CLIC INNOVATION OY

Their core work

CLIC Innovation is a Finnish bioeconomy innovation cluster that orchestrates collaboration between industry, research, and public actors to accelerate the transition from fossil-based to bio-based materials and processes. They specialize in lignin valorization, lignocellulose biorefinery technologies, and helping brand owners adopt bio-based alternatives. Their role combines technical coordination of biorefinery R&D projects with market-facing work that bridges the gap between laboratory breakthroughs and industrial adoption.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

In their early H2020 period (2015-2019), CLIC Innovation focused on foundational bioeconomy work — converting industrial lignin into usable materials (SmartLi) and mapping Europe's bioeconomy pilot infrastructure (Pilots4U). From 2020 onward, they shifted toward market activation and advanced fractionation chemistry, coordinating BIOSWITCH to drive brand-owner adoption of bio-based products while participating in FRACTION's deep-dive into organosolv pretreatment and hemicellulose/lignin separation. The trajectory shows a clear move from "what can we make from biomass?" to "how do we get industry to actually use it?"

CLIC Innovation is moving from pure R&D coordination toward market-side facilitation, positioning itself as a bridge between biorefinery technology developers and the brands that need to adopt bio-based materials.

How they like to work

CLIC Innovation balances leadership and participation equally, coordinating half their projects and joining the other half as a partner — a profile typical of innovation cluster organizations that can both drive agendas and contribute specialized expertise. With 35 unique partners across 12 countries from just 4 projects, they operate as a network hub rather than a repeat-partner organization, connecting diverse actors across the European bioeconomy landscape. This makes them a strong choice for consortium builders who need a Finnish anchor with broad European connections.

Despite a modest project count, CLIC Innovation has built a wide network of 35 unique partners spanning 12 countries, reflecting their role as a bioeconomy cluster connector. Their reach extends well beyond the Nordic region into broader European bioeconomy ecosystems.

What sets them apart

CLIC Innovation occupies a distinctive niche as a Finnish bioeconomy cluster organization that combines deep technical knowledge of lignin and lignocellulose chemistry with market-side facilitation work. Unlike pure research institutes, they understand how to translate biorefinery outputs into products that brand owners will actually adopt. For consortium builders, they offer a rare combination: a coordinator-capable SME with strong Nordic industry connections and the ability to bridge the gap between biomass R&D and commercial uptake.

Highlights from their portfolio

• FRACTION
  Their largest funded project (EUR 204,806), focusing on advanced organosolv fractionation — represents their deepest technical involvement in lignocellulose biorefinery chemistry.
• BIOSWITCH
  Coordinated this market-activation project targeting brand owners, signaling their strategic pivot from pure R&D toward commercial adoption of bio-based materials.
• SmartLi
  Their first coordinated H2020 project, establishing their reputation in lignin valorization and sustainable materials conversion.