Forest Cluster Ltd will establish research and innovation programmes as well as distribute research funds to specified areas within the cluster, which includes four universities, the Finnish Forest Research Institute and the Technical Research Centre of Finland.
Paul Hänninen, head of the steering group that established the new company, has said that it will help Finnish forest companies to strengthen their competitiveness.
“The forest industries’ operating environment has changed permanently,” he said.
“The cluster built around the Finnish forest industries must rapidly strengthen its competitiveness in order to succeed in global competition.”
Mr Hänninen added that Forest Cluster Ltd would strive to achieve its goals by improving expertise and innovation within the strategic centre of excellece.
The forest sector’s centre of excellence will be the first established in Finland, with ones in the energy and environment, metal products and mechanical engineering, health and well-being and information and communication sectors set to follow.
