Avantium N.V., a leader in renewable polymers, received a €200,000 grant from the EU Horizon Europe program. The funding supports Avantium’s participation in a consortium focused on producing 5-Hydroxymethylfurfural (5-HMF).
The consortium includes 12 European partners and is led by Michelin Engineered Polymers. Its goal is to build and operate a large-scale HMF Flagship Plant. This plant will demonstrate the wide range of applications for HMF, a biobased chemical.
HMF is derived from sugars like fructose. It can replace many conventional building blocks in chemistry. Despite its potential, no large-scale industrial process currently exists to produce HMF efficiently. Michelin plans to engineer and construct an industrial-scale HMF plant with support from the grant.
The project will also explore sustainable uses of HMF. One key application is in producing FDCA, a polymer building block. This creates a direct link between Michelin’s HMF plant and Avantium’s FDCA technology. The integration aims to develop a sustainable European chemical ecosystem.
The consortium, called CERISEA, has received a total of €20 million from the EU Horizon Europe program. Michelin Engineered Polymers leads the group, which includes Avantium and 10 other organizations. These include industry leaders such as IFP Energies Nouvelles, ARKEMA, and Kraton Chemical B.V., as well as academic institutions like CNRS and Université de Technologie de Compiègne.
The project aims to reduce environmental impacts and strengthen Europe’s chemical industry. It supports the transition toward biobased, circular materials and sustainable production methods.
