Newsletter No. 3 - April 2026
Our COUNTLESS project has already cleared the half-way mark.
As you can read in the short report of our M30 consortium meeting, all work packages are progressing well, and the continuous depolymerisation of lignin has successfully been transferred from lab to pilot scale – meaning our innovation action is successfully progressing to the aspired TRL scale.
In our other articles, you can read what our project partners have been up to – and don’t miss the presentation by our coordinator Kelly Servaes if you plan to attend the EUBCE in the Hague!
From the project
COUNTLESS partners met for M30 consortium meeting
At our Consortium Meeting at month 30 of the project, it became clear that the development of results is now strongly underway. The first tasks have successfully been completed, with enough isolated lignin supplied to let the process engineers at VITO scale up the continuous depolymerisation. That process has successfully been translated from lab to pilot scale – not only in an initial experiment but reproducibly in a stable process.
Read more: COUNTLESS partners met for M30 consortium meeting – COUNTLESS
Partner news
Bloom Biorenewables wins second prize at Bioeconomy Award
Our project partner Bloom Biorenewables has been recognised for their work in enabling the utilization of all parts of woody biomass. In Fribourg, Switzerland, they received second place in the Christian Patermann BIOKET Bioeconomy Award, which recognises pioneering companies, start-ups, and innovators who are transforming scientific advances into real-world industrial solutions with measurable impact.
Congratulations!
Thomas Dezaire Presents at NCCC
On 3 March, Thomas Dezaire from our project partner Utrecht University gave a talk at the Netherlands Catalysis and Chemistry Conference (NCCC) in Noordwijkerhout, the Netherlands. He presented his work on using chemometrics to predict structural features of AAF lignin, Lignova, and depolymerized lignin oil (DLO) from infrared spectroscopy.
Read more: Thomas Dezaire Presents at NCCC – COUNTLESS
Other news
Team Rowtalia: Estonian four-man crew crosses the Atlantic in 39 days
Kait Kaarel Puss from Fibenol was part of the Estonian team Rowtalia, which successfully completed its Atlantic crossing as part of the World’s Toughest Row Atlantic Campaign race in 39 days. The four-person crew covered a total of 5,026 kilometres. They rowed on a continuous shift system: two hours at the oars followed by a two-hour break, with two people at the rowing stations around the clock.
Read more: Team Rowtalia: Estonian four-man crew crosses the Atlantic in 39 days – COUNTLESS
COUNTLESS at CIC2026
Looking back at the CLIB International Conference CIC2026, where the COUNTLESS roll-up was on stage: our feedstock lignin and our targeted applications were highlighted several times at the event. About 20% of the audience were working on bio-based processes based on woody biomass – like our lignin, nature’s abundant complex biopolymer. There is mitigation potential, as showcased by a nova Institute study for Cepi, in using lignin oil byproducts from pulp and paper industry.
Read more: COUNTLESS at CIC2026 – COUNTLESS
Upcoming events
COUNTLESS to be presented at EUBCE, The Hague, NL
Our coordinator Kelly Servaes from VITO has been invited by CBE JU to present COUNTLESS in a special session during the industry track of the 34th European Biomass Conference & Exhibition in The Hague, NL from 19 – 22 May 2026. Read more.
Webinar on Forestry and Forest-Based Industry: Advancing Regional Bioeconomy Transitions
Organised in the scope of the European BIO2REG project, this webinar explores how forestry and forest-based industries can drive regional bioeconomy transitions across Europe. Experts will share practical experiences on innovation, biomass management, value chain coordination, and governance approaches, followed by an interactive discussion on addressing economic, environmental, and strategic challenges in the forest sector.
Date: 27 April, 2026
Time: 11 – 12:30 CEST
Hosted by BIOEAST HUB CR
See all information and registration here:
Forestry and Forest-Based Industry: Advancing Regional Bioeconomy Transitions – BIO2REG
Funding Opportunities
CBE JU Call 2026
The CBE JU Call 2026 offers strong opportunities for innovators in lignin, woody biomass, coatings, and polymers. Key topics include biotech routes for valorising residual biomass and bio‑based chemicals or materials from woody residues, both highly relevant for lignin-based value chains. Innovators in materials can benefit from calls on high‑performance circular-by-design bio‑based thermosets, films and coatings for circular packaging, and SSbD bio‑based polymers from alternative sources. The call opens 23 April 2026 and provides €170.7 million in funding across 13 topics.
COUNTLESS Newsletter is an exclusive service by COUNTLESS for its members and partners.
Please address your questions, comments or wish to unsubscribe to schwabe-markovic@clib-cluster.de.
The COUNLTESS project is supported by Circular Bio-based Europe Joint Undertaking and its members. Grant agreement ID: 101112453.
Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or CBE JU. Neither the European Union nor the CBE JU can be held responsible for them.