Stora Enso, Helsinki, Finland, will concentrate its new biomaterials business development in a new Innovation Center that will be located in the Stockholm area of Sweden. The center, which will open during the second quarter of 2015, will host research, application, business development, and strategic marketing.

 

The center will boost innovation by identifying business opportunities in the renewable materials (cellulosic energy) market and linking them with leading innovation and research centers in business and academia. The center will be staffed with Stora Enso employees currently working in Sweden, Finland, and Germany. It will initially employ fewer than 60 people and is estimated to employ around 75 people by year end 2015.

 

"We are convinced that our access to biomass, in combination with our expertise in forestry worldwide, will benefit our customers in new, innovative ways in the future. Our goal is to develop a competitive offering serving customers in multiple industries and markets, while adding value to our current cellulosic streams," said Karl-Henrik Sundström, CEO of Stora Enso.

 

"We facilitate creative thinking and cross-functional interaction by consolidating R&D and business development under one roof. Additionally, it is important to create a close link to leading innovation and research centers in this field—both at academic and business levels," said Dr. Antonio Batistini, head of Innovation and Strategic Marketing, Stora Enso Biomaterials.

 

Stora Enso’s other R&D units are not affected by this change and will remain in their current locations.

 

Stora Enso Biomaterials is a provider of pulp grades to meet the demands of various paper, board, and tissue producers. The offering also includes fluff for hygiene applications and dissolving pulp for the textile industry. The mission of Stora Enso Biomaterials is to find new, innovative ways to maximize the value extractable from wood, as well as other kinds of lignocellulosic biomasses. Through innovation, the aim is to develop into a cost and performance differentiated renewable biochemical company offering drop-in and new materials into existing and new industries to Stora Enso.