Partners

VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland Ltd (VTT) is fully owned by the Government of Finland and is a non-profit research organisation established in 1942. In 2021, VTT’s net turnover and other operational incomes was 254 million €, and has over 2090 highly educated employees – 32 % has a doctorate or a licentiate’s degree. VTT is the largest internationally networked R&D centre for applied research in Northern Europe and one of the leading RTOs in Europe. VTT does applied research where we harness high-end and value adding technology to develop scientific solutions for sustainable development and creating new business opportunities. VTT has extensive research infrastructure from lab to pilot scale. VTT’s mission is to produce research and innovation services that enhance the international competitiveness of companies, society and other customers and create the prerequisites for society’s sustainable development. VTT has focused its activities based on strong vision for industrial exploitation and customer potential in Finland and potential to achieve global technology excellence level. Over the years, VTT has gained vast experience from participation and coordination of numerous European projects including R&D Framework Programme projects and other thematic frameworks and programmes.

VTT is the TREASoURcE coordinator and has active participation and bigger roles in WP1-3, and WP9. In WP3, VTT’s expertise in aromatics and olefins using catalytic pyrolysis and downstream upgrading of the residual pyrolysis oil after aromatics separation is used. In WP1-2 and WP4-6, VTT will support the WPs with its CE knowledge (strategies, roadmaps, material flows, Finnish data, state-of-the-art, technology knowhow, policy review and recommendations) and help facilitate the DEMOs. In WP6, VTT has bigger supportive role to help boost the exploitation of the TREASoURcE systemic CE solutions and support the replication DEMOs.

SINTEF is one of Europe’s largest independent research organisations. Our 2000 employees deliver applied research, innovation, technology development, knowledge and solutions for customers large and small across the world. As an R&D partner, we contribute to value creation and increased competitiveness within the public and private sectors. We apply our multidisciplinary approach in a wide range of projects, from small test and verification projects and expertise evaluations, to multinational research programmes with several partners. SINTEF collaborates with leading universities, companies, institutes, industry clusters, start-ups and authorities, and we develop projects that generate public financing for our customers.

In TREASoURcE, SINTEF leads the framework for mapping and identifying key strategies for improving circular economy in the focused value chains and territories (WP1), as well as co-leads the Circular Batteries demonstration (WP4).

SDU studies infrastructure and technology in a systems perspective, developing and using stateof-the-art and cutting-edge methodologies for LCA, Carbon Footprint Assessment, Materials Flow Analysis, Resource Criticality Assessment, Energy System Analysis and Techno-Economic Analysis. The main research domains are waste management systems, agricultural & bio-systems, and energy systems.

SDU has main responsibilities in WP7 (task leader), WP1 (task leader), and value chain mapping and demand-supply forecasting and balance in different innovation WPs, WP6 as a task leader for logistics and spatial optimisation. SDU has also contributor roles in WP2, WP8 and WP9.

Founded in 1918, Tallinn University of Technology (TalTech) is the only flagship in engineering and IT science and education in Estonia, providing higher education at all levels in engineering and technology, information technology, economics, science, and maritime. TalTech’s mission is to be a promoter of science, technology, and innovation and a leading provider of engineering and economic education in Estonia. We are the first point of contact for companies and government agencies to conduct research. In its teaching, TalTech is based primarily on the needs of the Estonian society and economy, thereby continuously generating benefits and adding value to Estonia. TalTech supports companies in organisational and product development. Renewed study programmes that target the needs of the labour market make TalTech graduates the expected experts.

TalTech contributes to the project through FinEst Centre for Smart Cities (independent organisation under TalTech). FinEst Centre for Smart Cities (FinEst Centre) focuses on WP1 framework analysis and action plans to further enhance CE. In WP2, FinEst Centre contributes to understanding the key stakeholders’ roles via mapping Estonian and Baltic stakeholders, and participating in Enlightened consumer demo. In WP6 “Exploitation, replication and transferable practices” FinEst Centre will lead the task 6.2 “Identification of the transferable practices”, and in addition will participate widely in all replication activities in WP6. For WP7, FinEst Centre focuses on smart city governance and citizen engagement.

Forum Virium Helsinki is the Smart City Innovation Company of the City of Helsinki, Finland. It is a non-profit organisation and fully owned by the city. FVH employs over 60 people. It was established for the testing and development of new digital services utilizing user-driven innovation methods and public-private collaboration. FVH aims to advance the wellbeing of Helsinki’s citizens and the quality of public services.

FVH will lead the WP6 (Replication and transferable practices) and is responsible for the Task 6.6 (Handbook). FVH is also responsible of the WP2 Task 2.2.1 Enlightened Consumer DEMO. In addition, FVH will participate in several other Tasks in the WP’s 1, 3, 7, 8 and 9. FVH is well experienced in consumer and cross-border related projects and activities.

MTK (established 1918, 400 000 members, 90 employees) is The Central Union of Agricultural Producers and Forest Owners. MTK is an interest organisation for farmers, forest owners and rural entrepreneurs. MTK looks after its members’ social and economic status as well as the profitability of their enterprises and the protection of private property. MTK improves the livelihood in the countryside: Farmers produce good and safe food and non-food products while taking care of the rural landscape and environment. Forest owners produce wood, other forest products and services, looking after their forests according to the principles of sustainable forestry. Rural entrepreneurs offer high-quality products, services and experiences.

MTK leads WP5 and participates resource mapping in WP1. MTK has the contact to farmers and forest owners and has a central role in biobased value chains. MTK has vast experience in developing marketplaces. The e-market and business models for biobased side streams is on MTK’s responsibility in the project. MTK has investigated urban- rural symbiosis and leads that work in WP5. MTK participates WP3 through agricultural plastics. MTK has contacts to different farmers organisation in Europe and will be active within disseminating results of this project on a Pan-European level.

GreenDelta is an independent sustainability consulting and software development company located in Berlin, Germany, founded in 2004 as a capital company. The company develops and provides international services that cover all aspects of the software and sustainability consulting. GreenDelta’s expertise in Life Cycle Assessment methods and studies (Life Cycle Assessment, Life Cycle Costing, social Life Cycle Assessment, carbon footprint), critical review and quality assurance for Life Cycle studies, also according to ISO 14040 and 14044, strategic sustainability consulting, and social Life Cycle data compilation. In addition, GreenDelta is expert in customised software development for life cycle analyses, being the developer of the open source LCA software openLCA, which is by now the most widely used software for Life Cycle Assessments worldwide. GD works extensively in LCA data harmonisation and conversion.
GreenDelta’s costumers are international enterprises, research and policy institutes, universities, consultancies, as well as industry SMEs and non-governmental organisations, not only in Germany, but in over hundred countries meanwhile.

In the project, GD will lead WP7, sustainability, and combine there its broad background in sustainability theory, metrics, and practical implementation, also in software, with collaborative leadership skills shown in previous projects and WP leads. Main responsibility is the coordinated development of a sustainability assessment that fits for the project. GD will, further, develop software and databases for the project, and support the application in the case study WPs. Finally, GD will contribute to the dissemination of the project idea and results.

Ekokumppanit (EcoFellows) is a publicly owned expertise company promoting sustainable development. It operates in networks of the public sector, companies, universities and educational institutions, the third sector and citizens. Its main group of customers are the citizens. In the project it focuses on collaboration in the region and citizen engagement. It is in charge of the ethical issues of the project, two pilots and participating the third one.

CLIC is a cluster management company for RDI collaboration between industries and academia in the fields of circular economy, bioeconomy and energy system transition. CLIC cluster is a cross-organizational and cross-sectoral fast-moving network. The shareholders of the non-profit CLIC include 30 large and international companies and 16 universities and research institutions. The programs and projects managed by CLIC have involved more than 200 stakeholders, including around 50 SMEs from Finland. CLIC builds and manages collaborative RDI projects and programmes (up to 50 M€) to construct systemic solutions which are beyond the resources of individual operators.

CLIC leads communication and dissemination activities (WP8) and Symbiotic B2B partnerships SE-DEMO task. CLIC has wide networks to the targeted sectors across industry and research directly part of the CLIC cluster, and also extensive networks to the relevant Finnish stakeholders. CLIC will also build on its existing cross-border Nordic networks and extend CE collaboration. CLIC contributes to WP1 with its experience from previous projects in identifying regulatory barriers for sustainable development and building CE and regulatory strategies.

Østfold is a county in Norway with more than 300 000 inhabitants and an area of 4 000 km². Østfold county is located in the southeastern part of the country, close to the Swedish border. The county is led by the politically elected county council. They are responsible for regional development in the public and private sector, which includes developing regional plans for different sectors (energy, mobility, agriculture, etc), and assisting the 12 municipalities in the county. The county has several established networks and cooperations, including Klima Østfold (multilevel governance including representatives from county council, municipalities, representative for the state), and Klimapartnere (pentahelix cooperation including representatives from municipalities, private companies, NGOs, citizen groups, and academia). The county has public ownership interests in renewable energy production companies such as Østfold Energi.

In TREASoURcE, Østfold leads Work package 2 – Understanding key stakeholders’ incentives and roles in CE transitions, as well as participating in all the three value-chain demonstrations (WP3-5).

The city of Fredrikstad, is a municipality entity in Østfold county with ca 84.000 inhabitants. The city has a well-developed industrial area with several examples of urban metabolism and CE, main industries are various chemical plants and other light industry. The administration center (Fredrikstad kommune) has ca 7,000 employees.

Several sections from Fredrikstad kommune are involved in the project including the section for culture, environment, and city development, and the section for technical operation. Fredrikstad kommune are involved in almost all WP’s but mostly in WP2 and WP5 (we have a responsibility for subtask 5.3).

Tallinn is the capital city of Estonia that dreams big and delivers. Tallinn solves its challenges technology-wisely and offers its solutions also to the international community. Tallinn has a population of 446 563. Tallinn is a big fan and promoter of open innovation; as a role model and leader, as well as an inspirational and cooperative partner. In 2017 the City of Tallinn won the 2.-3. Place in European Commission competition of European Capital of Innovation 2017. Several times (2007-2010, 2013) Tallinn has been awarded by Intelligent Community Forum as one of 7 most innovative cities in the world.

Tallinn participates in the project as a partner city, where solutions developed and replicated in demo areas are implemented. Tallinn also participates in testing, analyzing, disseminating and communication activities together with other project partners and stakeholders. Tallinn leads a task in WP6 (T6.1 analysis of local conditions), participates in WP1 to give input/provide data about Tallinn, participates actively in WP2 activities, as well as the communication and dissemination activities (especially in Estonia). Tallinn’s event District Days are involved in WP2 as event tester.

Business Tampere, the economic development agency of the Tampere region, promotes investments and creates an attractive environment for sustainable business in the region.

Business Tampere is involved especially in stakeholder engagement, public-private and B2B partnerships as well as innovation and exploitation management in TREASoURcE.

Tartu, with its population of around 96,000 in an area of 154 square kilometres, is the second largest city of Estonia. Lying 185 kilometres south of Tallinn (the capital city of Estonia) it is also the centre of southern Estonia. The first written records of Tartu date from 1030. Tartu is often considered the intellectual centre of the country, especially since it is home to the nation’s oldest and most renowned university, the University of Tartu (founded in 1632 by king Gustavus Adolphus). The city also houses the Ministry of Education and Research. Tartu has been an intellectual centre of Estonia. It is the human capital that has served as the driving growth force of the city over the centuries. The extensive educational system and the high standard of R&D institutes have provided our companies with smart workforce and unique products. More than 60% of the total Estonian research potential is concentrated in the region. Tartu is an innovative way thinking city where in 2000 was implemented 1st in the world a mobile parking, in 2003 a paperless governance, in 2005 1st e-elections in the world, in 2013 participative budgeting and many more things. Tartu is the signatory of the Covenant of Mayors and is part of European Mission of 100 climate neutral cities by 2030.

Within the project Tartu focuses on drawing up a regional circular economy plan and setting up community repair shops. The project will develop a business model to ensure the sustainability of repair shops. In addition, Tartu will participate in the development of solutions for the recovery of various waste streams (batteries, plastics, etc.).

POLYFUELS Plastic-to-Oil integrator-concept will convert plastic waste, today being incinerated, into crude oil using world leading proof of concept pyrolysis technology from Japan designed for plastic. Then, through a chemical recycling process with partner Borealis the pyrolysis-oil will be transformed into new plastic, empowering the circular economy.

Polyfuels – Tasks

Thermochemical testing of plastic waste streams according to objectives. Thermochemical testing of self defined waste streams in cooperation with feedstock partners. Coordinating analysis of pyrolysis oil. Evaluating analysis results in compliance to set standards for olefin production. Evaluating oil quality for chemical recycling and EU / ISSC standards.

ECO STOR AS utilize used batteries from Electric Vehicles for energy storage.

We will deliver two battery systems in the TREASoURcE project in cooperation with SINTEF. The installations will give us valuable data from the energy storage and transformation of energy.