Leading WP1 and coordinating the BioSMART consortium, Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e) brings the process engineering vision required to transform biomass-derived intermediates into scalable fuel solutions. As a leading Dutch university in engineering science and technology, TU/e combines scientific rigor with a strong culture of industrial collaboration. In BioSMART, its Sustainable Process Engineering group contributes advanced expertise in reactor engineering, process intensification, and furfural processing, supporting the development, optimization, and scale-up of furfural production and furfural-to-SAF pathways within the integrated biorefinery concept.
Web page: https://www.tue.nl/en/
The Agencia Estatal Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC) is the largest public multidisciplinary research organization in Spain, with more than 100 research centers. CSIC (through the Instituto de Tecnología Química, ITQ) will lead WP4 and contribute to WP2 as the task leader, focusing on the development, preparation, and lab-scale testing of new heterogeneous catalysts and the valorization of light oxygenates.
Web page: https://www.csic.es/es
Leading WP2, Wageningen University & Research (WUR) drives BioSMART’s efforts in biochemical and material-oriented biomass valorisation. WUR brings a distinctive combination of expertise in fermentation, catalysis, polymer chemistry and circular biobased materials, supported by a long-standing research environment focused on converting renewable feedstocks into chemicals, polymers and functional material solutions. In BioSMART, this capability underpins the development of advanced co-culture fermentation approaches and humin-based thermosets, helping to expand the project’s valorisation pathways beyond fuels alone and towards a broader, integrated circular bioeconomy model.
Web page: https://www.wur.nl/en
As the leader of WP5, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) provides the analytical framework that allows BioSMART to move from promising technologies to viable biorefinery systems. KIT combines a strong engineering tradition with national-scale research capacity and brings together expertise in system analysis, feedstock mobilisation and sustainability assessment. Its contribution to BioSMART is grounded in advanced capabilities for GIS-based biomass resource analysis, techno-economic and ecological evaluation of biomass process chains, and multi-criteria decision-making for sustainability-oriented technology assessment. In this role, KIT supports the project by developing decision-support tools and integrated system analyses that guide the design of resilient, scalable and environmentally sound value chains for biomass-based fuels and products.
Web page: https://www.kit.edu/english/
Leading WP3, the National Institute of Chemistry (NIC) provides BioSMART with the reaction engineering and process intensification expertise required to turn biomass-derived intermediates into scalable chemical platforms. As one of Slovenia’s leading public research institutes, NIC combines strong scientific capacity in chemistry and materials with application-driven work in sustainable process technologies. Within BioSMART, its Department of Catalysis and Chemical Reaction Engineering contributes advanced know-how in biomass valorisation, reactor engineering, catalytic process design, and multiscale modeling, forming the basis for the development of intensified conversion routes. In this role, NIC drives the production of furfural from real hemicellulose streams and the development, intensification, and upscaling of furfural hydrogenation processes, supporting the project’s broader ambition to establish efficient and industrially relevant biorefinery pathways.
Web page: https://www.ki.si/en
TNO provides BioSMART with the translational capacity needed to move from biomass conversion concepts to scalable industrial routes. As a leading Dutch applied research organization, TNO combines system-level vision with hands-on technology development to enable a circular, climate-neutral industry. Its contribution is anchored in Biobased and Circular Technologies (BCT) and Sustainable Process and Energy Systems (SPES), bringing expertise in biomass fractionation, furfural upgrading, process optimisation and scale-up. Within BioSMART, TNO supports the supply of fractionation products from selected biomasses and the development and upscaling of furfural-to-bioMA pathways, helping to connect upstream feedstock processing with downstream production of renewable chemicals and fuels.
Web page: https://www.tno.nl/en/
IITJ Jodhpur contributes to BioSMART a strong research profile in catalysis, feedstock chemistry and sustainable fuel development. As a leading public university in India, IITJ combines fundamental understanding of chemical processes with the design of efficient, scalable and environmentally responsible catalytic systems. Its expertise in BioSMART is centred on novel catalytic materials, non-critical raw materials and alcohol condensation chemistry, building on institutional strengths in catalysis for energy and fuel-related applications. Within the project, IITJ supports the development of novel alcohol-to-jet technologies using new fermentation-derived feedstocks generated in BioSMART, helping to expand the project’s portfolio of sustainable aviation fuel pathways.
TERI contributes to BioSMART´s strong expertise in biomass conversion, fermentation, and sustainable biorefinery development. Based in New Delhi, TERI is an independent, not-for-profit research organization focused on advancing solutions in energy, environment, and sustainable development, with established capabilities in research, implementation, and outreach. Its contribution to BioSMART is anchored in the Microbial Biofuels and Biochemicals area, which develops integrated routes for converting lignocellulosic and aquatic biomass into biofuels and biochemicals. Within the project, TERI supports biomass analysis and fractionation, fermentation and product separation, and contributes to feedstock assessment and TEA/LCA scopes for the India case, reinforcing BioSMART´s capacity to connect biomass processing with scalable, regionally relevant biorefinery solutions.
Web page: https://www.teriin.org/
PERSEO Biotechnology brings to BioSMART a strong industrial and scale-up perspective for converting waste-derived cellulosic streams into advanced biofuels and bioproducts. As a Spanish SME and industrial pioneer in second-generation bioethanol from organic municipal waste, PERSEO has developed the patented PERSEO Bioethanol® technology and operates a demonstration-scale plant, giving the consortium direct access to process development and validation under industrially relevant conditions. Within BioSMART , PERSEO supports the development and upscaling of new valorization routes for cellulose-rich streams generated by emerging fractionation technologies, including enzymatic hydrolysis optimization, sugar yield maximization, and the integration of innovative fermentation cultures developed by project partners. In parallel, PERSEO acts as an innovation leader, helping to steer the exploitation and future commercial implementation of BioSMART technologies at scale.
Web page: https://www.perseobiotech.com/
Johnson Matthey brings strong industrial expertise in catalyst development and sustainable fuel technologies to BioSMART. As a global science and chemicals company, JM combines advanced R&D capabilities with a clear focus on delivering scalable solutions for low-carbon industries, including sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). Within BioSMART, JM contributes its know-how in upgrading fermentation products and hemicellulose-derived sugars into SAF and fuel additives, collaborating with TU/e, IITJ, and CSIC. It will also provide scalable catalysts for key conversion steps and support techno-economic assessment through industrial benchmarking. Through its capacity to further refine, manufacture, and commercialize catalyst technologies, JM strengthens the project’s pathway towards industrial exploitation.
Web page: https://matthey.com/
Avantium brings strong expertise in biobased value chains, catalytic biomass valorization, and process scale-up to BioSMART. Known for its YXY® technology for converting plant-based sugars into FDCA, a key building block for biobased plastics, Avantium also has distinctive know-how in the handling and valorisation of humin side streams. Within BioSMART, AV provides access to industrial humin streams and supports the development and upscaling of innovative routes to convert them into marine fuels and biomaterials, in collaboration with CSIC and WUR.
Web page: https://avantium.com/