quinoa is exported, which
makes the crop one of the most important
commodities in the Bolivian economy. From 20092013 the value of Bolivian quinoa export rose
280%. This will continue to increase, as FAO The current method of cleaning quinoa
estimates that the quinoa production will have to
"This trip confirmed our expectations on location",
double a hundred times, to keep up with demand.
Manager of the Bolivia project and chairman of the
One of the results of the massive rise in the board at Borregaard BioPlant, Orla Møller Petersen
production, and the following required industrial states and continues:
processing in connection with export of quinoa are
quinoa brans. Quinoa brans cannot be used as food “In the light of this and due to a close dialogue with
for animals or humans, as it is acrid and slightly University of Copenhagen and Danish Technological
toxic due to its saponin content. The bran is Institute, we now know that we figuratively speaking,
polished and locally it is an environmental have a saponin mine in our hands, which continually is
challenge due to the fact that it ends up as waste or being filled up. However, we need to carry out further
research before we can determine the exact economic
is being washed into rivers.
potentials of establishing a saponin-refinery, which is
the final goal of the project”.
”It has really been a good trip. We have received the
information and contacts we need in relation to our
project “Saponin Innovation Center,” Peter Schjødt
from Borregaard BioPlant concludes and continues:
A mountain of Bolivian quinoa
(Continues)
“Therefore, we have already chosen to register a
Bolivian company, because we really believe in the
project after this trip and we wish to gain a footing in
Bolivia in general”, Peter says.
See the full description in Danish and English
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Funding opportunities for your project ideas:
Learn more on the Climate-KIC projects here and apply – Next project
intake is May 29th. Also read about the meeting on Bio-Based Industries
Have you heard about the ClimateKIC?
Climate-KIC is one of three Knowledge
and Innovation Communities (KICs)
created in 2010 by the European Institute
of Innovation and Technology (EIT). The
EIT is an EU body whose mission is to
create sustainable growth.
The Climate KIC is Europes largest publicprivate innovation partnership focused
on climate change, consisting of dynamic
companies, the best academic institutions
and the public sector.
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Focuses on sustainability and growth
through education, entrepreneurship
and innovation – resulting in creative
and connected knowledge on climate
change.
Main themes include a strong focus on
bio-economy, hereunder sustainable
feedstock and bio renewable
products.
Pathfinder-projects: A pathfinder
project is an exploratory project that
focuses on innovation opportunities.
Two types exist – one that focuses on
new innovation in an already existing
market, and one that focuses on a
market that needs new innovation.
Next project intake is May 29th.
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Different relevant events, programs
and projects for master students, PhD
students and startups – increase
knowledge, network or get new ideas
and apply them to your work.
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SME’s can benefit from KIC platform
with a vast area of expertise and
networks.
May 2015
No. 18
A Meeting on the Bio-Based Industries
Monday 27.04.2015: Ålborg University hosted an
information meeting about the EU Program Biobased
Industries, BBI. The BBI workprogram is centered
around 5 VALUE-chains and a set of Innovation
Actions, including the socalled Flagship Actions (Call
1), but also in later calls including Research &
Innovation
and
Demonstration
actions.
The five value-chains of BBI are:
• Value-chain 1 - From lignocellulosic feedstock to
advanced biofuels, bio-based chemicals and
biomaterials
• Value-chain 2 - The next generation forest-based
value chains
• Value-chain 3 - The next generation agro-based
value chains
• Value-chain 4 - Emergence of new value chains
from (organic) waste
• Value-chain 5 - The integrated energy, pulp and
chemicals biorefineries
The information meeting clearly affirmed that there
are significant opportunities for Danish Enterprises
and Public Organisations (Universities) to
participate in the BBI Program. At the meeting
BioValue was presented as a possible Portal for
Danish participation.
If you wish to read more, see the program,
presentations and preliminary work program for
2015 please follow this link to our website.
Link to Climate-KIC website here
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