Lignin to X – Challenges and Potential

Lignin, the abundant natural aromatic polymer, constitutes about one-quarter to one-third of wood and many lower plants. Despite its potential, lignin is predominantly burnt for energy in most current forest industry processes.

As we transition toward a sustainable bioeconomy, the efficient and innovative utilization of lignin is more crucial than ever. This workshop will serve as a platform for academia and industry to come together, addressing the challenges and unlocking the vast potential of lignin utilization. This year’s theme is “Lignin to X – Challenges and Potential“.

Registration needs to be done through the link and is limited to 100 participants.

Venue: Aurum Building, Åbo Akademi University, Henrikinkatu 2, 20500, Turku, Finland

Key Highlights:

Invited Speakers. Experts in lignin research will share the latest advancements in biomass fractionation, lignin chemistry, utilization, and analytical methods.

Industry Engagement. Industrial representatives will contribute through talks or participate in a dynamic panel discussion, highlighting the practical impact of lignin research.

Opportunities for Junior Researchers. PhD students and early-career researchers will showcase their work through a poster session. 3 ECTs could be awarded to PhD students by poster presentation and assignment (To be clarified).

The workshop is jointly organized by doctoral education network CIMANET (funded by Ministry for Education and Culture) and several research consortia D2V, Depoly2Ols, GRAM (funded by Business Finland).

Invited speakers:

• Docent Dr. Anna Happonen, Luke, Finland
• Monika Österberg, Aalto University, Finland
• Thomas Rosenau, BOKU University, Austria
• Orlando Rojas, University of British Columbia (UBC), Canada
• Narayanan Rajagopalan,Technical University of Denmark (DTU), Denmark
• Timo Leskinen, University of Helsinki, Finland
• Giada Lo Re, Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden
• Liyang Liu, Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden
• Martin Lawoko, KTH, Sweden
• Joseph Samec, Stockholm University, Sweden
• Gyu Leem, SUNY ESF, US
• N. TBA

Tentative agenda

20.8.2025 Wednesday

• 8:30-9:00 Coffee and Registration, poster setup
• 9:00-10:30 Opening and Presentation from Invited Speakers X 3
• 10:30-11:00 Stretching break
• 11:00-13:00 Presentation from Invited Speakers X 2 and Flash Presentation X 6
• 13:00-14:00 Lunch
• 14:00-15:30 Presentation from Invited Speakers X 3
• 15:30-16:00 Coffee break
• 16:00-18:00 Industrial talks X 3, panel discussion, and Flash Presentation X 3
• 18:00-19:00 Poster and Refreshments
• 19:15-22:30 Dinner

21.8.2025 Thursday

• 9:00-10:30 Presentation from Invited Speakers X 3
• 10:30-11:00 Stretching break
• 11:00-13:00 PFlashing presentations X 6 and Poster session
• 13:00-14:00 Lunch
• 14:00-16:00 Presentation from Invited Speakers X 2 and Panel Discussion
• 16:00 End of the Program

Local organizing committee:

Prof. Chunlin Xu, Åbo Akademi University

Prof. Patrik Eklund, Åbo Akademi University

Prof. Henrik Grénman, Åbo Akademi University

Dr. Hao Zhang, Åbo Akademi University

Contact: Prof. Chunlin Xu, chunlin.xu@abo.fi, Åbo Akademi University