News and Events

First round of regional workshops completed

Euforeadmin on November 28, 2023

The EUFORE project supports the establishment of a European Partnership on Forests and Forestry by developing a Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda (SRIA), co-created with stakeholders. We have kicked-off this process by holding six regional workshops across the autumn of 2023 – thank you very much to all those who have participated!

Each regional workshop had representatives from all four stakeholder branches (research, government, business and civil society). Participants discussed what they see as the most important future research and innovation topics.

The SRIA focuses on four main thematic areas: “Forest ecology”, “Forest management”, “Forest products” and “Social aspects and policy”. From our workshops we received over 2,200 comments and ideas for those four themes, which will now be analysed, and fed into the SRIA drafting process!

What happens next?

Later this autumn, we will distribute a stakeholder survey across Europe, to capture more opinions and priorities. Together with the outcomes of the regional workshops, these contributions will be used by our four Thematic Working Groups, which will start to draft their chapters of the SRIA. A European stakeholder workshop in December 2023 will help us co-create and iterate the research and innovation priorities further.

The aim is for draft chapters of the SRIA to be available in January 2024 – they will then be adapted and developed further with stakeholders so the final SRIA is planned to be presented in 2025.

_{Photo by Kvalifik on Unsplash}

Making communication innovative: How is EUFORE contributing to healthy forest through its communication material?

Euforeadmin on October 6, 2023

Making of EUFORE postcards from reclaimed papers

In EUFORE, research and innovation in the forest and forest-based sector is at the core of all our activities. For this reason, the EUFORE team initiated a dedicated research on different products that may guide research and innovation in the forest-value chain in the future, while providing valuable communication materials for the project. As a result, we decided to generate innovative printed materials that will convey such values and contribute to healthy forests.

Together with designer Silvia Robertelli, we identified different global actors working on sustainable innovations in the paper industry. This research resulted in several astonishing examples. For instance, the artist Dodgy Roger, from Dodgy Paper, is producing its own paper art with carefully selected paper waste with the aim of substantially reducing the amount of water consumed during the process.

Overall, we identified more than 40 different alternatives that may guide future forestry research and innovation. Such innovative processes work with 100% post-consumer recycled papers, alternative papers based on non-wood forest materials such as cork or mushrooms, algae, agricultural or domestic waste, handmade recycled papers, and many more.

In order to develop innovative communication material for EUFORE, we chose to collaborate with a Belgian printer, Superdruk, to produce unique postcards for the project. Superdruk, as a graphic design studio with a beautiful collection of historic printing material, prints artisanally with letterpress machines. For the realisation of the postcards, Superdruk utilised its own paper material and also collaborated with European paper companies that are innovative in their sector and that could provide the material to print on: Gmund Paper, Favini, Supercollect.be.

The EUFORE postcards were produced with different kinds of paper and materials:

Handmade paper from high-quality paper offcuts
Reclaimed papers from Fine Art misprints
Paper from agricultural waste (process residues from almonds)
Paper from agricultural waste (process residues from kiwis)
Paper from alternative fibres (straw, grass, cotton, and cannabis)

With these unique postcards, EUFORE aims to show how innovation can help to shift to a more sustainable model and encourage the development of a circular economy where various wastes and by-products can be upcycled and therefore recovered. The postcards contain a QR code to out project’s website. They are being circulated at our events, encouraging their use by participants and stakeholders, while promoting ways to contribute to healthy forests.

Which innovations and research priorities may guide forests and the forest-based sectors in Europe? EUFORE is committed to answer this question, and set the direction of forestry research and innovation in the future through its project activities as well as through its communications efforts.

EUFORE European stakeholder workshop, 13 December 2023

Euforeadmin on September 12, 2023

Designing the future of European forest research

EUFORE European stakeholder workshop, 13 December 2023, Brussels

Aim

Co-creating the Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda for forest-related research

Target audience

European-level stakeholders from Industry & Business, Research, Civil Society and Governance & Regulators.

Description

This is the first of four European-level stakeholder workshops, organised by the EU project EUFORE. EUFORE supports the establishment of a European Partnership on Forests and Forestry, by developing a Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda (SRIA), co-created with stakeholders.

This workshop contributes to the co-creation of the SRIA, which focuses on 4 main thematic areas: “Forest ecology”, “Forest management”, “Forest and wood products” and “Social aspects and policy”.

Six regional workshops are being held across the autumn, to discuss with regional stakeholders what they see as the most important future research and innovation topics within these themes. We will also distribute a stakeholder survey across Europe, to capture more opinions and priorities. These contributions will be used by our Thematic Working Groups, which will start to draft the SRIA.

The first initial results of this process will be available in December 2023. At this workshop in Brussels, we hope you can bring your European-level perspective to help us co-create and iterate the research and innovation priorities further.

Our programme runs from 09:00 to 15:00. Lunch and coffee are included.

Introductions and welcome
What are the current status and trends in European forest-based research and innovation?
(Findings from the EUFORE project, WP1)
What are the societal perceptions and policy framework of the European forest-based sector?
(Findings from the EUFORE project, WP2)
What is the Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda (SRIA), and how does it link to the European Partnership process?
World café on elements of the partnership development
Conclusions and the next steps

Practicalities

The workshop takes place at the Royal Palace Brussels. More information and how to get there: https://www.visit.brussels/en/professionals/meet/bip-meeting-center?bip-meeting-center=practicalinformation

How to register

This workshop is by invitation only.

However, if you are interested in being involved in the co-creation of the Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda (SRIA) for the forestry sector and would like to participate in the workshop, please contact us at and let us know more about you. You can first read more about the ways to get involved in EUFORE on our website.

_{Image: Mikhail Piatrou / AdobeStock}

West Atlantic stakeholder workshop on 8 September 2023

Euforeadmin on August 22, 2023

Our West Atlantic regional stakeholder workshop takes place on 8 September 2023 at 9-13 CET. The workshop will be arranged as a hybrid, with onsite participation in Paris, France and online via Teams. During this workshop the participants will learn about our project goals, and will get an overview of what a European Research and Innovation Agenda (SRIA) is. EUFORE supports the establishment of a European Partnership on Forestry by developing a SRIA together with our stakeholders.

The workshop contributes to the co-creation of the SRIA by starting the initial collection of R&I themes which should be covered within the SRIA. Our specific focus is to collect region-specific input from the stakeholders, and later on combine them with perspectives collected in the other regional workshops.

This workshop will have participants from France, Ireland, Portugal, and the UK, representing industry and businesses, research; civil society and governance and regulators.

This workshop is by invitation only.

_{Photo by François Rousselet / Unsplash}

Nordic stakeholder workshop on 4 September 2023

Euforeadmin on July 23, 2023

Our Nordic regional stakeholder workshop takes place on 4 September 2023 at 12-16 CEST (online meeting via Teams). During this online workshop the participants will learn about our project goals, and will get an overview of what a European Research and Innovation Agenda (SRIA) is. EUFORE supports the establishment of a European Partnership on Forestry by developing a SRIA together with our stakeholders.

The workshop contributes to the co-creation of the SRIA by starting the initial collection of R&I themes which should be covered within the SRIA. Our specific focus is to collect region specific input from the stakeholders, and later on combine them with perspectives collected in the other regional workshops.

This workshop will have participants from Finland, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Faroe Islands, Iceland, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, representing industry and businesses, research; civil society and governance and regulators.

This workshop is by invitation only. However, if you are from the Nordic/Baltic area and are interested in being involved in the co-creation of the Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda (SRIA) for the forestry sector, please let us know.

For more info, please contact Mika Kallio at the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry of Finland (MMM), mika.kallio @ gov.fi

^{Photo: Matthew Smith / Unsplash}

First regional stakeholder workshop identified research and innovation priorities

Euforeadmin on June 27, 2023

The first regional stakeholder workshop held in June 2023 brought together some 30 experts from Austria, Switzerland, Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg and Germany.

Led by the FNR team, the workshop participants identified their research and innovation priorities in four thematic areas of “Forest ecology”, “Forest management”, “Forest and wood products” and “Social aspects and policy”.

The priorities varied from symbiosis of fungi and trees and the associated positive or negative development of trees to implementing social campaigns for more forest- and climate-friendly consumer behaviour. Also climate change, bioeconomy, and ecosystem services provided by the forest were brought up repeatedly.

In addition to representatives from universities and forestry research institutions, representatives from ministries at regional and national level, associations of the forestry and timber industry, but also civil society institutions such as NGOs or associations of forest owners participated in the workshop.

What next?

The EUFORE team will next summarise and group the results. Over the coming months, five other workshops will be organised covering the other European regions. The results of the workshops will form the basis for the further process of developing a European strategic research and innovation agenda.

Join our Mediterranean stakeholder workshop on 12 July 2023

Euforeadmin on June 20, 2023

If you are in the Mediterranean area (Spain, Cyprus, Greece, Malta, Israel, Tunisia, Turkey, Morocco) and are interested in being involved in the co-creation of the Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda (SRIA) for the forestry sector, this is an opportunity for you!

Our project partners at MASAF (Italian Ministry of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty and Forests) are organising the first regional stakeholder workshop for the Mediterranean area on 12 July 2023 at 10-13 CET. This will be an online meeting via Teams, and you are welcome to register here by 5 July.

During the meeting you will get a short introduction to the EUFORE project, hear what European Partnerships mean, and get to discuss forestry strategies both at the European and national levels. Then the workshop proceeds to discuss what the participants see as the initial R&I topics are.

For more info, please contact Silvia Baralla s.baralla @ masaf.gov.it or Dalila Frasson dalila.frasson.ext @ masaf.gov.it

_{Image: Mikhail Piatrou / AdobeStock}

Upcoming: First regional stakeholder workshop

Euforeadmin on June 7, 2023

The first regional EUFORE stakeholder workshop takes place on 15 June 2023. During this online workshop the participants will learn about our project goals, and get an overview of what a European Research and Innovation Agenda (SRIA) is. EUFORE supports the establishment of a European Partnership on Forestry by developing a SRIA together with our stakeholders.

The workshop contributes to the co-creation of the SRIA by starting the initial collection of R&I themes which should be covered within the SRIA. Our specific focus is to collect region specific input from the stakeholders, and later on combine them with perspectives collected in the other regional workshops.

This first workshop will have participants from Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Belgium, Netherlands and Luxemburg, representing industry and businesses; research; civil society and governance and regulators.

This workshop is by invitation only.

_{Photo: vegefox.com /AdobeStock}

Get involved and contribute to our Stakeholder Engagement hub

admin on May 10, 2023

Help us to set the direction for forestry research and innovation in the future!

We aim to co-design with stakeholders what the sector’s R&I priorities are, and to work on building a financial framework for its implementation.

Why get involved?

Learn more about the current state of the forest sector, and what societal expectations towards forests are;
Discover how socio-economic, climatic, policy and environmentally related issues and trends will affect forests in the future;
Ensure your voice is heard and contribute to future priorities.

If you would like to get involved, please fill in our short survey.

New project provides insights into future forest research and innovation priorities

admin on November 1, 2022

Newly-started Horizon Europe project EUFORE (European Forest Research and Innovation Ecosystem) aims to provide insights into the future research and innovation priorities of the forest-based sector.

Society is witnessing an unprecedented series of crises at a global scale, both ecological, economic and social. Forests and forestry play a key role in dealing with these challenges and in facilitating the transition to a modern-resource efficient economy which is carbon neutral and decoupled from environmental depletion. Forests are central to reaching the EU’s ambitious plans for a sustainable circular bioeconomy – but are under increasing pressure from environmental processes (e.g. fires, droughts, pests and diseases), and increased human activities.

To overcome the challenges faced by forests and unlock their full potential, we need innovative solutions, based on improved knowledge. The four-year EUFORE (European Forest Research and Innovation Ecosystem) project will assess and outline research and innovation needs, and provide a platform for increased R&I cooperation, coordination and joint funding for forestry and the forest-based sector.

The project aims to develop a sustainable, transnational, inclusive cooperation platform to engage with a broad range of stakeholders. With them, it will evaluate, define and co-create a strategic Research and Innovation agenda for forestry and the forest-based sector, as well as accompanying roadmaps, implementation measures and stakeholder commitments. This supports the preparation for a possible European research and innovation Partnership on forests under the Horizon Europe Programme.

The project consortium consists of 15 partner organisations from 10 countries and is coordinated by the European Forest Institute. Project coordinator Dr. Marko Lovrić from EFI said: “Forestry and the forest-based sector play an important role in tackling important societal challenges, such as climate change, biodiversity loss, land degradation and transition to a resource-efficient and competitive European green economy. Fostering R&I is of vital importance for the sector to achieve its potential in addressing these challenges.”

“EUFORE’s primary role is to facilitate conception of a shared understanding of where we want to go as a sector and what is needed to get us there. I am very excited to be a part of this process and look forward to work with the project’s talented team.”

The project will launch its activities with a kick-off meeting in Brussels on 24-25 November. Stay tuned for more information on the upcoming EUFORE website and social media channels.

More information: Project coordinator Marko Lovrić (marko.lovric @ efi.int)

First published 1.11.2022 at EFI website.