FTP Task Forces

The Forest-Based Sector Technology Platform sets up dedicated Task Forces to deal with emerging and/or important issues within the forest-based sector. Task Forces have a limited duration and report directly to FTP Project Management.

The following Task Forces are currently active or have recently completed their work:

Biorefinery Task Force
Coordinator: Johan Elvnert, FTP/CEI-Bois, FTP Management Group
This Taskforce completed its report, titled 'A Bio-solution to Climate Change' (available here), in April 2007. The TF had the aim to create a network of leading forest-based sector experts within the domain of 'wood-based' biorefinery. Its final report describes the status of biorefinery in Europe and suggests five main directions for future research. These directions are: selective and efficient separation and conversion processes; biorefinery as source for wood-based solid and liquid biofuels; recycled fibre biorefinery; above-sector synergies with the agricultural and chemical sector; and the socio-economic impacts of biorefinery development.

FP7 Task Force
Coordinator: Martin Greimel, NSG Austria
This Task Force set up during September 2007 has the objective to enhance the FTP's success in the 7th Framework Programme (FP7). The Task Force tries to achieve this, first of all, by extracting early information on FP7 Work Programmes (WPs) under development. Moreover, it analyses this information in order to organise coordinated actions through national channels, in close collaboration with FTP Management. Information on potential topics in coming WPs is distributed amongst FTP stakeholders in order to stimulate the preparation of good proposals. Further information about the FTP in FP7 is provided here.

Innovation Task Force
Coordinators: Claes-Göran Beckeman, former FTP Project Director, and Ewald Rametsteiner, BOKU Vienna; secretary: Victoria Lerma, AIDIMA
This TF will describe the present situation, identify important European or national innovation initiatives, identify industry interests, challenges and needs of innovation, and finally propose to FTP management necessary innovation-related research, initiatives and actions. It had its first meeting in May 2008, during the 5th FTP Conference. At a meeting in Brussels in September, the Innovation Task Force (ITF) started describing the present situation regarding innovation in the sector. Moreover, first steps were taken towards a future vision for innovation initiatives. The ITF's meeting in Zagreb on January 13, 2009 was used as an important milestone in preparing a report on innovation in the forest-based sector (in terms of present situation and future vision). Apart from the report, the ITF will prepare a PowerPoint presentation of innovation cases, as well as an interactive exercise package. All outputs, to be finalised by June 2009, will be disseminated to relevant stakeholders, with industry and forest owners as a key target groups, supplemented by the research community, policy-makers and funding agencies. The outputs will be available and presented, for example, at key events such as the upcoming FTP Innovation Seminar in Vienna (June 18-19, 2009), organised in conjunction with the Schweighofer Prize ceremony, and the FTP Conference in Stockholm (November 9-11, 2009). Examples of innovation in the sector can be submitted to the ITF until April 28, 2009. For further information, click here.