Kanayume OÜ
Kanayume OÜ is an Estonian holding company driving industrial regeneration and bio-based innovation in Eastern Europe. We design and finance advanced production models that turn natural resources into high-value materials — responsibly, transparently, and at scale.
About / Vision – Kanayume OÜ
Kanayume is currently consolidating three strategic pillars:
- Industrial integration — acquisition of the leading Ukrainian manufacturer of beech semi-finished products, a historic company in the sector.
- Intellectual property — exclusive exploitation rights for major European patents in forest- and food-safety technologies.
- Bio-based production — development of new facilities in Western Ukraine to manufacture advanced bio-materials derived from regional wood resources.
Our R&D activity is supported by participation in Horizon Europe and Cascade Funding programmes, through which Kanayume validates and scales new digital and bio-based technologies.
Our vision is to rebuild industry through science, trust, and local intelligence — connecting sustainability with competitiveness and European capital with Eastern expertise.
Industrial Model – Kanayume OÜ
The Kanayume industrial model is based on the full valorisation of regional hardwood resources, integrating circular production, digital control, and bio-based transformation.
Existing plants in Western Ukraine are being restructured into an interconnected platform that converts beech wood into a complete range of outputs:
- High-purity alpha-cellulose for chemical and bio-based industries.
- Industrial components (stoppers, closures, panels) as co-products of the same process.
- Energy and biochar recovered from process residues to ensure carbon-negative operation.
Each facility is designed as a smart biorefinery, combining mechanical processing, chemical conversion, and energy recovery in a single flow, monitored through digital twins and AI-based optimisation.
The result is an efficient, low-waste, export-oriented industrial ecosystem that aligns economic performance with environmental responsibility and EU Green Deal principles.
Projects
Phoenix BioPlatform Ukraine establishes the first industrial biorefinery in Ukraine for the production of alpha-cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin from beech wood, integrating renewable energy and carbon capture. The project transforms war-damaged sites into modern, automated plants fully aligned with EU standards. Funded under the EU–Ukraine Facility, it represents the industrial cornerstone of the bio-based reconstruction effort and aims to position Ukraine as a European hub for circular bioeconomy and carbon-negative materials.
NIR-ISPM15 develops the first portable system using NIR spectroscopy and artificial intelligence to verify, in real time, the phytosanitary treatment of wooden packaging materials. The project builds a European database of over 5,000 samples and an AI model with over 90% accuracy, validated by international certification bodies such as DNV Finland. Its objective is to reduce inspection times by 50%, prevent the introduction of invasive pests, and strengthen the EU’s plant health and biosecurity framework.
NIR Guard UA introduces an advanced NIR + AI deep‑tech solution in Ukraine to certify the phytosanitary drying of wood destined for export. The portable device, developed in collaboration with Ukrainian scientific partners, provides a binary YES/NO response within three seconds, reducing verification costs by 70–80%. Funded under the EIC Ukrainian Tech Call 2025, the project enhances the country’s technological autonomy, supports export continuity under wartime conditions, and contributes to building a modern, transparent system for phytosanitary control.
E‑WISE is a Horizon Europe experiment funded under the HEDGE‑IoT program to develop and validate an AI‑based software prototype for predictive energy management in industrial facilities. The project builds a digital twin of the IRIS plant in Skole (Western Ukraine) to optimize energy flows, forecast consumption patterns, and reduce operational costs. By integrating machine learning and IoT data, E‑WISE contributes to the EU’s green transition and demonstrates how smart analytics can improve energy resilience and efficiency in manufacturing environments.
KANEDGE‑AI, funded under the dAIEDGE program, develops an AI‑driven edge computing framework for real‑time monitoring and optimization of industrial processes. The system enables low‑latency analysis directly on devices operating at the network edge, improving autonomy, security, and energy efficiency. Applied within Kanayume’s industrial ecosystem, KANEDGE‑AI bridges artificial intelligence and digital manufacturing, offering scalable solutions for predictive control and sustainable industrial automation across Europe’s bio‑based and energy sectors.
AI‑WISE Green, developed under the COSMIC program, advances an AI‑driven digital twin to calculate and monitor the carbon footprint of industrial reconstruction projects in Ukraine. The system integrates life‑cycle assessment data, IoT sensors, and predictive analytics to provide real‑time sustainability metrics. Validated on Kanayume’s Skole industrial site, AI‑WISE Green supports evidence‑based decision‑making and compliance with EU Green Deal targets, bridging digital innovation and environmental accountability in post‑war recovery.
AI‑FacadeSense, part of the AMALTEA Hardware track, develops an intelligent sensing and analytics platform for monitoring the physical degradation and thermal performance of building façades. Combining computer vision, material science, and edge AI, the system detects micro‑cracks, surface erosion, and humidity patterns in real time, enabling predictive maintenance and energy efficiency. Validated within Kanayume’s industrial test environments, AI‑FacadeSense supports greener construction, resource optimization, and digital inspection workflows aligned with EU building renovation strategies.
BIOCHAR‑SOIL‑UP, supported under the I3‑BIOFERTILIZERS initiative, pioneers the production and agronomic validation of high‑grade biochar as a soil enhancer and carbon removal solution. The project integrates industrial pyrolysis technology with digital MRV (Monitoring, Reporting, Verification) tools to certify carbon sequestration and improve soil fertility. Pilot tests in Italy mirror Ukrainian soil and climate conditions, ensuring replicability across Eastern Europe. BIOCHAR‑SOIL‑UP bridges bioeconomy innovation and regenerative agriculture, advancing scalable carbon‑negative practices within the EU Green Deal framework