OTTAWA, March 29, 2012 /CNW Telbec/ - FPInnovations, a unique industry/government forestry innovation partnership, today commended the Canadian government and Finance Minister Jim Flaherty's recommitment to Canadian forest sector transformation and innovation in the 2012 federal budget. The budget, released today in the House of Commons, confirms the federal investment of $105 million over 2 years for market development and forestry innovation, including FPInnovations.
"The 2012 federal budget renews a partnership that has delivered value and is building the future of forestry in Canada," said Al Ward, Chair of FPInnovations, and President and Chief Operating Officer of Alberta-Pacific Forest Industries Inc. "The budget will help deliver on a strong, competitive and diversified forest sector in Canada. That is good news for high value jobs and good news for hard hit forestry communities across the country."
FPInnovations brings together stakeholders in an innovation hub for Canada's forest sector. With a $90 million annual budget and over 550 specialized staff, it delivers and deploys world-class forest sector innovations. FPInnovations unique value chain capacity includes innovative approaches to deliver economic returns in:
- Forest Fibre
- Forest Operations
- Wood Products
- Pulp & Paper
- Bio-products & Bio-energy
"Today's budget will allow us to continue to pioneer new products such as bio-materials and bio-composites and next generation building systems for multi-storey buildings," added Pierre Lapointe, President and Chief Executive Officer of FPInnovations. "These innovations will open new markets and new job opportunities for the Canadian forest sector."
About FPInnovations
FPInnovations is a not-for-profit world leader that specializes in the creation of scientific solutions in support of the Canadian forest sector's global competitiveness and responds to the priority needs of its industry members and government partners. It is ideally positioned to perform research, innovate and deliver state-of-the-art solutions for every area of the sector's value chain, from forest operations to consumer and industrial products. FPInnovations' staff numbers more than 550. Its R&D laboratories are located in Québec City, Ottawa, Montréal, Thunder Bay, Edmonton and Vancouver, and it has technology transfer offices across Canada. For more information about FPInnovations, visit: www.fpinnovations.ca.
Nathalie Guilbault
Corporate Communications Director
514 630-4124
[email protected]
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