WOODBIO - Speed and strength for sustainable growth in the wood and bioproduct industries

The WOODBIO – Speed and Strength for Sustainable Growth in the Wood and Bioproducts Industry project supports the vitality and employment of the regions, promoting the competitiveness of companies with regard to sustainable development, low-carbon business and the promotion of bioeconomy and circular economy, taking into account the competence needs of smart specialisation.

The project will strengthen the sustainable growth and competitiveness of the wood and bioproduct industries. The transnational group project tackles the challenges faced by employment and unemployment in the regions, as well as educational opportunities. The project responds to the following challenges: 1) There is a limited supply of continuous learning based on the latest research in the field. 2) The description of study paths between educational institutions is missing from the secondary level all the way to the university. 3) The sector lacks an advanced model of working life cooperation and foresight model that brings together industry companies, educational institutions and employment services, as well as other stakeholders. 4) The systematic utilisation of RDI activities by networks/clusters in the field of continuous learning is still limited.

The aim is to strengthen and diversify the education offering of continuous learning in the wood and bioproduct industries to meet the training needs of companies. The project describes the educational paths of the sectors and promotes the development of innovative and sustainable solutions in the sectors. The project produces an operating model that supports continuous learning and employment in the wood and bioproduct industries. The knowledge of the people in charge of companies and employment services about the possibilities of continuous learning will increase, and sustainable solutions will be found as part of network cooperation to utilise RDI activities. The project will intensify cross-regional cooperation between educational institutions, companies and stakeholders.

The project implements close co-operation between companies and educational institutions to ensure a need-based approach. On the basis of cooperation, small skill sets and trainings are produced. In the development of small skill sets, current educational offerings are mapped and analysed, new trainings are produced, and their accessibility and learner orientation are ensured.

he concrete results of the PUUBIO project include: 1) Improving the accessibility of university studies, skills and services. 2) Closer cooperation between secondary schools, universities and companies. 3) Employment of working-age people in the wood and bioproduct industries. 4) Companies’ own development and foresight plans. 5) Producing training courses that meet the needs of continuous learning. The results and experiences of the project will be utilized after the end of the project through the emergence and development of coordination activities. The tools, operating models and trainings produced in the project are utilised in responding to the competence needs of companies and in business development.

The project is carried out in cooperation with the University of Oulu, the University of Lapland and the University of Eastern Finland. The group project brings together the expertise and networks of several actors, enabling the usability and effectiveness of the project’s measures and results. The target group is the working-age population: enterprises in the wood and bioproduct industries, unemployed job seekers and young people, services for the vitality and competence development of municipalities, actors in renewed employment areas, higher education institutions and upper secondary education institutions providing training in the natural resources sector, and networks and clusters in the field. Indirect target groups are other developer organisations and working groups for continuous learning and business life.