The bioeconomy, new materials, and the green transition are rapidly transforming industry. The demand for professionals who understand both analytics and industrial processes is growing quickly. In South Karelia, this need is being addressed by building a strong innovation and development environment for the bioeconomy, where research, business collaboration, and education support one another.
A key component of this ecosystem is the Laboratory Analyst (Bachelor of Engineering) programme at LAB University of Applied Sciences, which will begin in autumn 2026 in Lahti and Lappeenranta as a blended learning programme. The education is specifically targeted at analytical expertise for industry.
A competence hub at the interface of research, piloting, and education
The Laboratory Analyst programme is part of a broader bioeconomy competence cluster being developed by LAB University of Applied Sciences. In Lappeenranta, research, piloting, and education come together in the LAB Biofine environment, which focuses on processing bio-based materials and side streams, as well as developing new material solutions.
LAB Biofine operates as an innovation platform where companies, research organisations, and students can collaboratively develop bioeconomy solutions. In the future, the environment will also offer piloting opportunities for new technologies and processes before scaling them up to industrial production.
“When research infrastructure, piloting environments, and education are integrated within the same ecosystem, a setting emerges where ideas can progress from research toward practical applications and new business opportunities,” says Mikko Ojapelto, Project Director of LAB Biofine.
Experts for analytics in the new industry
A Laboratory Analyst is an expert needed by industry, combining strong chemistry expertise, proficiency in analytical instrumentation, and an understanding of industrial processes.
The programme is based on a clearly identified demand from companies. Bio-based raw materials, the circular economy, and new material flows are increasing the importance of new competencies and analytics in industry. As fossil raw materials are replaced with biomass and side streams, processes become more complex, and the role of analytical methods becomes even more critical.
“In the bioeconomy, research, piloting, and industrial production all require strong analytical expertise. The new Laboratory Analyst programme is built precisely at this interface—where new bio-based materials and processes are developed in practice,” says Mikko Nikunen, Project Manager at LAB University of Applied Sciences.
In terms of competence, a Laboratory Analyst is positioned between a laboratory technician and a researcher: an expert who operates analytical instruments, participates in method development, and can interpret analytical results from the perspective of industrial operations.
Industry collaboration and practical development work
The programme is strongly built on collaboration with companies. Students work in laboratories, piloting environments, and industry-driven projects, where they, for example, develop new analytical methods or test material properties.
This provides companies with the opportunity to utilise higher education research infrastructure and student expertise in development work. At the same time, students gain exposure to real industrial challenges during their studies.
“Companies need experts who can operate analytical instruments while also understanding industrial processes and material behaviour. Through this programme, we are able to educate precisely such professionals,” Nikunen says.
Collaboration also extends to the region’s strong research and piloting environments, such as the LAB Biofine ecosystem, where the processing of bio-based materials, utilisation of side streams, and development of new bio-based solutions are carried out in cooperation with companies.
Greenreality Network strengthens bioeconomy collaboration
The development of the regional bioeconomy is also being accelerated by a new bioeconomy collaboration group to be established within the Greenreality Network. Its goal is to strengthen cooperation between companies in the region and to identify new business opportunities in the rapidly evolving bioeconomy sector. The collaboration group brings together companies, research and education organisations, and regional development actors, serving as a practical collaboration platform for bioeconomy-related initiatives.
The group will also examine how the region’s strong research and piloting environments—such as LUT universities’ biomaterials expertise and the LAB Biofine environment—can be leveraged to create new business. At the same time, it aims to identify opportunities for building new bioeconomy value chains involving regional companies, research organisations, and international partners.
“The aim is to bring together a group of companies and representatives from various organisations to identify new business opportunities both for local companies and for those coming from outside the region—in collaboration with the bioeconomy competence cluster,” says Noora Hakkarainen, Coordinator of Greenreality Network and Development Manager at the City of Lappeenranta
The bioeconomy collaboration group operates as part of the Greenreality Network, which brings together companies and organisations in the Lappeenranta region to promote cooperation and business related to the green transition. Through this new group, the bioeconomy will play an even stronger role in the network’s activities and will be closely linked to the emerging competence cluster for bio-based materials and the bioeconomy in the region.
South Karelia as a bioeconomy development platform
South Karelia has long been a strong region for the forest and materials industries. Now this expertise is expanding into new bio-based materials and chemicals, as well as the circular economy as a whole.
When research, piloting, and education operate within the same ecosystem, an environment is created where companies can efficiently develop new products and technologies. At the same time, it ensures that the growing bioeconomy has access to the skilled professionals it needs.
The Laboratory Analyst programme is an important part of this whole. It strengthens South Karelia’s position as a bioeconomy competence hub—a place where research, industry, and education together build the next generation of sustainable industry.
Additional information
Mikko Ojapelto
Project Director, LAB Biofine
LAB University of Applied Sciences
mikko.ojapelto@lab.fi
Mikko Nikunen
Project Manager
LAB University of Applied Sciences
mikko.nikunen@lab.fi
Noora Hakkarainen
Development Manager
City of Lappeenranta
noora.hakkarainen@lappeenranta.fi
