Stelumar Advanced Manufacturing Inc. has completed North America’s first BioBoosters Hackathon, a two-day innovation event focused on accelerating housing supply and advancing sustainable forestry-based building materials. Held February 11–12 at the Ontario Investment and Trade Centre in Toronto, the event brought together seven international teams from Canada, Norway, Sweden, and Finland to develop scalable, low-carbon solutions for factory-built housing.

Organized in partnership with the Centre for Research & Innovation in the Bio-Economy (CRIBE) and the Interreg Norway Sweden Circular Bioeconomy Arena project, the Hackathon addressed two urgent challenges: increasing Canada’s housing supply through construction innovation and unlocking new economic value within Ontario’s forestry sector.

Participating teams presented advanced wood-based chemicals, sustainable insulation materials, circular economy solutions, and low-carbon manufacturing processes. Each concept was evaluated on scalability, performance, manufacturability, and alignment with Ontario’s forestry resources. The event emphasized real-world application, with solutions designed for potential integration into Stelumar’s manufacturing operations.

The winning team, Svenska Termoträ of Järbo, Sweden, was recognized for its sustainable wood-based insulation product. The solution stood out for its strong acoustic, thermal, and fire performance characteristics, as well as its compatibility with offsite construction methods. The team also demonstrated the potential to incorporate Ontario-sourced feedstocks, reinforcing local supply chain opportunities. The jury cited the proposal as a strong example of how sustainability, innovation, and manufacturing readiness can align to accelerate low-carbon construction solutions in Canada.

Vancouver-based Plantee Bioplastics received an honourable mention for its wood fibre-based insulation technology. While considered an early-stage product, the innovation demonstrated promising technical properties and potential applications beyond the scope of the original challenge.

Industry leaders and innovation stakeholders attended the Hackathon, underscoring the importance of cross-sector collaboration in addressing Canada’s housing affordability and sustainability priorities. CRIBE will continue to support the winning teams through research, feasibility studies, and commercialization pathways, while Stelumar explores opportunities to integrate these advanced building materials into its production processes.

The BioBoosters Hackathon marks a milestone for Ontario’s bioeconomy and sustainable construction sector. By focusing specifically on forestry-based insulation solutions for factory-built housing, the initiative positions Ontario at the forefront of low-carbon building innovation. It also highlights how applied research, international collaboration, and advanced manufacturing can work together to support economic development while addressing Canada’s housing supply challenges.

As demand grows for sustainable, scalable housing solutions, events like the Stelumar BioBoosters Hackathon demonstrate the role of forestry innovation and bio-based materials in shaping the future of construction.

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