One the major scientific and technological impacts of the SMIBIO Project is the development of general tools and methods to properly assess and optimize the techno-economic viability (IRR, NPV and production costs) in a sustainable environmental assessment (LCA) including the social impacts (improvement in living conditions, job creation and new opportunities for rural development identification) for any small-scale integrated biorefinery in rural and small urban areas of any EU and LAC countries.

The identified top-value chemicals to be produced in the small-scale biorefineries include amongst others xylitol (use as an intermediary chemical as raw material for chemical conversions), furfural (great potential of both ionic liquids and high pressure fluids) and bio-succinic acid (has the potential to greatly offset the use of petroleum-based succinic acid).

Concerning energy efficiency, the SMIBIO Project will explore the integration of solar energy as a thermal energy source in the biorefinery process, and thus reducing the energy demand.