Södra increases investment in research and development

Södra‘s Board has decided to allocate an additional SEK 50 million to the Södra Foundation for Research, Development and Education to promote R&D in forestry and forest industry operations in southern Sweden.
“Long-term research in forestry requires confidence in the future and stable funding. Without research and development, Södra will miss out on vital opportunities to develop a sustainable and profitable forest industry and forestry. This investment is a sign of Södra’s faith in R&D and its future potential,” says Göran Örlander, Head of Forest Management at Södra.

The mission of the Södra Foundation for Research, Development and Education is to promote R&D of significance to forestry, and forest industry operations, in Southern Sweden. Södra established the Foundation in 1995 when SEK 100 million was set aside for research projects with the forest as a common denominator. Södra has since made two allocations of SEK 50 million each, most recently in 2006. From 2004-2013, the Foundation has granted more than SEK 120 million in funding to project applications.

An evaluation of the Foundation’s activities in 2014 showed a highly effective operation with many successful projects, that several major research initiatives with strong funding had been established and that the research had contributed to several successful patent applications.