Biomimetics refers to the imitation of nature e.g. when creating new technical solutions. The solutions may for example improve the properties of products or create totally new kinds of products and materials. Background idea is that there is no better or more efficient solution or system than the ones that have been optimized in the nature. Examples of current solutions inspired by biomimetics include Velcro tape, development of non-reflecting, surfaces and self-healing materials. In nature materials can simultaneously be strong, resilient, and light, and they can have for example hydrophobic properties. These properties and the new possibilities they create are important in utilizing renewable materials and by-products in today’s bio and circular economy. The Natural Resources Centre Finland surveyed the Finnish research landscape in biomimetics and the related commercial possibilities. Europe, the USA and Japan are leading the research and commercialization of biomimetic solutions. The international co-operation forums in Europe and in the USA are summarized in the survey. The report can be downloaded at www.marketopportunities.fi

1. OTSIKKO
ALAOTSIKKO, KUUKAUSI VUOSI
BIOMIMETIC RESEARCH OFFERS NEW
OPPORTUNITIES FOR BUSINESSES
SUMMARY FROM THE REPORT: FUTURE WATCH – BIOMIMETICS
https://www.businessfinland.fi/globalassets/julkaisut/future_watch_biomimetiikka.pdf

2. AUTHORS
Pekka Saranpää
Pauli Saarenketo
Future Watch Report, April 20182
Actionable Insights for Finnish companies at www.marketopportunities.fi

3. BIOMIMICRY: DRAWING
INSPIRATION FROM NATURE
FOR SUSTAINABLE
INNOVATION
Team Finland Future Watch Report, April 20183

4. CHAPTER HEADING
HOW TO DEFINE BIOMIMETICS OR
BIOMIMICRY?
Team Finland Future Watch Report, April 20184
Nature can be a
wonderful muse, an
excellent starting
point in the
development of a
new engineering
device or material,
but don’t make the
mistake of thinking
that nature has
already solved your
problems for you.
David Taylor
Professor, Trinity
College Dublin
The term ”biomimetics” originates
from Greek words “bios” (life) and
“mimesis” (to imitate). However,
the definition is more complex.
Biomimetics is a creative form of
technology that uses or imitates
nature to improve human lives.

5. CHAPTER HEADING
Team Finland Future Watch Report, April 20185
The tiny hooks at the end of the
burr’s spines are able to catch
anything with a loop, such as fur
and fabric, and it has been
replicated synthetically. The two-
part velcro fastening system uses a
strip of loosely looping nylon
opposite a strip of tiny hooks, and
has since been prolific in its range of
applications and popularity.
https://biomimicry.org/biomimicry-examples/
EXAMPLES OF BIOMIMETIC INNOVATIONS AND PRODUCTS
Velcro fastening. Photo Pekka Saranpää

6. CHAPTER HEADING
6
The lotus effect, otherwise known as
superhydrophobicity, is the effect seen
on the leaves of the Lotus flower,
where water is not able to wet the
surface and simply rolls off. This has
been copied and developed into a
sealant that can be sprayed to
substances to create their own
superhydrophobicity. The applications
of these are huge.
Team Finland Future Watch Report, April 2018
EXAMPLES OF BIOMIMETIC INNOVATIONS AND PRODUCTS
Paper sheet covered with plant wax
shows extreme hydrophobicity.
Photo Risto Korpinen, Luke.

7. CHAPTER HEADING
BIOMIMETICS TRENDS IN MANUFACTURING PRODUCTS
7
Today progress has
been made in the
sector of sustainable
materials and
materials with exotic
properties
There is high
potential in
replacing hazardous
chemicals and
decreasing materials
and energy waste
We can learn from nature about
• Avoiding waste; what is discarded by one species is often
used by another as input or nutrition
• Self-energinizing systems. Life runs on sunlight, mediated
by photosynthesis
• Working in closed systems with few excess resources, little
waste, recycling all excess
• Chemical processes using water-based non-toxic chemistry
instead of harsh industrial solvents and rare-earth metals
• System thinking and holistic approaches to problem
solving and analysis resulting in sustainable solutions
Biomimicry Business Intelligence, Financial & Market Research, Manufactoring Report, 2016
Team Finland Future Watch Report, April 2018

8. CHAPTER HEADING
BIOMIMICRY OPPORTUNITIES
• Fouling prevention chemicals and films in offshore products
• Special surface materials for paper and carton products to
replace oil based compounds
• New type of paints to produce interference colours
• Hygiene coatings for healthcare and hospital usage
• Use of natures compounds in fabrics to avoid silver usage in
decreasing bacterial activity
• Using plants anti-icing agents to combat problematic freecing
in northern transport applications and off-shore applications
• Utilisation of natures self-organising and porous structures
for energy efficient solutions
• Utilisation of natures models, like neural networks , for
information delivery and communication and arficial
intelligence solutions in IT development
• Soil bioremediation
8 Team Finland Future Watch Report, April 2018
Biomimicry
offers
opportunities for
development of
materials,
artificial
intelligence and
solutions for
circular economy

9. CHAPTER HEADING
BIOMIMICRY CHALLENGES
9 Team Finland Future Watch Report, April 2018
• Finnish companies seem to be variably familiar
with the term biomimetics
• At the moment biomimetics is not considered
systematically in R&D, more knowledge is
needed
• The link between academic research and the
needs of the companies should be reinforced
to create new research ideas and business
• Regulatory requirements for new nature based
chemicals and products was seen as a
challenge for Finnish companies interviewed
• From a consumer and legistlation point of view
there is a growing market for nature based
products.
Understanding
nature and
nanoscale
solutions
requires
profound
research
cababilities
due to
complex
nature of these
solutions

10. 10
BIOMIMICRY BASED
COMPANIES
Team Finland Future Watch Report, April 2018

11. CHAPTER HEADING
INTERNATIONAL COMPANY EXAMPLES
Suprapolix
SupraPolix develops innovative self-healing polymeric materials
for applications ranging from adhesives and specialty coatings, to
biomedical materials and cosmetics
Technology is based on mimicking a skeletal muscle protein
(Eindhoven University of Technology, the Netherlands)
http://www.suprapolix.com/
SLIPS Technologies
SLIPS™ (Slipepery Liquid-infused Porous Surfaces) is a family of
materials and coatings invented at Harvard University that repel
a wide range of fluids and biological fouling agents in industrial,
medical, and consumer applications liquid interface that is super
slippery, omniphobic, self-healing, and easy to clean
Technology is based on Nepenthes pitcher plant which uses a
slippery surface to catch its prey
http://slipstechnologies.com/
11
There are excellent
examples of SME’s
using biomimicry in
theirs products or
processess: Aquaporin,
ArnoldGlas,
Biomatrica,
BluePlanet, Ecover,
Encycle, Groasis, John
Todd Ecological Design,
Micanti Antifouling,
Pax water, REALice,
Sharklet Technologies,
for example
Team Finland Future Watch Report, April 2018

12. FINNISH RESEARCH
UTILISING BIOMIMICRY
12 Team Finland Future Watch Report, April 2018

13. MATERIAL DEVELOPMENT
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
SOLUTIONS FOR CIRCULAR ECONOMY
13 Team Finland Future Watch Report, April 2018

14. BIOMIMICRY NETWORKS
AND SUPPORT
ORGANISATIONS
14 Team Finland Future Watch Report, April 2018

15. CHAPTER HEADING
GLOBAL BIOMIMICRY NETWORKS
15
Global biomimicry
networks offer
education and
knowhow of
biomimicry and
applies it to create
nature-inspired
solutions for a
healthy planet
The Biomimicry Institute
The goal of the The Biomimicry Institute is to empower people to
create nature-inspired solutions for a healthy planet
• AskNature - a free, online, searchable database of information for
the online biomimicry community
• Global networks Biomimicry Global Design Challenge (BGDC)
Annual competition to address sustainability issues with nature-
inspired solutions and is open to students and professionals
anywhere in the world
• Biomimicry Accelerator program
National biomimicry networks in Europe
Biomimicry UK, Biomimicry Netherlands, Biomimicry Germany,
Biomimicry Switzerland, Biomimicry Italy
• https://asknature.org
• https://biomimicry.org/design-challenges/
• https://biomimicry.org/roh2017winner/
• http://www.bio-uk.org/
• http://www.biomimicrynl.org/
• http://www.biomimicrygermany.com/
• https://biomimicryswitzerland.org/
• http://www.biomimicryit.org/proba/
Team Finland Future Watch Report, April 2018

16. CHAPTER HEADING
NETWORKS AND CONSULTS
16
Networks provide
platforms for
developing ideas
and knowhow
Consults offer
tailored help to
deliver your
solutions to clients
European Biomimicry Alliance
• a trans-national network of European experts in the field of
sustainable innovation. Contributors are mostly certified
Biomimicry professionals, specialists and other experts in the
field of bionics and biomimetics all with diverse professional
backgrounds
Biomimicry Consultancy Firms
Biomimicry consultants provide market information and analysis
services and business development consulting but also professional
training in biomimicry
• Biomimicry Business Intelligence
• Biomimicry 3.8
• Phi360
http://www.biomimicryalliance.eu/
https://www.biomimicrybusinessintelligence.com/
https://biomimicry.net/
https://www.phi360.de/
Team Finland Future Watch Report, April 2018

17. Tuula Savola
Ohjelmapäällikkö
Business Finland
tuula.savola(at)businessfinland.fi