Developing a novel bio-based material is only one part of the journey towards commercialisation. A solution must also respond to a real customer need, perform reliably in its intended application, fit into industrial processes, meet regulatory requirements, and provide a compelling alternative to established solutions. CLIC Innovation leads the exploitation work of the CBE JU funded SuperBark project, assessing market potential, customer needs, and adoption barriers to support successful commercialisation and market uptake of the project results.
From technology development to market opportunities
SuperBark has developed a portfolio of Key Exploitable Results (KERs) covering different technologies, materials and potential applications. The consortium selected two overarching solution areas: 1) bark-based tannin and polyphenol adhesives, and 2) bark-based cellulose nanofibril (CNF) and polyphenol coatings. Potential applications were mapped across the project’s target market sectors, including construction, furniture, transport and packaging. The central question was not simply which markets are the largest. Instead, the consortium wanted to understand where the properties and benefits of SuperBark solutions could address customer, technical or regulatory needs and provide most impactful opportunities for adoption.
Combining market intelligence with industry perspectives
Following the initial mapping, CLIC Innovation commissioned Sailer Oy to conduct a dedicated market and customer study. The methodology combined desktop research with direct stakeholder interviews, bringing together wider market intelligence and practical industry perspectives. The desktop research covered market and industry data, and the impacts of current related regulatory frameworks, academic research reports, and real-time news. Interviews were then conducted with eight industry professionals from relevant sectors. They explored customer requirements, sustainability and regulatory drivers, potential barriers to adoption, and demand for bio-based alternatives. The interview results were cross-analysed with the desktop research to build a comprehensive picture of potential markets and customer expectations.
Turning market insight into exploitation pathways
The real value of the market and customer analysis lies in how the results can guide the next steps towards exploitation. Following a dedicated internal KER workshop, consortium partners further developed their exploitation pathways by connecting market opportunities, technical maturity and partner capabilities, helping to move exploitation planning from broad technology-driven opportunities towards more targeted pathways with clearer applications, customer groups and value propositions. Depending on the individual result, future pathways can include further R&D and demonstration, customer-specific validation, industrial trials, integration into existing production processes, licensing or collaborative commercialisation models.
As SuperBark enters its final phase, the market and customer analysis provides a strong foundation By translating market needs into concrete commercialisation pathways, it brings SuperBark closer to transforming an underutilised forest industry side stream into bio-based adhesives and coatings that industry can realistically adopt.
To learn more about the work in the SuperBark Work Package 6, Communication, Dissemination and Exploitation, contact Laura Myers:
