WWSC spin-off

There is interest in using lignin for material applications due to its aromatic structures, and it is foreseen to substitute fossil-based aromatic precursors, but one big challenge is that the available technical lignins are heterogeneous and still poorly characterized. This is something that the new WWSC spin-off company Proligreen, founded by Prof. Martin Lawoko and his PhD student Maria Karlsson wants to change.

The cellulose material Papira is a bio-based and recyclable replacement for fossil-based foam materials such as polystyrene, in everyday speech is called styrofoam. What started as fundamental research within the research center WWSC has been further developed by Stora Enso, that recently inaugurated a pilot facility for the fibre-based foam material. On April 1, an event was held to highlight the journey from fundamental research to industrial pilot.

The possibility of using the forest as raw material for energy storage is gaining increased interest. This week the work on wood-based batteries by the innovative start-up company Ligna Energy was featured in the news program Rapport on the Swedish national television. But did you know that WWSC researchers are the founders of the company?

The WWSC researchers behind the spin-off CelluXtreme, the WWSC researchers Daniel Söderberg and Fredrik Lundell, are two of the admitted to this year’s Bicky Chakraborty Entrepreneur Program. The program is supporting people from KTH whose innovations can create jobs and prosperity in Sweden.