LAB Biofine project portfolio, or project suitcase, as we say in Finland, contains five different projects. These projects will be the foundation for future bioeconomy growth in Finland, especially South Karelia.
When LAB University of Applied Sciences received funding for developing the bioeconomy in the region, it was the largest externally funded project at LAB. It started as the LAB Development project, together with LUT University (LUT 2024), which also included the LAB Investment project. At the same time, we also started the Internationalization of the Lappeenranta Biofine Pilot Plant project (Tossavainen 2024).
When the work started, the project organization was assembled to work within these four projects. We had project plans and objectives, but we had to begin planning how we would reach our objectives. Soon we noticed that LUT’s research on green solvents was very promising for the upcoming pilot plant. Research Council of Finland opened investment funding at the end of 2024. Application was made and approved, so the LAB Biofine project portfolio grew from four to five.
The Ecosystem
In LAB Biofine, one goal is to establish a cooperative network around innovation and development, mainly related to biomaterials and bioeconomy. We call it the Ecosystem. At the beginning of the work, we quickly started to contact different companies and partners. In 2024 and the spring of 2025, the idea for the Ecosystem was there. So, we collaborated with our partners to make the Ecosystem clearer and more concrete. The work is still ongoing, but we have managed to establish the platform for the solid idea. The next step would be pouring the concrete over the platform, if I may say so.
As the main goal of the Ecosystem is to help companies grow, we are focusing on the different valorization processes. These can include chemical and mechanical processes around biomass, but also equipment and machinery development for new materials. New materials also have laws and regulations. When the Ecosystem grows, logistics and storage solutions will be needed. And maybe the most important part of the Ecosystem is professionals and experts. LAB University of Applied Sciences is building a pilot plant to support companies and R&D facilities in biomass valorization but also to educate new experts (LAB 2024a).
As mentioned, the project portfolio contains also the Internationalization project. Its objective is to establish a solid network to start international cooperation within the Ecosystem. Although we are building the pilot plant in Finland, we are actively looking for partners from abroad (LAB 2024b).
The Pilot Plant
The core of the Ecosystem will be the LAB Biofine pilot plant. We have two different investments ongoing. The technology choices are a pressurized hot water extraction (PHWE) reactor line, and sustainable solvent extraction reactor line, especially using deep eutectic solvents (DES). Both lines will focus on extraction from biomass, which means that from different types of biomass, we can separate valuable components and further refine those (LAB2025a).
When we started, the big question was how to build a pilot plant for education, research and development, and for companies. In the spring of 2025, it was decided that a modular pilot structure for multipurpose use would benefit most of the partners. A modular pilot would also give us possibility to adapt to future changes (LAB 2025b).
What’s next?
LAB Biofine is structurally divided into smaller projects to establish shared objectives. Coordinating together with our partners, we are building more than a piloting center and a partner network. LAB University of Applied Sciences and LUT University, together with the Regional Council of South Karelia and the City of Lappeenranta, will collaborate more to make LAB Biofine attractive not just for companies and research facilities, but also for students and specialists. LAB Biofine will contribute to society by helping bioeconomy growth within the network.
The project organization is working on a daily basis to build up the pilot facility and bring the Ecosystem to life.
Discover how you can join the Ecosystem – visit the LAB Biofine website for more information!
Author
Teemu Piesanen works as the Development Manager of LAB Biofine at the Faculty of Technology at LAB University of Applied Sciences.
References
LAB University of Applied Sciences. 2024a. LAB Biofine – Kehittämishanke. Cited 20 Nov 2025. Available at https://lab.fi/en/project/biofine
LAB University of Applied Sciences. 2024b. Internationalization of the Lappeenranta Biofine Pilot Plant. Cited 20 Nov 2025. Available at https://lab.fi/en/project/internationalization-lappeenranta-biofine-pilot-plant
LAB University of Applied Sciences. 2025a. Vihreiden liuottimien kokeiluympäristö investointihanke. Cited 20 Nov 2025. Available at https://lab.fi/en/project/vihreiden-liuottimien-kokeiluymparisto-investointihanke
LAB University of Applied Sciences. 2025b. LAB Biofine. Cited 20 Nov 2025. Available at https://lab.fi/en/RDI/key-competences/multipurpose-materials/lab-biofine
LUT University. 2024. LAB Biofine. Cited 20 Nov 2025. Available at https://www.lut.fi/en/projects/lab-biofine
Tossavainen, J. 2024. LAB-ammattikorkeakoulu sai historiallisen suuren rahoituksen uuteen toimintaan. Etelä-Saimaa 8.10.2024. Cited 19 Nov 2025. Available at https://www.esaimaa.fi/paikalliset/7959040
Links
Link 1. LAB University of Applied Sciences. 2025. LAB Biofine. Cited 12 Dec 2025. Available at https://lab.fi/en/RDI/key-competences/multipurpose-materials/lab-biofine
