Research and innovation

Innovation and investments are a prerequisite for forest industry evolution, which is both an economic and a technological challenge. It requires the further development of existing products as well as new products and services. Furthermore, existing technology must be upgraded. A stable and predictable operating environment is needed to ensure that companies invest, innovate, and evolve.

The forest industry is investing in developing new products

The forest industry is working fast to develop new products and business alongside its existing operations. The forest industry’s existing products will continue to constitute the core of its business for a long time yet, as new generations of paper, packaging and wood products are continually being developed. Most of the forest industry’s current products are in growth markets but new, interesting prospects have already been detected.

Research, development, and innovations reinforce future competitiveness

For the forest industry to be successful it not only needs to improve its profitability but to also evolve and develop innovations. The future opportunities of the Finnish forest industry are influenced by companies’ and the industry’s own actions as well as via measures taken by the public authorities. Public support and systems are needed to foster expertise in Finland as well as to realise and back riskier ventures.

The forest-based sector technology platform promotes European research co-operation

The Forest-Based Sector Technology Platform (FTP) is a network of Europe’s key forest sector players. It aims to influence EU research programmes so that research funding would be targeted at forest-based research projects and to enhance European forest sector research co-operation.