On 10 January, the Swedish Forest Industries Federation organized its first important research conference of 2018. The new National Research Agenda “Skogsnäringens Forskningsagenda 4.0”, a compilation of Swedish research and development needs, was presented at the conference by Torgny Persson, the Chair of NSG Sweden. The document is a joint effort by forest owners, forest industries and the research community in Sweden, to which over one hundred experts have actively contributed. The successful event welcomed more than 180 participants and boasted a wide range of prominent speakers including CEOs from companies such as Stora Enso and Holmen, and research institutes such as Skogforsk and RISE.

Inspired by FTP’s Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda 2020, the National Research Agenda emphasizes four main areas: Sustainable increase of forest growth, Improving competitiveness for existing processes & products, New biobased products, and Increasing building with wood. The Agenda emphasizes the need to increase investment in research and development to strengthen the sector’s competitiveness and for Sweden to become a fossil-free, circular and biobased society by 2050. 

Have a look at the Swedish Forest-based Sector Research Agenda 4.0 (summary in English)