The Relevance of Science for Innovations

Transcription

1 Bjarne Holmbom Christer Eckerman Åbo, Finland Recipients of the 2008 Marcus Wallenberg Prize

2 The Relevance of Science for Innovations Is science really relevant? Bjarne Holmbom Christer Eckerman The Marcus Wallenberg Prize Symposium, 7 October 2008

3 Need of Innovations Especially in the Forest Industry 1. Getting / Creating Ideas 2. Refining to Products / Innovations The role of scientists / researchers? 3

4 Processes Timber, pulp, paper Biorefinery products 4

5 Processes Timber, pulp, paper Biorefinery products Scientific analyses Fundamental knowledge base Publications

6 Processes Timber, pulp, paper Biorefinery products Scientific analyses Technical ideas Inventions Fundamental knowledge base Publications

7 Message of MSc student To really understand these phenomena we have to dive into the world of molecules and then come back to the surface. Tea Hannuksela, M.Sc. Thesis 1998, p. 5 Partial carboxymethylation of parenchyma cell cellulose 7

8 Processes Timber, pulp, paper Biorefinery products Scientific analyses Technical ideas Inventions Innovations Fundamental knowledge base Publications

9 How are ideas created (pop up) By passionate creative minds In small groups In a free trusting atmosphere Time and freedom to think, and try all kinds of things Usually not during ordinary working hours Big technical projects deactivate creative minds 9

10 Ideas -> -> -> -> Innovations Ideas should be tested and refined Who should do it Scientists and researchers should have a central role 10

11 Science is an exciting adventure Like an adventurous search in a vast forest where nobody has been before trying to understand Nature s Wisdom Trying to find treasures

12 We found a knot 10% of lignans Nature s richest source of bioactive polyphenols 12

13 R & D on knots at ÅA Analysis 10% lignans! More spruce knots Knots from other tree species 6-29% lignans 50+ species 5-15% polyphenols Polyphenol fundamental chemistry Isolation, purification Biotesting 1998 Technical sep. of knots ChipSep Applications About 30 scientific publications 5 PhD Theses

14 Lignans in Picea abies < 1 % 6 29 % 0.1 % 70-85% of the lignans MeO HO Hydroxymatairesinol (HMR) HO OH O O OMe 14

15 The Norway spruce lignan Hydroxymatairesinol (HMR) Strong antioxidant Inhibits breast cancer growth (Univ. of Turku) Hormos Medical Corp., Turku, product development Clinical test on humans: no adverse effects New dietary ingredient clearance from US FDA 2004 License Hormos Linnea S.A. in 2005 HMRlignan TM on the market in 2006 MeO HO HO OH O O OMe

16 Knots can be separated from wood chips Stem wood Chipping Screening Pulping TMP CTMP Kraft pulp Over-thick chips Knot wood ChipSep Normal wood 16

17 The ChipSep Process FI Pat Appl. Aug by C. Eckerman and B. Holmbom Pulping Over-thick chips Rechipped Chip Dryer Normal wood Sep. tank Warm air Knotwood

18 Still much normal wood in knot-chips

19 Drying of over-thick chips for pilot experiments

20 First separator prototype

21 Farm production of knots

22 Continuous chip dryer 22

23 Chips in Continuous ChipSep separator Knot product Normal wood out 23

24 24

25 1998 Processes Timber, pulp, paper Biorefinery products Scientific analyses ChipSep Ideas Inventions 2000 Innovations Fundamental knowledge base

26 A novel platform for valuable bioactive compounds Pulping Papermaking Paper Board Knots Lignans Flavonoids Stilbenes Dietary suppl. Health foods Cosmetics Techn. antiox. Natural biocides 26

27 The Relevance of Science for Innovations Is science really relevant? Yes, it is creating a solid knowledge base essential for industrial renewal Bjarne Holmbom Christer Eckerman The Marcus Wallenberg Prize Symposium, 7 October

28 We academic scientists hope --- To get resources and freedom to do what we are passionate at: doing creative research We can create the knowledge base essential for technical ideas Come and ask us if we have got any new ideas Push us, and support us, to bring our ideas forward to innovations 28

29 Acknowledgements Scientific work at ÅA PhD students (PhDs) Lari Vähäsalo Stefan Willför Suvi Pietarinen Patrik Eklund Heidi Markus Linda Nisula Senior researchers Rainer Ekman (t) Rainer Sjöholm Jorma Mattinen Markku Reunanen Kenneth Sundberg Jarl Hemming Annika Smeds 29

30 Acknowledgements Scientists at University of Turku Risto Santti Sari Mäkelä Niina Saarinen Markku Ahotupa 30

31 Research Academy of Finland Tekes Acknowledgements Support for R&D Innovation development The Foundation for Finnish Inventions Runar Bäckströms Stiftelse Business development Hormos Medical UPM-Kymmene Linnea AS 31

32 Acknowledgements Innovation development Thomas Holmbom Stig-Björn Brandt Mikael Söderholm & Sons 32