We are taking the last steps in BioProt since the project ended on 30.6.2024. Nevertheless, Teknikum still continues the development work in the end of this year. Some of the members of BioProt were interviewed by Andreas Lindberg at ExpandFibre to make the final reflection about the project. Going through things at this final phase brought together thoughts about what have been achieved and how important issue we have been on the verge of. The representatives of the research organizations were first interviewed, followed by the representatives of the company. Interviews were held on 7.6. and 12.6.2024 in Teams, and the news was published on the website of ExpandFibre on 3.12.2024. Link to the interview is found at the end of the story.
BioProt is a two and half -year project started at the beginning of 2022 and has been funded by Business Finland, including six research institutes (LUT, LAB, VTT, JYU, Luke, HU), four companies with own projects (Lifa Air, Teknikum, Premix, Teknos) and five In-kind companies (HUS, Mehiläinen, Berner, Optitune, Lindström Group).
Discussion among research partners (LUT, LAB, VTT)
Krista Koljonen (LUT) gave a short presentation of the BioProt and results gained within the project. She concentrated on the early stages of the project, describing how all started and summarized all the main results obtained in the project. After the interview, the BioProt project was also presented to the wider audience. The presentation of the final results was given by Krista Koljonen (LUT) in the Final Seminar of the ExpandFibre and Ecosystem and Programmes on 19.8.2024 in Metsä Group HQ, Espoo.
Andreas Lindberg (ExpandFibre) had prepared some questions to the interviewees which were Susanna Tella (LAB), Satu Salo (VTT) and Krista Koljonen (LUT). We discussed about, e.g., the background of the project, the early days, the COVID-19 era and the importance of protective equipment. At the end, we reflect on what was learned during the project and pondered the next steps.
Second interview round among companies (Lifa Air, Teknikum, Premix, Teknos)
Andreas Lindberg (ExpandFibre) interviewed also the company members of BioProt. Janette Mäkipää (Lifa Air), Mira Juutilainen (Teknikum), Tuomas Kiikka (Premix) and Pasi Virtanen (Teknos) were present to answer the questions. The group discussed about the reasons joined the project, cooperation during the project, importance of the project to the company and challenges faced during the COVID-19.
Interview is found in website of ExpandFibre (www.expandfibre.com/news), and via the link: https://www.expandfibre.com/news/item/bioprot-project-set-out-to-develop-novel-bio-based-solutions-as-future-alternatives-for-safe-and-sustainable-personal-protection
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