White Spaces Innovation in Sweden - Innovation policy for ... - Vinnova

WHITE SPACES INNOVATION IN SWEDENFigure 3.12 Processum Innovation Platform Management "Hub"Centred upon a former pulp and paper mill this geographically proximate cluster occupiesa single, large Processum business park. In close proximity are various processindustry facilities as shown in Fig. 3.12, including biochemicals, biofuels such as biomass,bioethanol, biodiesel and biogas, packaging, pharmaceuticals, substitute cotton,sugar, food, nutritional ingredients and construction materials. These act as raw materialfeedstocks to other industries, the range of which is broad and includes paint, manufacturedby cluster-member Akzo Nobel, substitute cotton, for which interactions areevolving through Västra Götaland‟s „Smart Textiles‟ cluster at Boräs near Gothenburgwith Hennes & Mauritz (H&M) clothing retail company. The reason for this innovativetranslation of specialist cellulose „comfort fibre‟ into cotton textiles is that an era of„peak cotton‟ is predicted in the textile industry because of the unsustainable productionmethods and steeply rising price of cotton on the world market. Sugar from forest productsis currently mixed with imported sugar cane to produce bioethanol, something thatshould contribute to reductions in sugar cane imports but which can flexibly be redirectedto other uses. Biomedical applications of forest products include tissues andcloths used in surgery, bio „scaffolds‟ that support body parts temporarily before dissolving,and, again working with Smart Textiles, woven blood vessel replacements.62