Our Mission
Our mission is to demonstrate a circular, renewable powered biorefinery model that transforms sustainable biomass residues into valuable bio-based products while reducing energy use, water demand, solvent losses and emissions.
Lignocellulosic biomass is plant-based material, such as straw, wood, crop residues or food industry side streams.
It is mainly made of three natural building blocks: cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin.
Untapped Potential
Agriculture, forestry, and food industries produce a valuable biomass by-product called lignocellulosic residues. Today, however, turning these residues into useful products can still require high energy input, fossil-based resources and complex resource management.
Lignocellulosic Residues
Lignocellulosic residues are plant-based materials left over from agriculture, forestry and other biological processes. They mainly contain cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin, and can be converted into valuable materials, chemicals, fuels and other bio-based products. Using these residues helps make better use of renewable resources and supports a more sustainable and circular bioeconomy.
BioCORE addresses this challenge by combining advanced biorefining technologies, renewable electricity, circular water and solvent recovery, and AI-enabled digital control. The project aims to demonstrate how industrial bio-based systems can become cleaner, smarter, more flexible and more resilient.
Smarter Biorefining Through BioCORE
2026
June 1st
Start date
2030
May 30th
End date
€
5.5 million
Budget
10
Organisations
6
Countries
3
demonstration case studies
2
main bio-based product routes
Approach
BioCORE will convert sustainable lignocellulosic residues into bio-based products through an integrated biorefinery process chain:
1
Sustainable residues
BioCORE works with lignocellulosic residues from agriculture and the food industry. The project focuses on residues that do not compete with food supply chains.
2
Fractionation
At the first processing stage, the biomass is separated into its main natural components: cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin. This step is called fractionation, which is usually very energy intensive. BioCORE uses process intensification technologies to achieve an energy-efficient fractionation, meaning the biomass is broken apart and purified more efficiently.
3
Purification
After fractionation, the process produces liquid mixtures called hydrolysate streams. These contain valuable sugars, but also other substances that need to be removed. Purification means cleaning and concentrating these streams to obtain higher quality sugar streams. The aim is to collect C5 and C6 sugars, two types of plant sugars that can be used as building blocks for making new bio-based products.
4
C5 sugar conversion
C5 sugars are sugars with five carbon atoms. In BioCORE, they can be upgraded through catalytic conversion, meaning a catalyst helps trigger chemical reactions more efficiently, using less energy, and selectively producing the target products. These reactions can produce renewable building blocks that can be used to make bioplastics.
5
C6 sugar conversion
C6 sugars are sugars with six carbon atoms, such as glucose. In BioCORE, these sugars will support biotechnological conversion, meaning living organisms or natural biological processes are used to create useful products. This includes using microalgae to produce biostimulants, which help crops grow better, and bacterial cellulose coatings, which are natural protective layers made by bacteria.
6
Water & solvent recovery
BioCORE aims to recover and reuse water and solvents during the process. Solvents are liquids used to dissolve, separate or extract useful substances. Non-thermal separation helps separate and purify valuable compounds, water and solvents from waste streams using a fraction of the energy required through conventional thermal separations (e.g. distillation, crystallisation, etc.), so these can be reused in closed loops within the process instead of being lost.
+
7
Renewable energy & AI control
The process chain will be supported by renewable electricity, energy storage and AI-enabled digital optimisation to create sub-sets of operations powered 100% by renewable energy and capable of operating the whole biorefinery flexibly to adjust to the power grid operation cycles. The digital layer will use process data, energy forecasts and quality indicators to support flexible operation without compromising product quality.
Innovation
Using less energy at each process step is essential for making biorefineries economically and environmentally viable.
How?
Energy-Efficient Processing
BioCORE develops intensified technologies, including ultrasound-assisted biomass fractionation, catalytic conversion, membrane separations and electrified unit operations, to reduce the energy demand of biobased processing.
Future biorefineries should be able to shift and adapt energy demand without losing performance or product quality.
How?
Circular Water & Solvents
Water and solvents are essential in many biorefinery operations, but their recovery can be energy intensive. BioCORE develops integrated recovery loops using membrane-based and hybrid separation processes to reduce fresh water intake, recover solvents and lower energy demand.
Future biorefineries should be able to shift and adapt energy demand without losing performance or product quality.
How?
Flexible Energy Demand
BioCORE develops strategies that allow biorefineries to adapt operation to renewable electricity availability and grid conditions. This helps address one of the main challenges of renewable energy integration: Variability.
Digital control helps connect renewable energy, process performance and product quality in real time.
How?
Smart Digital Control
BioCORE will use AI, digital twins, real time monitoring and multi agent control to optimise scheduling, energy use, water and solvent flows, and product quality. The goal is to make biorefinery operation smarter, more flexible and easier to replicate.
Team
Our international and interdisciplinary team includes 10 partners from six European countries. Our consortium brings together universities, research institutes, and industry.
Newcastle University
Newcastle University contributes academic expertise and research capabilities to support the project’s scientific objectives. Its researchers bring knowledge from different disciplines and work closely with partners to explore new ideas and approaches. The university helps strengthen the connection between research, innovation and practical applications. Further details about its role in the project will be added soon.
IRIS
IRIS contributes to the project by supporting research, innovation and the development of sustainable solutions. Its expertise helps explore new ideas and strengthen collaboration between the different partners involved. Through its work, IRIS supports the project’s efforts to turn research into useful and practical applications. More information about its contribution will be added soon.
BETA
BETA supports the project through its expertise in research, technology and sustainable innovation. Its contribution focuses on exploring practical approaches that can help develop efficient and scalable solutions. By working together with the other project partners, BETA helps connect ideas, knowledge and real-world applications. Further information about its role will be added soon.
DeltaMem AG
DeltaMem AG contributes its expertise in membrane technology and innovative solutions for sustainable processes. Its work supports the development of efficient technologies that can improve resource use and industrial applications. By collaborating with other project partners, DeltaMem AG helps advance new approaches from research towards practical use. More information about its specific contribution will be added soon.
ESCI
ESCI supports the project by contributing expertise in research, innovation and sustainable development. Its work helps strengthen collaboration between different partners and supports the development of practical solutions. Through its involvement, ESCI contributes to knowledge exchange and the wider goals of the project. Further details about its role will be added soon.
Hausmann Aromatic
Hausmann Aromatic brings its experience and expertise to the development of innovative solutions based on renewable resources. Its contribution supports the exploration of new applications and sustainable production methods within the project. Working alongside other partners, the company helps connect research with practical industry needs. More information about its specific role will be added soon.
JOTIS
JOTIS contributes to the project through its expertise, knowledge and practical experience in developing innovative solutions. Its involvement supports the collaboration between research, technology and industry throughout the project. By working closely with other partners, JOTIS helps turn ideas into practical and sustainable results. Further details about its specific role will be added soon.
TNO
TNO contributes scientific knowledge and technological expertise to projects focused on innovation and sustainable development. Its work connects research with practical applications, helping develop solutions that can create a positive impact across different industries. Through collaboration with partners, TNO supports the development and implementation of new technologies. Further details about its role in the project will be added soon.
1Sun
1Sun brings together research and innovation to explore sustainable solutions based on renewable resources. The project aims to develop new approaches that can support cleaner technologies and more efficient use of natural materials. By connecting scientific knowledge with practical applications, 1Sun contributes to the development of a more sustainable future. More information about the project will be added soon.
sonichem
Sonichem focuses on developing innovative technologies that can improve the way renewable resources are processed and transformed into useful materials. The project explores new approaches that combine advanced technology with sustainable production methods. Its work aims to support more efficient processes and create new opportunities for bio-based applications. Further information about Sonichem will be added soon.
Related Projects
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SEMPRE-BIO
SEMPRE-BIO explores new ways to transform biological resources into valuable and sustainable products. The project connects research, innovation and industry to develop practical solutions for a growing bio-based economy. Its work focuses on creating new opportunities while reducing environmental impact. Further details about the project and its contribution will be added here soon.
SusAlgaeFuel
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ETERNAL
ETERNAL brings together research and innovation to explore sustainable solutions for a more resource-efficient future. The project focuses on developing new approaches that can support the transition towards a stronger and more sustainable bio-based economy. Through collaboration between experts and industry partners, it aims to turn promising ideas into practical applications. Further information about ETERNAL will be added soon.
This project has been funded by the European Union Horizon Europe research and innovation programme, under topic HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-CIRCBIO-11 with grant agreement 101291093.
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