FPInnovations welcomes boost in Federal Support for Forest Industry
FPInnovations welcomes today’s announcement of continuing support for enhancing innovation and competitiveness in Canada’s forest industry by Parliamentary Secretary Kelly Block, Member of Parliament for Saskatoon-Rosetown-Biggar, on behalf of the Hon. Greg Rickford, Canada’s Minister of Natural Resources and Minister for the Federal Economic Development Initiative for Northern Ontario.
The funding announcement was made during the Ontario Forest Industries Association’s 72nd annual meeting, in the presence of Hon. Bill Mauro, Ontario’s Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry. Block revealed that the federal government will invest $20.6 million towards reinforcing innovation in the Canadian forest sector using the innovative know-how of FPInnovations, a leader in forest sector transformation.
Quick Facts
– Previous funding by Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) has supported FPInnovations’ scientific research resulting in landmark projects and game-changing technologies, such as:
– Building the world’s first nanocrystalline cellulose demonstration plant in partnership with Domtar,
– Building the world’s first cellulose filament demonstration plant in collaboration with Kruger
– Implementing a commercial-scale lignin recovery process at a West Fraser mill.
• NRCan also supported the publication of the first ever Technical Guide for the Design and Construction of Tall Wood Buildings in Canada, as well as the Canadian CLT Handbook and the upcoming Midrise Wood Frame Construction Handbook. These three unique and comprehensive technical documents are changing the face of the wood construction industry and providing the most up-to-date technical information to architects and designers of wood buildings.
• The forestry sector is of vital importance to the Canadian economy, directly employing over 230,000 workers in all regions of the country, including in 200 communities that rely on the sector for at least 50 per cent of their economic base.
“We thank the Federal government for their unrelenting support of the forest sector transformation agenda that has been at the center of many exciting technological advances realized by FPInnovations. As the forest sector invests in innovative new products and technology and pursues non-traditional markets, this support will help improve Canada’s competitiveness resulting in a stronger economy and more jobs.” Pierre Lapointe, President and CEO of FPInnovations.
