Biobased building materials innovation centre

Why BBMIC?

To achieve CO2-neutral construction, the construction sector faces the challenge of using biobased and circular materials on a large scale. Innovative building materials produced from residual wood and fiber crops are often still in an experimental phase. In the market, there is extensive knowledge of raw materials, production processes, and building requirements, but these are not always present within the same party.

Additionally, there is often a lack of resources to invest in costly production facilities, and the risk of disinvestment is high. Therefore, for market acceptance and validation of building requirements, innovative products can be produced and applied on a limited scale at the BBMIC.

How does the BBMIC help with these challenges?

With the BBMIC, TNO supports producers in the development process: from raw material to building product. TNO's expertise makes it possible to produce on a scale that is attractive to the construction sector. This helps demonstrate market potential and reduces investment risks.

The innovation centre offers partners advanced facilities and expertise for the development and pilot production of biobased building products and systems. These products and systems must meet building physics and structural requirements.

Before producers invest in costly machinery, such as a fibre press, the BBMIC offers the opportunity to fully test and optimise the process.

Additionally, the BBMIC has equipment to determine material specifications. Complementary the existing TNO Building Innovation Laboratory tests and validates prototypes, providing valuable feedback for further development.

TNO invests ahead of the market, with a broad scope and without commercial interest.

Who could benefit from the BBMIC?

1. Start- and scaleups with innovative circular and biobased products: They can work on scaling up and a successful market introduction without large investments or risks.
2. Established suppliers: Companies that want to add a biobased product, such as circular CLT, as a special to their range but do not have suitable production facilities for small series can have trial batches produced at the BBMIC.
3. New timber builders: Prefab producers who want to reduce the environmental performance of buildings by using biobased materials can collaborate with the BBMIC.
4. Providers of residual waste: Organisations looking for a more sustainable and valuable alternative to waste combustion. The BBMIC investigates how secondary wood or horticultural waste can be upgraded into high-quality building materials.