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Fostering Bioinnovations

Joint exhibition between Aalto University Bioinnovation Center and CHEMARTS on bio-based materials.

Aalto University Bioinnovation Center — © Esa Kapila

Can we create shimmering, pearlescent surfaces from wood or develop a sprayable waterproofing for textiles from lignin to replace toxic PFASS?

From material ideas towards real-life applications

What if we embraced imperfection in our future material world? Would it be acceptable for colors to fade? And how might a future color palette look like if it were derived from regenerative living materials? Do we really need materials that last forever and unaltered, or can we view our material world differently?

To turn these questions into reality, we need to explore different approaches to innovation. On display are two distinct stages in the design process of bio-based materials. CHEMARTS represents the experimental and early phase exploration of new materials, while the Bioinnovation Center showcases more advanced projects and research concepts aiming for practical implementation. Rethinking our relationship with materials and embracing imperfections are crucial steps toward redesigning our sustainable future material world.

About Aalto University Bioinnovation Center

Aalto University Bioinnovation Center which is located in Espoo, Finland, is an interdisciplinary doctoral school and research and learning center. The target is to accelerate the transition to a circular economy and bioeconomy, and to create opportunities for sustainable economic growth.

CHEMARTS is a strategic collaboration between two Aalto University schools, Chemical Engineering (CHEM) and Arts, Design and Architecture (ARTS). It enables students to explore bio-based materials together.

Roots textiles by Krista Virtanen & team — © Esa Kapila

Coated textiles by Riikka Kiili & Sahar Babaeipour — © Esa Kapila

Coated textiles by Riikka Kiili & Sahar Babaeipour — © Esa Kapila

Lignin textiles by Helena Sederholm — © Esa Kapila

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