Center of Expertise for Circular Economy (CECE)
Research in the circular economy helps to ensure the sustainable use of natural resources by improving the efficiency of the use of organic and inorganic raw materials. We work in close cooperation with industry and research institutes. We focus on the identification and isolation of valuable materials from various industrial waste streams and seek the highest possible added value for the recovered raw materials. Green and low-carbon technologies and securing access to the raw materials they require are the common themes of our research projects. Our research can therefore be summed up briefly as "From waste to high value-added products".
Contact details of the Center of Expertise for Circular Economy
The thematic areas of research and development:
The network aims to promote sustainable business. Based on the recovery of valuable substances from side streams and biomass, the network will act as a bridge between high-level basic research and analytical method development and the development needs of companies. Our key goals are to improve the efficiency of raw material cycles, resource wisdom and high value-added products. The valuechains are visible from raw material to final product: they are carbon neutral and creating wellbeing.
In addition to the Ģֱ, four research and development organizations are involved in the CECE, the Finnish Environment Institute (SYKE), the Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke), the Jamk University of Applied Sciences (JAMK) and the VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland Ltd (VTT). Among the companies involved are Alva Group - Alva-yhtiöt Oy, Neova Group and Weeefiner Oy.
Collaboration is for example research, product development, and participation in national and international expert missions between organisations. Practical activities include cooperation projects funded separately, joint events, expert visits, and thematic or working groups of experts around identified themes.
We aim to be a valued partner and an efficient and effective international player in the circular economy. We promote the commercialisation of technological innovations and support the creation and growth of new spin-off companies as circular economy experts. A key part of our activities is to identify and train future talent for industry and research institutions.
The strength of the Center of Expertise for Circular Economy lies in its extensive knowledge of new technologies for the recovery of valuable substances and the removal of harmful substances. We are able to scale up processes up to pilot scale together with our partners.
We also have strong expertise. We are able to provide specialised training in a wide range of technologies for the use of different equipment. People who do not have the right to complete a degree at the Ģֱ can apply for a separate degree for university courses or individual courses. For example, it is possible to take courses in equipment technology.
Please feel free to contact us if you are interested!
Master's Degree Programme in Chemistry and Analytics for Circular Economy offers you unique expertise in the chemistry of circular economy. The curriculum combines the basics of circular economy as well as the recovery and upcycling of both metals and bio-based materials, with a strong focus on analytical chemistry. Teaching includes many practical courses on instrumental techniques in organic and inorganic analytical chemistry using modern chemical instruments at the Department of Chemistry.
The students gain hands-on skills that are highly valued by potential employers, for example in chemical and forest industries, which develop solutions for circular economy in transition towards a zero-waste future.
