QUÉBEC CITY, July 16, 2012 /CNW Telbec/ - FPInnovations believes that Québec's new 2012-2017 Forest Sector Transformation Strategy, which was released today by the Ministère des Ressources naturelles et de la Faune (MRNF), has arrived at the right time. The Strategy recognizes the major changes initiated by the Québec forest industry in terms of innovation, product development and market diversification. It also includes a range of formative actions aimed at ensuring the future of this economic driving force.
"We welcome the fact that the Strategy is based on the scientific and technical advances that have been made over the last few years. It also proposes an approach that focuses on developing innovative wood-based products," says Pierre Lapointe, President and Chief Executive Officer at FPInnovations.
Through its unique innovative management system and research and development in the field of wood products manufacturing, FPInnovations sees a number of very promising ways to create new products and increase the use of wood in residential and non-residential construction. After a series of outstanding successes, such as nanocrystalline cellulose, FPInnovations and its industry members are about to develop a range of physical and chemical wood components that will enable so-far unexplored uses.
The Québec government strategy is also aimed at revitalizing the hardwood-forest sector, through the deployment of a program aligned with FPInnovations' Hardwood Research Initiative.
The MRNF has granted FPInnovations $5.5 million this year under its biorefinery and demonstration plant program. The money will be used to set up premanufacturing facilities, which will demonstrate the technical and economic feasibility of new biomaterials and renewable, ecological bioproducts made from forest fibre.
FPInnovations' project is part of the measures announced by the Government of Québec to increase the competitiveness of Québec companies on traditional markets and gain a foothold in industries as diverse as transportation, aerospace, pharmaceutics, medical supplies, bioplastics and food packaging.
"Our industrial members are targeting high-value-added products that will give them an edge over the international competition," says Pierre Lapointe. "The new strategy is a serious nudge in the right direction, as it spurs the competitiveness of the traditional forest industry and encourages swifter transformation of the sector through innovation. FPInnovations will continue to be closely involved in these developments, which is why we are in favour of the major technological challenges launched by the Québec government's initiative."
About FPInnovations
FPInnovations is a world leader that specializes in the creation of scientific solutions in support of the Canadian forest sector's global competitiveness and responds to the high-priority needs of its industrial and government members. 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 forestry operations to consumer and industrial products. A not-for-profit organization, it employs over 550 people at its research laboratories in Québec City, Montréal, Thunder Bay, Edmonton and Vancouver, and at technology transfer offices across the country. For more information about FPInnovations, please visit www.fpinnovations.ca.
Nathalie Guilbault
Director, Corporate Communications
514 630-4124
[email protected]
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