Success of Existing Programs Leads Government to Extend Support to 2018
MONTREAL, April 21, 2014 /CNW Telbec/ - FPInnovations President and CEO Pierre Lapointe today welcomed Finance Minister Joe Oliver's commitment to build upon past successes by providing $86 million in funding over two years, starting in 2016, to extend the Forest Innovation Program and the Expanding Market Opportunities Program. These programs will help forestry companies adopt emerging technologies and develop new markets for Canadian wood products.
"The Canadian forest products sector is leading the global revolution in developing game changing technology that creates innovative new products from wood fibre. Today's announcement of renewed support for the Forest Innovation Program and the Expanding Market Opportunities Program will create new jobs and opportunities in forestry communities across Canada and ensure Canada continues to innovate", said Mr. Lapointe. "With this announcement, this government is investing in the future of our forest sector and high-value jobs and growth."
Quick Facts
Projects funded under the Forest Innovation Program in the past include:
- Development and market acceptance of Cross-Laminated Timber (CLT) resulting in the opening of two CLT manufacturing plants in Canada. Cross-laminated Timber is a large wood panel product made of multiple layers of timber stacked and glued together resulting in a superior construction product with a lower environmental footprint.
- Applications of airborne laser scanning technology and high resolution imagery to obtain more precise information on forest inventory which improves forest management planning and while lessening environmental impacts and lowering inventory costs.
Projects funded under the Expanding Market Opportunities Program in the past include:
- Expansion of the use of wood in Japan, China and India by promoting Canadian forest products as an environmentally responsible and economically attractive option. These activities have led to the value of wood product exports to China increasing by more than 10 times to $1.92 billion.
- Addressing issues that limit the access of Canadian forest products to foreign countries due to product standards, building codes, training, and quality assurance.
- Research on the construction of tall wooden buildings as an environmentally friendly and economically beneficial approach to the construction of buildings over 6-storeys.
Associated Links
http://www.budget.gc.ca/2015/docs/plan/budget2015-eng.pdf
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 525. Its R&D laboratories are located in Québec City, Montréal, and Vancouver, and it has technology transfer offices across Canada. For more information about FPInnovations, visit: www.fpinnovations.ca.
SOURCE FPInnovations
Terry Knee, FPInnovations, Communications Director, 514-442-1598, [email protected]
Share this article