With current global focus on renewable and sustainable technologies, there is a strong desire to develop innovative solutions to the demands of modern society for energy, fuels, materials and other products. There is also increasing interest in finding alternatives to existing chemical processes, in order to eliminate or reduce the use and generation of hazardous substances. One potential solution is the development of biorefineries, where a variety of feedstock materials can be processed (by biological conversion) to a range of valuable chemicals, fuels, power or other products. The application of a variety of biomass types and waste substrates offers enormous potential in terms of the range of possible input components and a considerable advantage in developing sustainable technologies for the production of various chemicals, materials and fuels. Biorefining represents a sustainable and environmentally friendly alternative to oil refining. In order to make biorefining a feasible alternative to current technologies, it is necessary to create new knowledge within a wide range of complimentary scientific disciplines, as well facilitating collaboration between the disciplines. In order to foster, and ultimately promote, economic growth in the Øresund region through the establishment of biorefineries, it is essential that the relevant information is collected and tested in a small scale (pilot scale) test biorefinery. The Øresund Biorefinery project will establish a pilot-scale biorefinery, thus creating a solid foundation for the development and implementation of biorefineries collaborations in the Øresund region. This will be facilitated through the application of a triple-helix model, where the relevant academic , industrial and governmental sectors are represented in each stage and in the overall planning and technology development. By bringing together project partners covering all aspects of biorefinery processes, the project will expand and diversify the knowledge base on biorefineries, their environmental benefits and growth potential for the Øresund region.The Øresund region has a number of experienced players in the biorefineries field including well-established and smaller industries, academic research groups and regional authorities which each contribute expertise in one or more of the component parts of the biorefinery concept. Many of these players are internationally renowned in their fields for specific expertise, and are represented on both sides of the Øresund. The Øresund Biorefinery project will bring together these players in a new initiative which encompasses the entire biorefinery concept, and where all components are linked in an integrated and complimentary system. Thus, the relevant experts will work together towards the common goal to define a biorefinery concept for the Øresund region. In this way it will be possible to address the need for conversion of relevant feedstocks to economically and environmentally sustainable products (materials, fuels and chemicals). As the demand for sustainable growth in bioprocessing requires regional solutions, it is obvious that the experts present in the Øresund region collaborate towards meeting this need.