The event brought together policymakers, researchers, industry, and civil society to discuss the future of forest research and innovation in Europe.
The EUFORE project organised a European Stakeholder Event in Brussels on 15 October. The event was the third annual event of its kind, and it also served as a launch event for the Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda (SRIA) for the European forest-based sector which is one of the main outputs of the EUFORE project.
The morning session included a keynote from Luis Vivas-Alegre from DG AGRI presenting the EU policy priority context for forests and forest-based research and innovation. This was followed by a panel discussion in which the representatives of the research community, industry, funders, and civil society got to express their views on the process so far and the upcoming implementation. CEPF Policy Officer Alina Lehikoinen participated in the panel discussion to represent the views of forest owners, delivering points about the inclusion of forest owners in the implementation of forest research and the need for flexibility to respond to the variety of forest-related challenges in the diversity of European forests.
The afternoon session focused on the future of SRIA, presenting key actions to follow the publication, and an upcoming European partnership for forests, forestry, and the forest-based sector focusing on research and innovation for a sustainable transition. This partnership is shaped by SRIA and its strategic themes, but allows flexibility within the set framework to for example ensure adaptation to national contexts.
CEPF wishes the EUFORE project a good continuation and a successful start to the forest partnership.
The SRIA is available here.
Panellists of the Many voices, one agenda – co-creating the SRIA panel at the 3rd EUFORE stakeholder event. From left to right Oliver Brendel (INRAE), Vanesa Bano (Innovawood), Alina Lehikoinen (CEPF), David Butler Manning (BMLEH), and the moderator Rach Colling (EFI).
