(UPM, Helsinki, 25 January 2018 at 10:00 EET) - UPM and Åbo Akademi University expand their cooperation by signing a frame agreement covering several fields of research. UPM and Åbo Akademi University have previously already cooperated in biomedicals research which is one of Åbo Akademi University's spearhead fields and a focus area of UPM's Biochemicals unit. The frame agreement strengthens cooperation in biomedicals and also in paper, pulp and energy research.
UPM leads the integration of bio and forest industries and builds a sustainable and innovation-driven future for example through collaboration with partners. The purpose is to promote business development and speed up innovations also in new areas, such as biomedicals.
"We are actively looking for strategic partners on a global scale. The frame agreement with Åbo Akademi University strengthens UPM's network of strategic partnerships in areas that are essential for our future businesses", states Pekka Hurskainen, Vice President of Technology Strategy Development at UPM.
UPM and Åbo Akademi University have already been doing successful cooperation with GrowDex® cellulose nanofibril hydrogel. It is UPM's first commercial product developed for biomedical purposes. It is especially well suitable for 3D cell culture applications, such as pharmaceutical research and development. GrowDex is highly biocompatible with human cells and tissues.
"We are pleased with the frame agreement with UPM. This agreement continues our long term collaboration with UPM. Over the years, we have been actively collaborating in the fields of material and process research in chemical engineering and biomedicals, and we are now able to reinforce this collaboration", says Niklas Sandler, Vice-Rector, Research Affairs at Åbo Akademi University.
For further information please contact:
Vice President, Strategy Development, Technology, UPM, Pekka Hurskainen, pekka.hurskainen@upm.com, tel. +358 400 645 969
Vice-Rector, Research Affairs, Åbo Akademi University, Niklas Sandler, niklas.sandler@abo.fi, tel. +358 2 215 4837
UPM, Media Relations
Mon-Fri 9.00-16.00 EET
tel. +358 40 588 3284
media@upm.com
Åbo Akademi University
Åbo Akademi University is an international research university with broad responsibility of research based education in Swedish in Finland. The research and education of Åbo Akademi University covers most disciplines from humanities to theology, social sciences, business and economics, education and welfare studies as well as science and engineering. Åbo Akademi University has around 5,500 students and 1,200 employees. www.abo.fi
UPM
UPM leads the forest-based bioindustry into a sustainable, innovation-driven and exciting future across six business areas: UPM Biorefining, UPM Energy, UPM Raflatac, UPM Specialty Papers, UPM Paper ENA and UPM Plywood. UPM provides sustainable and safe solutions to the growing global consumption. Products are made of renewable and recyclable materials. The group employs around 19,300 people worldwide and its annual sales are approximately EUR 10 billion. UPM shares are listed on NASDAQ OMX Helsinki. UPM - The Biofore Company - www.upm.com
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