GAIKER, coordinator of three European projects
GAIKER’s Sustainable Composites and Functional Polymers Area coordinates the European projects ECORES WIND, BIOSAFIRE and E-OILÉ
The GAIKER Technology Centre, a member of the Basque Research & Technology Alliance (BRTA), is leading three technological development and innovation projects funded by the European Union under the Horizon Europe programme through its Sustainable Composites and Functional Polymers Area. These are the Ecores Wind, Biosafire and E-oilé projects approved in the HORIZON-CL5-2023-D3-02, HORIZON-CL4-2024-RESILIENCE-01 and HORIZON-CL4-2024-RESILIENCE-01-TWO-STAGE calls, respectively.
With the aim of developing new circular resin systems for composite materials that improve circularity and minimise the environmental footprint of wind energy systems throughout their life cycle, the project ‘Novel Circular Resin Development for Composite Structures in Wind Energy Applications’, ECORES WIND, began in 2024. Its purpose is to explore alternatives that facilitate greater circularity, extended service life and efficient decommissioning.
That same year also saw the launch of the project ‘Development and Manufacture of New, More Sustainable and Safer Materials Using Biobased Functionalised Additives Based on Lingin and Tannins to Improve Fire Resistance’, BIOSAFIRE, with the aim of developing a new generation of safe and sustainable bio-based flame retardants to replace current toxic alternatives with high-performance ones that have a lower environmental impact.
Finally, at the beginning of June this year, the project ‘Sustainable End-of-Life Routes for Single-Use Monodose Packaging for Oily Products’, E-OILÉ, was launched. This research aims to address biodegradable, safe and sustainable packaging solutions. Work is being done to ensure that the new developments are a cost-effective alternative and replace the current single-dose packaging made from non-biodegradable fossil-based materials in flexible and semi-rigid formats, following the SSbD framework.
GAIKER’s work on the projects
In addition to leading these three four-year projects, GAIKER will carry out various activities focused on a transition to sustainability in different areas. In ECORES WIND, it will work on the characterisation of the new materials developed in the project, as well as on the manufacturing processes, and will be responsible for scaling up the recycling processes for the new resins produced.
In the case of BIOSAFIRE, GAIKER will study the compatibility of the new bio-fire retardants developed with thermostable matrices. It will also participate in the manufacture of some parts and will be responsible for characterising them to evaluate the fire properties of these new sustainable additives. Thanks to its extensive experience in fire behaviour, it will carry out various fire tests in accordance with the regulations required for each sector and, through its biotechnology department, will carry out other tests included in the SSbD (Safe and Sustainable by Design) framework to determine the safety of the products to be developed.
For its part, in the E-OILÉ project, the Technology Centre will be responsible for validating the biodegradable materials and packaging at a functional level, as well as redesigning them prior to industrial scaling. In addition, using both environmental and economic life cycle methodologies (LCA and LCC), it will study the sustainability and circularity of the proposed biodegradable packaging solutions and their potential recyclability.
GAIKER has extensive experience as a participant in international consortia, which allows it to establish alliances and collaborative environments that guarantee its presence in European R&D programmes. The current coordination of these three projects and its historical participation in more than 160 others is proof of this.
