On 24 and 25 September 2024, the Forest-based Sector Technology Platform (FTP) embarked on a trip to Slovakia, immersing participants in technologies developments in the wood and paper sectors.

The first day of the visit was marked by a meeting of the FTP Advisory Committee at the Pulp & Paper Research Institute in Bratislava. During the discussions, National Support Groups (NSGs) addressed key topics, including the new European Commission, the upcoming FP10 framework, the next FTP Vision, and various national-level initiatives undertaken by NSGs.

The second day was dedicated to field visits. The group travelled to Zvolen, to discover the Biotechnology Park of the National Forest Center. Here, the Slovak team presented their 3D CT scanner pilot line and splitting line used to create barrel staves. The journey continued to the Gabčíkovo Research Station, where participants were introduced to an experimental line for testing paper production and processing technologies. The facility’s centerpiece is a 40-meter-long paper machine, originally built in the 1960s and relocated from Bratislava to Gabčíkovo. The visit also included a tour of the station’s laboratory and a plantation of poplar cultivars and native species.

FTP warmly thanks the Slovakian NSG, especially Igor and Tomáš, for organizing this informative and enriching experience.