The Forest-based sector Technology Platform (FTP in brief), a European research and development cooperation between industry, forest owners, scientists and other stakeholders, is currently implementing its research roadmap. More than 430 participants from 27 countries met at the 3rd FTP conference in Lahti, Finland to discuss how to get down to work. The event took place during 22-23 November 2006, in the beautiful Sibelius Hall, an excellent example of innovative construction with wood. Main aim was to promote implementation of the FTP’s strategic research agenda. In other words: how can the sector speed up innovations and create real, workable projects?
Hannes Manninen, Finnish Minister of Regional & Municipal Affairs, welcomed the work of the FTP in a time of global challenges to the European forest-based sector. Initiatives such as the technology platform are needed for Europe to remain a global technology leader in this field. Jussi Pesonen, President and CEO of UPM Kymmene, agreed with this reflection. Break-through innovation in our sector will only be possible, he added, if we become better in understanding customer opportunities and needs.
Christian Patermann of the European Commission’s Research Directorate-General congratulated the platform on its achievements so far. The first call of the 7th Framework Programme, soon to be issued, would contain more opportunities for forest-based sector research than the entire 6th Framework Programme. But Patermann also stressed that it was now up to the sector to realise this new potential by preparing good, innovative proposals. The role of small- and medium-sized enterprises in research and development should not be forgotten, he added.
Participants took these recommendations to heart when using the Lahti event to set up or strengthen project consortia. Thematic sessions for each of the four value chains, i.e. forestry, wood products, pulp and paper products, and bio-energy, biorefinery and specialities demonstrated than many innovative proposals are under preparation. Research and development partners do not only have the EU’s 7th Framework Programme in mind. The international WoodWisdom-Net project (www.woodwisdom.net) used the Lahti event to officially launch its first call for proposals. Morever, national funding agencies and industry provide most of the R&D funding within the sector. It was therefore highly beneficial that all types of donors were well represented in Lahti.
The FTP is ready to support project development and implementation, project director Clas-Göran Beckeman said. Although the technology platform does not offer funding, it can facilitate networking, provide advice and make sure that topics are of strategic importance to the sector. As a new service, a FTP project database will be launched at the start of 2007. Teresa Presas, who heads the platform’s communication group, added that information flows will be strengthened, for example by means of an electronic newsletter.
During 15-16 May 2007, an intermediate status of efforts can be drawn up, as the 4th FTP conference will take place in Hannover, Germany. On behalf of the German delegation, Konstantin von Teuffel mentioned that the Hannover event will be held as part of the German presidency of the EU. The event’s preliminary title, ‘A Market Place for Ideas – Science in Dialogue with Industry’, indicates that the forest-based sector will continue its partnership approach to science and technology.
All presentations from the Lahti event, as well as further information about the Forest-based sector Technology Platform, can be found at http://www.forestplatform.org.
Cecil Konijnendijk, FTP communication group