WaVes - Smart Innovative Biotechnology from Arctic Plant-Derived Waxes and NanoBiomaterials

Programme 2021 - 2027 Interreg VI-A Sweden-Finland-Norway (AURORA)

Date of latest update: 2025-10-17

Description

Description (EN):

This projects objective is to utilize Arctic spruce and berry waxes, along with extracellular vesicles (EVs), by capturing them from natural sources. Building on the success of the WAX project (Interreg Nord), which analyzed Nordic berry waxes and explored extraction methods, the current WaVes project seeks to develop novel wax- and EV-based biosensors for diagnostics. Additionally, purified EVs will be explored for applications in cosmetics, food, and the wellness sectors. The project will optimize the commercial use of Arctic waxes and EVs, promoting sustainable growth for Nordic biotech business. The project targets a high-value market since the natural products sector was valued to be EUR 530 million during 2019. Since EVs in the human body carry biologically valuable components such as RNA, proteins, lipids, and metabolites, they have the potential to be useful for monitoring health and disease. The project aim to unlock the value of plant-derived EVs by first integrating plant waxes into biosensors. The project will purify EVs from berries and spruce, with potential applications in superfoods and as medical biotech raw materials for drug delivery systems. Key challenges include also optimizing cost-effective methods for wax extraction, demonstrating their biotechnological applications in biosensors, and fostering collaboration between Finland, Sweden, and local SMEs. The extensive expertise of collaborators in spruce and berry waxes, EVs, and biosensors will be crucial in driving the projects success, accelerating commercialization, and promoting smart specialization in biotechnology. Through cross-border cooperation, the project emphasizes sustainable, eco-friendly solutions using the Arctics unique resources. The ultimate goal is to create high-value products that meet the global demand for natural, sustainable materials, contributing to regional economic growth with applications in healthcare, biomonitoring, and beyond.

Expected Achievements (EN):

The project focuses to develop the production and commercialisation of plant waxes and nanobioparticles, specifically Extracellular Vesicles (EVs) that serve as valuable biomaterials for several applications. Plant waxes and EVs, purified from berries and spruce needles, are commercially relevant in sectors such as cosmetics, food, and biomedicine business. We aim to optimize the wax extraction processes, scale these up, and harness the untapped potential of plant-derived EV materials. Additionally, we are supporting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to meet the growing global demand for nature-derived products and to strengthen the regional bioeconomy through high value-added bioproducts. An important aspect of the project is the potential of waxes to act as biosensors for human EVs, which carry disease biomarkers throughout the body. This unique property offers valuable diagnostic potential, opening new possibilities for medical applications and health-related products.

Project outputs: PSR01: 0 Website: https://www.interregaurora.eu

Thematic information

Health and social services Agriculture and fisheries and forestry Climate change and biodiversity

Priority: (VI-A_S-FI-N_1) Smart and sustainable growth

Priority specific objective: RSO1.1. Developing and enhancing research and innovation capacities and the uptake of advanced technologies

Priority policy objective (Interreg specific objective): PO1 A more competitive and smarter Europe by promoting innovative and smart economic transformation and regional ICT connectivity

Type of intervention: 012 Research and innovation activities in public research centres, higher education and centres of competence including networking (industrial research, experimental development, feasibility studies)

Partners (3)

Lead Partner: University of Oulu

Partner’s ID if not PIC: 0245895-5

Address: PL 8000, 90014 Oulun yliopisto, Finland

Legal status: n/a

Organisation type: N.a.

Total budget: EUR 351 053.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 228 184.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 65.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 122 869.00

SVERIGES LANTBRUKSUNIVERSITET

Name: SVERIGES LANTBRUKSUNIVERSITET

Partner’s ID if not PIC: 2021002817

Address: SKOGSMARKSGRÄND 17, 907 36 UMEÅ, Sweden

Legal status: public

Organisation type: N.a.

Total budget: EUR 299 802.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 194 871.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 65.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 104 931.00

Centria-ammattikorkeakoulu Oy

Name: Centria-ammattikorkeakoulu Oy

Partner’s ID if not PIC: 1097805-3

Address: Talonpojankatu 2, 67100 Kokkola, Finland

Legal status: n/a

Organisation type: N.a.

Total budget: EUR 291 733.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 189 627.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 65.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 102 106.00

Partners map

Partners and Projects info

University of Oulu

WaVes - Smart Innovative Biotechnology from Arctic Plant-Derived Waxes and NanoBiomaterials

Partners and Projects info

SVERIGES LANTBRUKSUNIVERSITET

WaVes - Smart Innovative Biotechnology from Arctic Plant-Derived Waxes and NanoBiomaterials

Partners and Projects info

Centria-ammattikorkeakoulu Oy

WaVes - Smart Innovative Biotechnology from Arctic Plant-Derived Waxes and NanoBiomaterials

Lead partner

Project partner

Summary

Project name (EN): WaVes - Smart Innovative Biotechnology from Arctic Plant-Derived Waxes and NanoBiomaterials

Project acronym: 20370365.0

Project ID: 20370365.0

Project start date: 2025-01-01

Project end date: 2027-12-31

Project status: ongoing

Total budget/expenditure: EUR 942 588.00

Total EU funding (amount): EUR 612 682.00

Total EU funding (co-financing rate): 65.00%

Co-financing sources:

Investments, deliverables, policy contributions

(bullets are inserted automatically and may be incorrectly placed)

Deliverables:

Finland, Oulun yliopisto, PL 8000, 90014

Programme Output Indicator:

ISO003 - Number of common actions promoting exchanges between professional actors, Measurement unit: actions

Information regarding the data in keep.eu on the programme financing this project

Financing programme

2021 - 2027 Interreg VI-A Sweden-Finland-Norway (AURORA)

Last month that data in keep.eu was retrieved from the Programme's website or received from the Programme

2025-10-17

No. of projects in keep.eu / Total no. of projects (% of projects in keep.eu)

146 / 146 (100%)

No. of project partnerships in keep.eu / Total no. of project partnerships (% of project partnerships in keep.eu)

582 / 582 (100%)

Notes on the data

Languages

Contact Form

WaVes - Smart Innovative Biotechnology from Arctic Plant-Derived Waxes and NanoBiomaterials

Description

Thematic information

Partners (3)

Partners map

Summary

Investments, deliverables, policy contributions

Information regarding the data in keep.eu on the programme financing this project

Disclaimer