WaVes
Project overview
More related research
Global goals
- 9. Industry, innovation and infrastructure
Short summary
The WaVes (Smart Innovative Biotechnology from Arctic Plant-Derived Waxes and NanoBiomaterials) project aims to harness Arctic spruce and berry waxes, along with plant-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs), by extracting them from natural sources.
Building on the success of the WAX project (Interreg Nord), which focused on analyzing Nordic berry waxes and refining extraction techniques, WaVes takes the next step: developing innovative biosensors based on these waxes and EVs for diagnostic use.
In addition to biosensing, the project will explore purified EVs for use in cosmetics, functional foods, and wellness products. Given that EVs in the human body carry biologically active molecules such as RNA, proteins, lipids, and metabolites, their plant-based counterparts may also hold significant potential for health monitoring and disease diagnostics.
WaVes seeks to unlock this potential by integrating waxes into biosensor technologies and purifying EVs from Arctic berries and spruce. These natural components could serve as valuable raw materials for superfoods or as carriers in medical drug delivery systems.
A key focus of the project is to optimize cost-effective, scalable methods for wax and EV extraction. It also aims to demonstrate their practical biotechnological applications, foster collaboration across Finland, Sweden, and regional SMEs, and drive commercial innovation. The combined expertise of the partners in wax chemistry, EV biology, and biosensor development will be critical to achieving these goals.
Through cross-border cooperation, WaVes promotes sustainable, eco-friendly solutions by leveraging the Arctic's unique natural resources. Ultimately, the project supports smart specialization in biotechnology and aims to deliver high-value, natural products that meet global demand—advancing regional economic growth in healthcare, biomonitoring, and beyond.
SLU Umeå is focusing on optimizing the use of spruce needles as a bio-based raw material for industrial applications. SLU Umeå is specialized in preparing bio-based feedstocks through various mechanical and thermal processes, including comminution, drying, grinding, fractionating, and compacting. The pilot plant at SLU's Biomass Technology Centre (BTC) will produce specific needle fractions tailored for chemical extraction at both laboratory and pilot scales, in collaboration with Centria. The primary objective is to adjust the material properties to enhance the efficiency and quality of extraction processes, ultimately improving yield and optimizing the entire value chain related to spruce needle procurement and industrial refining.
Contact:
Michael Finell, Project Manager at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, michael.finell@slu.se
Project information
Project duration: 01.01.2025 - 31.12.2027
Funding amount: 943 000 EUR
Lead partner: University of Oulu (Finland)
Project Partners: Centria University of Applied Sciences (Finland), SLU (Sweden)
Project website: https://www.interregaurora.eu/approved-projects/waves/
