How

f3 provides a platform for collaboration between centre partners, with a common vision of sustainable fuels for transportation and common objectives. The centre partners include Sweden’s most active universities and research institutes within the field, as well as a range of industry companies with high relevance. The centre is being built up to full activity during the first two years, in order to become a strong, long-term platform for renewable fuels research in Sweden. The current contract concerns the centre’s first three years (2011-2013), during which the total budget will be about 30 Mkr.

f3 is committed to four important tasks

Increase communication between various research areas
f3 contributes to increased communication exchanges and cooperation between various research environments, research institutes, and industry by organization of seminars, joint workshops and other activities to build competence.

Initiate and implement projects
The centre's main activity is to initiate projects that complement ongoing research in the field of renewable fuels. Projects are carried out by scientists and experts from R & D partners, in close cooperation with industry, within the following five project areas:

• System-wide studies - What role will renewable fuels to play in transport, energy, and society?

• Comparative studies of various systems for renewable fuels - Which process solutions are efficient? How and where?

• Analyses of synergies between plants – Are there synergies in integrating with existing industrial structures (forest, process industry, energy conversion and fuel production) and how can those be captured?

• Analyses of synergies between different technology platforms (biochemical and thermal conversion) - What benefits can be achieved through integration?

• Method development for interdisciplinary studies related to the four areas listed above.

External information and communication
Major emphasis is placed on dissemination of the results from these programs, for instance by network establishment, newsletters, open seminars for stakeholders, and of course through the internet.

Strengthen Sweden’s international role in renewable fuels
The aim is to strengthen the exchange of international research results by using f3 as an additional Swedish contact node for international cooperation.