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FAIR
EUR 18305 EN: Forestry-Wood Chain - Catalogue of Contracts
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Biocomposites/Boards
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FAIR Area 1.3 - Forestry-Wood Chain
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Forestry
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Paper/Pulp
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Solid Wood Products
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Wood (Lignocellulose)
EUROPEAN COMMISSION
DIRECTORATE-GENERAL XII (Science, Research and Development)
FAIR
AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES
(INCLUDING AGRO-INDUSTRY, FOOD-TECHNOLOGIES, FORESTRY,
AQUACULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT)
Fourth Framework Programme
1994-1998
AREA 1.3
PLUS RELATED PROJECTS FROM AREA 2
(SCALING-UP & PROCESSING METHODOLOGY)
CRAFT PROJECTS AND TRAINING GRANTS
Preface
The forest products industry transforming timber, wood fibres and other forest raw materials into
solid wood products, wood based panels, pulp and paper is an important European business sector
employing more that 2.2 million people, with total production value exceeding 280 billion euro and
average annual growth rate of 3% over the past 5 years. Directly linked to the sector's activities are
industries producing equipment and raw materials (biotechnology, chemical industry, machinery,
converters, furniture makers etc.) as well as some 12 million forest owners in Europe. It is evident
that maintaining and strengthening the sector's competitive position is of vital importance to a substantial
segment of Europe's population. Moreover, the importance of forestry as a major tool for Europe's rural
development and its unique environmental benefits are widely and increasingly appreciated. European
forest resources covering 128 million ha, close to 40% of total EU land area, play an important role as
a carbon-sink, climate, water and erosion regulator as well as an indispensable biodiversity bank. The
competitiveness of the European forest industry is therefore dependent upon its ability to sustainably
utilise the existing forest resources (from an environmental, social and economic point of view) and to
place a high value added to the products.
Reflecting the above considerations, the FAIR programme currently supports 39 research projects
within the forestry-wood chain, amounting to a total EU contribution of about 38 million euro.
Among them, there are fully integrated projects covering more than one aspects of the chain as
well as focused, problem solving ones. It is important to note the continuously increasing industrial
participation (37%) particularly that of SMEs. Meaningful North-South co-operation and synergy
has increased throughout the programme's lifetime leading to rational concentration on issues with a
clear European dimension. The underlying characteristic of all forestry-wood chain projects is that
they are market driven, oriented towards more efficient production processes with reduced
environmental impact and creation of new market and job opportunities. The application of modern
technologies, notably biotechnology, to the production of improved raw materials better tailored to
industrial needs and to the development of clean processes is highlighted within the funded projects.
This catalogue provides a description of the scientific and technical issues covered by the funded
research projects and, in doing so, we hope that a comprehensive overview of Community efforts
in support of research in the area of the forestry-wood chain is realised.
Contacts
Director (DG XII-E)
Head of Unit
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Scientific Officer
