FORESA INDUSTRIAS QUIMICAS DEL NOROESTE SA

Their core work

FORESA is a Spanish chemical manufacturer based in Galicia, specializing in resins and adhesives for the wood and construction industries. Within H2020, they contributed industrial expertise in converting lignin and other lignocellulosic waste streams into bio-based construction materials — bioresins, bioadhesives, and bio-insulation foams. Their role spans scaling up laboratory processes to industrial production, bridging the gap between academic research on sustainable polymers and real-world manufacturing applications.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

FORESA's H2020 participation is concentrated in a narrow window (2015–2016 project starts), so a clear temporal evolution is difficult to establish. Their earliest projects (SUSPOL, SmartLi) reflect foundational work in sustainable polymers and lignin chemistry, while REHAP (starting 2016, running to 2021) moved firmly into applied construction-sector products — bioresins, bio-insulation, and biosuperplasticizers. The trajectory suggests a shift from upstream chemistry research toward downstream industrial applications in green construction.

FORESA is moving from basic lignin research toward commercializing bio-based products for the construction sector, making them a relevant partner for projects seeking industrial scale-up of green building materials.

How they like to work

FORESA consistently participates as a partner rather than leading consortia, contributing industrial manufacturing know-how to research-driven projects. With 39 unique partners across 10 countries from just 3 projects, they operate in large, multi-national consortia typical of BBI and MSCA programmes. Their role is that of an industry end-user who grounds academic research in real production constraints.

FORESA has collaborated with 39 distinct partners across 10 European countries through 3 projects, indicating comfort working in large international consortia. Their network spans both academic institutions (via MSCA) and industry players in the bio-based products value chain.

What sets them apart

FORESA brings something rare to consortia: they are an established chemical manufacturer already producing resins and adhesives at industrial scale, not a startup or research lab. This means they can validate bio-based formulations against real production requirements and offer a credible path to market for lignin-derived construction products. For projects needing an industrial partner in Spain's forestry-rich northwest, FORESA is a natural fit.

Highlights from their portfolio

• REHAP
  Largest project by funding (EUR 609,875 to FORESA), running 5 years and targeting multiple bio-based construction products from agroforestry waste — the clearest expression of their industrial mission.
• SmartLi
  Focused specifically on smart lignin conversion technologies, directly aligned with FORESA's core business of turning wood-industry byproducts into commercial chemical products.
• SUSPOL
  An MSCA European Joint Doctorate — unusual for an industrial company, signaling FORESA's investment in training the next generation of sustainable polymer scientists.