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RN21

Innovation in the natural resin sector to strengthen the national bioeconomy

The Integrated Project “RN21 - Innovation in the natural resin sector to strengthen the national bioeconomy” is based on three main guiding principles: cover the entire value chain of Natural Resin (NR), from forest to end consumer, with a special focus on markets and new products, respond to the main needs and concrete opportunities identified by the actors in the sector and contribute to the objectives of the RRP, specifically component C12 – Sustainable Bioeconomy. This Project intents to contribute to the transition to a more sustainable economy with special interest in the production and transformation of natural resin.

This is an aggregator consortium that gathers all resin transformation companies in Portugal, in an unprecedented effort of sectorial cooperation:

Three first transformation companies;
Three second transformation industries;
Three with vertical integration of the first, and second transformation.

This research and innovation consortium aims to enhance the great possibilities of application in the market, fostering the revitalisation of the entire value chain, with a view to its modernisation, sustainability and incorporation of technical and scientific knowledge.

Website: RN21

Main Goals/Activities

The mobilizing consortium RN21 aims to contribute to:

Economic resilience and the promotion of a sustainable bioeconomy in Portugal, through the revitalisation of the natural resin chain;
Carbon neutrality and a more productive and resilient Portuguese forest, increasing the production and valorisation of natural resin as a forestry product and reducing the need to import this material;
Territorial cohesion, particularly where the main areas of resin pine forests and the majority of the sector’s business fabric are located, by increasing the competitiveness of companies and creating qualified employment;
The strengthening of investment in science and technology, through research and innovation activities in companies in partnership with entities of the National Scientific and Technological System, Higher Education Institutions and local entities.

These objectives will be achieved through the implementation of 22 key measures that will result in research and knowledge-based products, projects and services for resin producers, the processing industry and the market.

In this Project. CeNTI is involved in 5 measures, within the scope of Pilar II (Strengthening the sustainability of manufacturing industry), namely: Optimization of industrial processes for production of esters in tubular reactors, as part of the work to support industrial investment and value chain;
R&D in rosin new applications and market niches, for food and agriculture sectors (with special focus on meat sector), materials and packaging, and automotive, as well as R&D activities for application of natural resin in textile and footwear sectors (soles and adhesives).1