Wood-TKI development

Collaboration between research institutions in the field of wood processing has been developed in recent years, e.g., by increasing the systematic exchange of information, developing common infrastructures and services, and building a basis for jointly implemented business projects and testing services for companies. University of Eastern Finland (UEF), Karelia University of Applied Sciences (Karelia), and Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke) that serve the wood industry have been significantly developed and operators in the area have a joint website, http://woodjoensuu.fi, through which the marketing of research, joint events, and services is established. However, several challenges have been identified when working with companies which require development of already created models and building of new capabilities. This requires both investments in the equipment base and the increasing demo activities on offering more measurement units than before, because only a few industrial problems or other needs can be solved using a single device.

Puu-TKI proposal with two parallel projects develops the technical capabilities and agility of research and training units to produce development services that serve wood industry companies (especially SMEs) and to promote international recognition of the products. In the investment section of the project, research and demo equipment will be updated for 1) a long-term durability of wood and new wood products, 2) biomass processing towards energy products and 3) recycling of waste materials such as construction and agricultural waste. In the development section of the project, the emergence of business cooperation is promoted through public demonstrations and marketing of services, as well as by activating regional business cooperation through a joint exhibition of North Karelia’s SMEs. The jointly implemented exhibition stand will present the offerings of several different SMEs on its tour to key international and national events during the project. Companies are also offered a low-threshold opportunity to use research institutes’ equipment in their own development work. The joint use of R&D information in the region is being developed in cooperation with the GreenHub network development project, in which Business Joensuu plays a key role.

The goal of the project is to share the equipment resources of the R&D operators in the area, increase the utilization rate and build closer cooperation than at present by developing practices and communication. As a result of the project, several companies in the area start product development cooperation with the University of Eastern Finland, Karelia University of Applied Sciences and/or Natural Resources Institute Finland, and this cooperation creates a mutual competitive advantage and information exchange.