No easy answers: research and innovation for the forestry sector
2002
Wright, J.D.
The Canadian Forest Sector is at a crossroads. Compared with its best global competitors, the sector's returns have been low. Its propensity to operate at the commodity end of the spectrum, coupled with an intense focus on cost cutting, has raised serious questions as to the long-term viability of research and technology as part of an innovation process. Stated provocatively, the question is "Does this sector need research? Why? For what?" And yet the evidence is clear. For sustainable growth and healthy balance sheets, more attention is needed on initiatives to add value, to move up the value chain, and to benefit from a more strategic focus on proprietary technological advantage. Too much reliance on suppliers, alone, for technology cannot yield sustainable leadership through innovation. Appropriate partnerships with technology providers ranging from universities, research institutes and suppliers, coupled with an in-house focus on innovative new products can lead to marketplace competitiveness. To balance needed industry investments, appropriate participation from governments at all levels can ensure that public policy-driven technology change can achieve societal goals in concert with achieving and maintaining industry competitiveness. Research institutes are key partners here with their focus on translating science into technology applied at the mill level. An environment that will attract highly qualified personnel into a sector often seen as less exciting than others more visibly tied to the information age will only occur when industry is seen to be highly supportive of innovation as a competitive force. The challenges are great but the potential returns are far higher if industry and government join forces to foster a truly innovative forest sector.
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