The Knowledge Foundation (KK-stiftelsen) is granting funding to the research profile Infinity Fiber at Karlstad University. The aim is to significantly increase the value of Swedish forest raw materials by extending fibre lifespans from today’s 2–3 uses to more than 20.
The forest industry is central to the Swedish economy but faces increasing demands for sustainability, resource efficiency and biodiversity. Infinity Fiber aims to contribute to this transition by developing new circular ways of using wood fibres.
– At its core, this is not a raw materials issue, but a value issue. Today, we use wood fibres too few times and lose value too early. With Infinity Fiber, we want to demonstrate how the same fibre can be used many more times and create entirely new value, says Magnus Lestelius, project leader of the research profile and Professor of Chemical Engineering at Karlstad University.
Important investment in Swedish competitiveness
Karlstad University considers Infinity Fiber to be a strategically important investment for both research and industry, with the potential to strengthen Värmland and Sweden’s position within the forest-based bioeconomy.
– This is an example of an activity where scientific excellence meets societal benefit. We are very grateful for the trust placed in us by the Knowledge Foundation and our industry partners. I see this as confirmation that what we have built together is now ready for the next step, says Jerker Moodysson, Vice-Chancellor of Karlstad University.
From short-lived products to circular systems
Today, a large share of forest-based products has a short lifespan and often goes directly to energy recovery. The initiative therefore brings together researchers and industry to extend fibre lifespans across more use cycles, develop new materials and applications, improve industrial resource efficiency and convert side streams into valuable products.
Strong industry collaboration
Infinity Fiber builds on the Pro2BE research environment at Karlstad University and is carried out in close collaboration with 14 companies from across the forest industry value chain. The approach is based on co-production, where research and industry develop in parallel – from laboratory scale to pilot scale.
SEK 100 million over 8 years
The Knowledge Foundation co-finances the Infinity Fiber research profile together with the 14 companies and Karlstad University. The total budget amounts to approximately SEK 100 million over eight years.
Facts
The Knowledge Foundation funds research and competence development at Sweden’s universities of applied sciences and newer universities, when carried out in collaboration with industry.
The Research Profiles programme is a strategic initiative designed to support the profiling of higher education institutions and research environments. It is aimed at institutions with well-established research and education environments that demonstrate clear ambitions for the future. These should be coherent environments with strong scientific excellence and a proven ability to collaborate with industry.
