I am CELISE. I was born on the 1st of October this year. However, I was conceived more than a year and a half after several years trying by an artificial method in Europe called Marie Sklodowska-Curie.
Who am I?
I am an international project. My real name is “Sustainable production of Cellulose-based products and additives to be used in SMEs and rural areas”. Furthermore, I can survive because I have received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme. The name of the specific call is Marie Sklodowska-Curie and my grant agreement is No 101007733.
What is my goal in life?
I will create a multinational partnership between European research and innovation institutions, industry, and researcher teams in third countries. My aim is related to the exchange of knowledge and experience concerning cellulose-based materials using biomass residues processing. I will work especially for small and medium enterprises and rural areas from Europe and Latin- America.
In order to fulfil the sustainability of the complete process, CELISE will take into account all social, environmental, and economic points of view in the new products and processes. Regarding the social aspects, by studying rural and/or vulnerable areas, adding portable pieces of equipment, and educational programmes. In relation to the environmental point of view, by means of the use of natural additives and biomass residues as raw materials, the removal of chemicals reactants in the processes, and increasing the use of bioenergy in the processes. And, finally, in relation to the economic point of view, I will produce everyday products in the construction and health sectors, artisan economies, and I will use engineering and mathematical tools to optimise the business models. Figure 1 summarises all these aspects.
I will try to enhance the development of knowledge and scientific excellence by enabling European universities and industries to establish and maintain contacts with their partners in third countries. In addition, facilitating access to research environments outside Europe and promoting synergies on a global scale with corresponding directly to EU & UN priorities. I will be within some global goals of sustainable development, especially 7, 9 and 11.
What am I composed of?
I have a structure composed of Five work packages according to figure 3. The first two work packages are based on research and training and the last ones are related to management, transfer, and impact.
Where will the exchanges take place?
I will have 83 short stays (secondments) along with the world, involving 49 participants from Universities, Research Centres, and industries. Therefore, I will have a total of 135 months of secondments.
In addition to the secondments, I will do the following activities:
- Workshop about the pre-treatment of biomass residues by novel and sustainable methods.
- Workshop about novel processes of cellulose and nanocellulose fibres for SMEs.
- Symposium about the best tools for biorefinery options. In order to take into account the best tools, the symposium will include neural analysis, life cycle assessment, and modeling and simulation of the physico-chemical processes.
- Training school about the production of artisan and artistic products from lignocellulosic resources. Furthermore, the processing will use sustainable resources.
- In addition, CELISE project will have seminars, open days, visits and on-line networking activities.
What are my strenghts?
My main strengths are the following:
- New ecological, innovative, portable, and profitable solutions for SMEs and rural areas.
- Positioning within European and Latin-American environment of social challenges.
- Use of circular economy and bioeconomy, promoting the use of residual biomass.
- International leadership in R&D&I.
- Open Access.
- And, finally, Career boost, extensive networking
