National Research Projects

With each new project, we are closer to a biofuture.

RAIZ’s national research projects are developed in partnership, mainly, with research centers at Portuguese universities, with The Navigator Company and other national companies.

This teamwork and knowledge sharing have allowed consolidated progress in research and technological development, and have already led to patents registration.

 

BioShoes4All

Footwear Sector Innovation and Training towards Sustainable Bioeconomy

The integrated project “BioShoes4All – Footwear sector innovation and training towards sustainable bioeconomy” foresees 5 Intervention areas organized around concrete objectives and aiming at new bio and eco materials, products, processes, technologies or services for the Footwear Sector.
Funding Programme

Duration

42 months (01.07.2022 - 31.12.2025)

website

be@t

Bioconomy in the Textil Industry

The be@t project has the global objective of generating and consolidating a truly innovative, sustainable and circular National Textile and Clothing Industry Industry.
Funding Programme

Duration

42 months (01.07.2022 - 31.12.2025)

website

SHELLUTION PLUS

Application of nanoporous eggshell in paints and paper fillers

ShellutionPlus searches for an innovative and sustainable biogenic mineral filler for paints and paper formulations by reconciling the challenges of management and synthesis of food waste with the technical performance of the newly developed products. The main goal of the project is to highlight the potential of this biogenic calcium carbonate from eggshell.
Funding Programme

Duration

12 months (01.07.2022 - 30.06.2023)

INOV C+

Central Region’s Smart Innovation Ecosystem

INOVC+ is a Special Strategic Program for the enhancement of scientific and technological knowledge. It aims to implement a pilot project at a regional level and in a context of networking, which seeks to involve non-business entities of the regional R&D system and companies, to enhance knowledge and R&TD results transfer to the regional economy. The mission of the INOVC+ Project is to consolidate an intelligent, open and inclusive Innovation Ecosystem, incorporating a complete offer of resources, infrastructures and dynamics, with transversal and sector-oriented iniciatives, thus contributing to Portugal’s Central Region sustainability and competitiveness.
Funding Programme

Duration

24 months (01.07.2021 - 30.06.2023)

website

FCT Projects

ToxApp4NanoCelfi | R3Forest | FireProd

ToxApp4NanoCelfi: “A predictive toxicology approach for characterizing the potential respiratory effects of functionalized nanocellulose fibers in a co-culture system” (Ref. PTDC/SAU-PUB/32587/2017). Promoters: INSRJ, RAIZ, UC, RAIZ. R3Forest: “Use of exotic biomass for post-fire recovery: Reuse, Regeneration and Reforestation” (Refª PCIF/GVB/0202/2017). Promoters: Fciências.ID, RAIZ. FireProd: "Controlled fire, fire risk and eucalyptus productivity: from research to practice" (Ref. PCIF/MOS/0071/2019). Promoters: UA, RAIZ.
Funding Programme

Duration

ToxApp4NanoCelfi - 42 months (04.10.2018 - 03.04.2022); R3Forest - 36 months (15.03.2019 - 14.03.2022); FireProd - 36 months (01.03.2021 - 29.02.2024)

Pilot Laboratory

Forest-Based Biorefineries Pilot Laboratory - Reinforcement and Requalification of RAIZ (R3)

The project aims to complement RAIZ's infrastructure, with pilot equipments, which will allow the demonstration of technologies already tested at the laboratory level, as well as technical and economic evaluation of processes and products, in the field of Biorefineries and Bioproducts, in a logic of complementarity to the infrastructures already available in the Center Region, and in the Country.
Funding Programme

Duration

24 months (17.09.2020 - 16.09.2022)

Move2LowC

BioBased Fuels

The mobilizing project, Move2LowC - Biobased Fuels, has as its main objective to produce biofuel for the air and heavy road freight and passenger sectors. This project will allow the development of technological rationale, up to TRL 6, and a technology exploration plan that will support investment in biofuel production on a commercial scale.
Funding Programme

Duration

32 months (28.10.2020 - 30.06.2023)

website

B2Solutions

Biobased and Biodegradable Composites

The B2-SOLUTIONS project takes on an innovative character through design and development of B2-SOLUTIONS bioplastics and biocomposites formulations using natural, biological and/or biotechnological raw materials and biodegradable materials.
Funding Programme

Duration

30 months (01.01.2021 - 30.06.2023)

website

Floresta do Saber

Project promoting public awareness to Next Generations regarding forest valorization and the dissemination of new bioproducts and forest-based bioprocesses.

Floresta do Saber is a RAIZ project supported by the Sustainable Development Program of the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, recognized as a UNESCO National Club. A unique project in Portugal, forest in forest laboratory, with initiatives dedicated to sustainability, forest and the digital and circular forest-based bioeconomy.
Funding Programme

Duration

36 months (01.09.2020 - 30.09.2023)

Partners

Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation

IDTecFor

Consolidation of the HR structure for R&D and Knowledge Transfer on the Forest Sustainability and Forest Based Bioeconomy Areas.

Competences development in the Technological Interface Center, by supporting the hiring of highly qualified human resources, for the development of knowledge transfer and valorization activities towards companies, and the promotion of the Forest value chain innovation.
Funding Programme

Duration

36 months (01.09.2020 - 31.08.2023)

Basic multi-annual Funding for the Technological Interface Center

Strengthening research, technological development and innovation.

Strengthening the skills of the Interface Center through the hiring of human resources and purchase of new equipment to enhance the center’s capacity for international positioning at the bioeconomy cluster level.
Funding Programme

Duration

36 months (01.11.2018 - 31.10.2021)

Partners

See presentation

GO-IEPE

Operational Group for the Efficient Instalation of Eucaliptus stands.

This initiative aims to develop a management tool for eucalyptus stands installation on small properties that determines the production expectation, the best silvicultural practices through different environments and allows the reduction of costs and impacts on the soil.
Funding Programme

Duration

44 months (02.05.2018 - 30.12.2021)

Partners

OFA - Organização Florestal Atlantis - Associação de Desenvolvimento Florestal (Leader); RAIZ - Instituto de Investigação da Floresta e Papel (Partner); Instituto Politécnico de Coimbra (Partner); ANEFA - Associação Nacional de Empresas Florestais Agricolas E Do Ambiente (Partner); JJM Esperança Lda (Partner); Leitão & Cavaleiro Silvicultura e Exploração Florestal Lda (Partner); Greenclon, Lda (Partner); Forestfin - Florestas e Afins, Lda (Partner).

website

Go-Fitoglobulus

Operational Group for prevention and control of Gonipterus platensis.

Reduce the costs of applying control measures, increase their effectiveness compared to the methods used and provided in the Gonipterus platensis Control Plan, reduce the risks related to the use of chemical control (optimization of its use) in articulation with preventive management forms and adapt to different intervention scales (individual owner/large areas).
Funding Programme

Duration

36 months (01.10.2018 - 30.09.2021)

Partners

FORESTIS - Associação Florestal de Portugal, Associação Florestal do Baixo Vouga, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia - Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Universidade de Coimbra, RAIZ, ISA - Instituto Superior de Agronomia ICNF - Instituto da Conservação da Natureza e das Florestas, I.P. INIAV - Instituto Nacional de Investigação Agrária e Veterinária, I.P. Celpa - Associação da Indústria Papeleira.

website

Shellution

Development of ECO- Innovative products by the incorporation of biogenic calcium carbonate (Waste).

This project aims the incorporation of membraneless eggshell waste and its by-products in the coatings industry, mainly for the production of enhanced paints and paper industries. The primary goal is to replace the non-renewable calcium carbonate commonly used in these industries, by an alternative one driven from a biogenic origin, allowing also to accomplish reduced energy and production costs that are normally associated with mining extraction and calcium carbonate processing; and securing unmatchable technical assets like no other filler material coming from natural or synthetic process, increasing properties to final products.
Funding Programme

Duration

24 months (01.07.2018 - 30.06.2020)

Partners

Omya-Comital Minerais e Especialidades SA, The Navigator Company, Derovo - Derivados de Ovos, SA, IPN-Instituto Pedro Nunes, RAIZ.

iPlant

Innovation in the identification and production of improved eucalyptus plants to face current challenges.

The goals are, first, to provide new eucalypt genetic materials which will be productive, diverse, tolerant to adverse climatic factors and with adequate wood properties - selection will be based on existing clonal material from independent breeding programs carried out by the two main Portuguese pulp and paper companies; and secondly, to develop an innovative system to produce eucalypt clones at the operational level that will improve the productivity of mother plants, rooting ability of cuttings and the quality of nursery.
Funding Programme

Duration

36 months (01.10.2018 - 30.09.2021)

Partners

Navigator Forest Portugal, Navigator Paper Figueira, Viveiros do Furadouro (Altri group), RAIZ.

Proteus

Products and technologies for the Eucalyptus globulus sector

The goals are the development of new cementitious products based on inorganic residues, new applications for biological sludges and the development of cutting edge technologies for elimination of organochloride compounds in bleaching effluents. The expected outcome is the development, at laboratory scale, of geo-polymers, ecological cements, clinkers and biochar with commercial potential. The demonstration of a pilot technology for treatment of mill effluent is also a foreseen outcome of this project.
Funding Programme

Duration

36 months (1.10.2016 - 30.09.2019).

Partners

The Navigator Company, RAIZ, University of Aveiro, Ventilaqua, Saint Gobain Weber and Secil.

See presentation

Celsmartsense

Cellulose-based electronic platforms for biodetection

The demonstration of flexible electronic platforms on cellulosic matrices for pH detection by colorimetric and electrochemical methods. It also addresses the technical and the economic assessments of the biosensor platforms produced and the validation of the new products in real applications, particularly in the agri-food sector.
Funding Programme

Duration

21 months (1.10.2016 - 30.06.2018).

Partners

Navigator Paper Figueira, RAIZ and CENIMAT/i3N (Universidade Nova de Lisboa).

See presentation

Inpactus

Innovative Products and Technologies from Eucalyptus

The Project InPaCTus will support the creation of a University-Industry Centre of Excellence for meeting today challenges in the business areas of Pulp, Paper and Tissue and in the emerging segments of Bio-refineries and Bioproducts. Novel pulp products, UWF papers with enhanced properties and for new applications, optimized tissue paper manufacture processes and improved tissue products, and forest biomass derived biofuels, chemicals and cellulosic materials, are the main drives of this project.
Funding Programme

Duration

48 months (01.02.2018 - 31.01.2022).

Partners

Navigator Brands, Navigator Pulp Aveiro, RAIZ, University of Coimbra and University of Aveiro.

See presentation website Project Information

GANHA

Sustainable Management of Acacia spp: Natural Control and other methodologies for the recovery of habitats in classified areas

The goal is to control invasive plants in protected areas identified by the consortium, including on a company property in Sines region. One of the activities is the biological control of acacia longifolia, acacia dealbata and acacia melanoxylon with natural enemies.
Funding Programme

Duration

36 months (01.03.2017 - 28.02.2020).

Partners

University of Coimbra, RAIZ, Town Halls of Vagos and Figueiró dos Vinhos.

E-Globulus

Online platform for knowledge transfer from RAIZ to the forest management of eucalyptus stands

Communication project and knowledge transfer of research from RAIZ – Forest and Paper Research Institute through the free provision of an online platform to assist the planning of forestry operations aiming at sustainable forest management case by case.
Funding Programme

Duration

24 months (01.11.2017 - 31.10.2019).

Partners

RAIZ - Forest and Paper Research Institute.

See presentation website