This spring, Dalarna Science Park launched a Circular Industry Accelerator - the only one of its kind in Sweden. The aim is to match established industries with start-ups to promote circularity and new business opportunities. Simply put - find entrepreneurs who can take advantage of the waste and residual streams of industries and transform this into something long-term sustainable. The first matches between industry and start-ups have now been made and the industrial companies SSAB, Arctic Paper and Gevalia met on Tuesday with the companies that want to work with residual streams from each industry.
- This is a historic day and a historic initiative. It's great that we in Dalarna are now taking the initiative and implementing such a concerted effort on circularity for the green transition. Through our Circular Industry Accelerator, which also extends beyond Dalarna's borders, we have started an industrial reuse that will benefit all parties involved. Both monetarily and long-term sustainable, says Angelica Ekholm, CEO, Dalarna Science Park.
Over the next two years, regional industry will have the opportunity to find entrepreneurs from around the world who can help utilize waste streams. On September 17, the participating industries in the first round, Arctic Paper, Gevalia and SSAB met the start-ups and companies that are subject to matching in a first round. The meeting took place at Dalarna Science Park in Borlänge.
Listen to SR radio P4 Dalarna's report from the day.
Mia Eriksson, Site and Production Manager at SSAB in Borlänge, is looking forward to letting other players benefit from SSAB's residual streams.
- We have residual streams that SSAB utilizes itself today. There are also residual streams that are landfilled, where SSAB knows there is value but is not able to convert it into a product on its own. We are in the middle of our transition to fossil-free steel production and sustainability work is more central than ever, but our main focus is not on these issues. We are very happy if we can find collaborations with other parties who have good ideas - circularity is very important to SSAB.
Elin Vikman of Arctic paper and Jimmy Westin of Gevalia agree.
- If we can turn something that is waste for us into something that contributes to others, that's perfect. If we can also contribute to regional development, that's even better. The help we get is invaluable because there are many parts involved. We might not have been able to do it ourselves. All the suggestions and ideas open up new avenues and allow us to think ahead," says Elin.
- It is natural for us to contribute to the circular society. We are working to become more circular and reusable. Getting help with matching and new ideas is very positive," says Jimmy.
Under the accelerator, the matched companies and industry will be helped to develop sustainable business opportunities in the utilization of industrial waste streams. This can include innovation management, networking, market exposure, external technical expertise, collaboration support, access to testing environments and help in finding financing.
- Networks and collaborations of this kind are crucial to reduce CO2 emissions. The ability to do this together is key to success in the transition, where collaboration is the way forward," said Helene Wittesjö from GreenIron.
The work will now last for six to nine months. The recruitment of start-ups is both national and international.
Facts
The Circular Industry Accelerator now starting up in Dalarna is the only accelerator in Sweden that focuses on residual streams from different types of industries. The accelerator is co-funded by the European Union and Region Dalarna.
Companies that attended the meeting
The need owners Gevalia, Arctic Paper and SSAB as well as the following start-ups and companies subject to matching.
Anferra
Anferra uses innovative methods for resource-efficient recycling of steel industry waste into ferric chloride.
GreenIron
GreenIron, founded in 2019, is developing a technology that uses hydrogen instead of carbon to recycle iron, steel and other metals from the metals and mining industry.
The process is completely carbon dioxide-free, as only water is formed as a residual product.
Allogro
Allogro develops cultivation substrates with circular raw materials, and systems with reuse of cultivation soil in the currently fossil-based cultivation industry.
Terrible Twins
Terrible Twins creates products that promote natural well-being and contribute to beautiful homes, with a deep commitment to our beautiful planet, justice and social responsibility.
Proligreen
Proligreen is a deep-tech startup from the Royal Institute of Technology that focuses on replacing fossil chemicals with sustainable lignin in beauty and construction applications.
Three more companies are involved in the matching process but could not attend the kick-off.
