News

15-07-2025

UPLIFT Project Seeks Industrial Partners to Join Advisory Board

Catalisti and academic partners UHasselt, VITO and UGent are launching a call for industrial stakeholders to join the Industrial Advisory Board of the new cSBO project “UPLIFT – Upcycling Lignin Biorefinery Waste through Thermal Conversions.” The project will run from January 2026 to December 2029 and is supported within the framework of cluster Strategic Basic Research (cSBO).

From Lignin Waste to Valuable Bio-based Materials

Biorefineries that process lignin-rich feedstocks often discard 40–60% of the lignin as insoluble residue—an untapped resource that could unlock significant circular value. Building on previous advances such as the LignoValue platform, the UPLIFT project aims to valorize these residual streams by converting them into high-value, bio-based materials through innovative thermal and chemical processing techniques.

Three research pathways will be explored:

• Phosphorylation of lignin residues to produce flame-retardant additives for thermoplastics, wood, textiles, and foams.
• Pyrolytic conversion to develop phosphorus-doped activated carbon for selective sorption and purification applications.
• Catalytic fast pyrolysis for the production and fractionation of phenolics and aromatics for use in resins, coatings, and surfactants.

Call for Industrial Involvement

To ensure strong alignment between the research and industry needs, the project consortium is establishing an Industrial Advisory Board. Catalisti is now calling on companies—large and small—to express their interest in joining this board.

Specifically, the project is seeking industrial input in the following domains:

• Development or application of specialty carbon sorbents for wastewater purification and metal recovery.
• Expertise in pyrolysis or phosphorylation processes and pilot plant scale-up.
• Use or integration of bio-based phenolics in product formulations.

Members of the Advisory Board will engage in dialogue with the research teams, provide strategic guidance, and help translate research outcomes into economically relevant applications. Companies may also conduct their own related R&D alongside the project.

Why Participate?

Joining the Advisory Board offers companies early insight into cutting-edge lignin valorization technologies and provides an opportunity to help steer research directions based on real market challenges.

Participation is open to companies both within and outside of Flanders, but Catalisti membership (at least CONNECT level) is required. In accordance with cSBO guidelines, Advisory Board members are asked to contribute a modest yearly fee and participate actively in consultations.

How to Apply

Interested companies are invited to contact Bert Boekaerts (bboekaerts@catalisti.be) by 31 July 2025, providing a short description of their interest and possible contribution to the project. After this expression of interest, further information and a Letter of Intent will be shared.

For more details on Catalisti membership or the UPLIFT project, please visit www.catalisti.be or reach out directly to Bert Boekaerts.