How do you take a sustainable idea all the way from prototype to market—and on to customers, partners, and investors? In the CircBioGo accelerator, startups in the forest bioeconomy receive tailored support to develop their business models, sales strategies, and financing arrangements. The result is solutions that strengthen both forest value chains and the growing circular wood and bioeconomy.
" The Accelerator is a practical exercise where we combine the best experiences from incubators and science parks in Sweden and Norway," says Jessica Vacklid, program manager at Innovatum Science Park.
" The companies don't just learn from experts—they learn from each other, so results are achieved both through direct efforts and through the network itself."
Innovative solutions for wood, material development, and circular values
Startups in the program work with everything from new bio-based materials and waste streams to digital solutions that streamline forestry value chains. Several of them have a direct link to the wood and construction sector—such as components for interiors, material innovations, and services that improve resource utilization.
– Participants range from cellulose-based products to digital systems for measuring timber and natural risks. They are diverse – but all contribute to a smarter and more resource-efficient use of forest raw materials and residual flows.
For companies that use wood as their main raw material or as part of their business, the issue of climate benefits and circularity is central.
– Many companies need to get better at demonstrating concrete climate benefits and expressing the value of their solutions, especially to investors and customers. This is particularly challenging when you introduce something new that the market doesn't know it needs – yet.
Valuable input for reaching the market
Two of the participating companies are Oppatt, which transforms wood waste into new products in collaboration with work inclusion initiatives, and Lumine North, which develops bio-based components for the lighting industry.
Right now, we are a small organization, but with high customer demand. We are receiving help to meet that demand and build the organization for the future, says Jacqueline Hedin from Lumine North, a company that manufactures bio-based components for the lighting industry.
We hope to find new types of partners and get help to take the next step into the market," says Lars Thorsrud, Oppatt, which transforms wood waste into new products while giving people new opportunities to enter the workforce.
The program provides both practical development and new relationships. Participants attest to the value of meeting, sharing experiences, and challenging each other, which can lead to new collaborations in the wood and bioeconomy value chains. In addition to Lumine North and Oppatt, the companies Vyrk, Omtre, MIRA, ESG Nature Risk, and Svepreg are also included in the program.
Next step: pitching at Go West
In January, the companies will participate in Go West – Nordic Venture Capital Forum, one of the Nordic region's leading investor events for startups and scaleups. Here, the companies will meet with investors, industry representatives, and innovation actors to pitch their solutions and establish new business contacts.
" The accelerator gives companies an extra boost and injection to become investment-ready, " says Jessica Vacklid.
CircBioGo is part of Circular Bioeconomy Arena and is funded by Interreg Sweden–Norway and the European Regional Development Fund. Partners: Paper Province, Innovatum Science Park, Compare, Sting Bioeconomy, Kjeller Innovasjon, Dalarna Science Park, and Klosser Innovasjon.