The University of Turku, together with Åbo Akademi University and Aalto University, has received funding from Business Finland to participate in a major international research collaboration focused on developing new sustainable materials. The University of Turku’s share of the funding amounts to approximately €1 million.
The project is part of the international research network Global Center for Sustainable Bioproducts (GCSB) and is coordinated by Åbo Akademi University. GCSB is directed by Professor Arthur Ragauskas at the University of Tennessee, United States, and is funded through the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) Global Centers program in collaboration with international funding agencies.
The network brings together leading universities, research institutes, and industry partners from the United States, Canada, Finland, South Korea, Japan, and the United Kingdom to develop sustainable, bio-based alternatives to petroleum-derived plastics and composite materials.
Through this funding, Finland joins the global GCSB initiative, strengthening international efforts toward sustainable material production. The Finnish consortium, known as CirBReS – Circular Bio-based Residues to Sustainable Bioproducts, will run for four years.
The University of Turku contributes its expertise in photosynthetic biotechnology. The research focuses on utilising industrial effluents to cultivate microalgae (cyanobacteria) capable of converting atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO₂) into polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB), a biodegradable alternative to petroleum-based plastics.
The University of Turku’s share of the project has a total budget of approximately €1.2 million. The project involves a strong network of Finnish partners. In addition to Åbo Akademi University and Aalto University, the consortium includes 13 industrial partners: Mirka, Andritz, Raisio, Stora Enso, CH Bioforce, MetGen, Boreal Bioproducts, Kiilto, Nokian Renkaat, 3DTech Oy, Dimea, Oksasen Puutarha, and Brinter.
Research activities at the University of Turku are led by Professor Yagut Allahverdiyeva-Rinne and her PhotoMicrobes research team.
“We have long-standing expertise in large-scale cultivation of photosynthetic microorganisms while simultaneously remediating industrial effluents. In this project, we will develop production processes based on these capabilities and further enhance them using synthetic biology tools to engineer fast-growing cyanobacteria for efficient PHB production. The national FIN-BioFoundry infrastructure and our AlgaTech pilot facilities at the Ruissalo Botanical Garden enable us to scale up these solutions.” says Professor Allahverdiyeva-Rinne, who was recently awarded the Finnish Bioindustries Biotech Stars Award in the industrial biotechnology category.
Key contributors include Dr Sema Sirin (algal biotechnology) and Associate Professor Pauli Kallio (synthetic biology).
The initiative represents a significant step toward advancing sustainable bioproducts and circular bioeconomy solutions, positioning Finland as an important contributor to global efforts to reduce dependence on fossil-based materials.
