Hosted by FTP and the Estonian National Support Group (NSG), the FTP stakeholder seminar, as part of the Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) flagship conference, held in Tallinn on Tuesday October 24, was a great opportunity to meet with Estonian stakeholders and to bring more attention to the forest-based sector, under the Estonian presidency. 



Participants from academic institutions, industry, funding providers and local authorities shared their knowledge and experience while fostering forest-based innovation both nationally and at the pan-European level. Subjects covered innovation from both research institutes as well as companies, and the range of subjects included societal challenges, ecological concerns, technical novelties and economical opportunities. The eight sessions that were given made for an interesting afternoon. Please find the full event report here.

Presentations at the seminar

Interaction between Estonian forest policy and forestry related RDI

Mr Rauno Reinberg, Senior Officer, Ministry of the Environment of Estonia



Mr Henrik Väljä, Managing Director, the Estonian Forest and Wood Industries Association (EFWIA)

R&D – A multitool for balancing high expectations in state forest

Ms Kristi Parro, Head of Communications, ​the Estonian State Forest Management Centre (RMK)



Metsä Group’s Bioproduct mill in Finland – The largest biorefinery in Europe

Mr Niklas von Weymarn, ​Vice President Business Development, Metsä Fibre

Shaping R&I programmes for the European forest-based sector

Mr Johan Elvnert, Managing Director, Forest-based Sector Technology Platform

Forest in rural landscape – a multi-service provider and/or the harbour of biodiversity

Mr Jaan Liira, Senior Research Fellow, University of Tartu, ERA-Net Biodiversa project


Excellence in sustainable building research. The case of the InnoRenew Centre of Excellence

Mr. Črtomir Tavzes, Researcher, InnoRenew Centre of Excellence

RDI for the Estonian forest-based sector: expectations and performance
Mr. Paavo Kaimre, Vice-rector, Estonian University of Life Sciences, and Chair of NSG Estonia