Interview with FTP Project Director Wilhelm Vorher, August 2007

Wilhelm Vorher, in May of this year you took up the post of Project Director of the Forest-based Sector Technology Platform (FTP). What was your main motivation for taking over from Claes-Göran (CG) Beckeman, who opted for retirement? I've followed the FTP from its very beginning and was impressed by the idea behind it. It was unique when our cluster decided to collaborate in research and development across Europe. Furthermore I've personally known CG for many years and took it as a challenge to succeed him in this responsibility. What will you bring to the job of Project Director, based on your own background and experiences? I've been working in forest and forest-industry related activities in Germany and abroad since 1972. Moreover, I've been engaged in representing the interests of the forest-based sector at the national and European level for almost 27 years. This has given me inside knowledge and a large network which can help to develop the FTP further.

During your career, you have worked in various parts of the forest-based sector. What do you see as the main challenges our sector is facing today?

The forest-based sector has one of the best stories to tell about sustainability, about environmentally and energy friendly processes by realising a cycle approach. No other sector can compete with us here. Today energy security and climate change are two crucial issues, both very much related to forestry and the use of wood. This has created tough competition between wood use for products and/or for energy or even in terms of using forests only for carbon storage. It is our task now to find intelligent and sustainable allocations between the different options.

How can the FTP assist in dealing with these challenges?

Research and development are necessary to find out what will guarantee the best development; not only current expectations should be followed. Here the FTP can offer fruitful assistance. Our Strategic Research Agenda looks at the whole perspective of wood mobilisation and utilisation, including new and intelligent approaches such as those of the biorefinery sector. Decision makers in policy and economics will obtain much better knowledge, enabling them to make sustainable decisions. This will then will give leadership back to the market, turning away from subsidies.

What do you see as the main strengths of our sector?

The unique and sustainable way of doing our business, from a renewable resource to recyclable, energy and climate friendly products, which improve our quality of life.

You've been in the job for some months now. What is your first impression of the FTP ‘from the inside'?

The FTP is very well established and professionally steered. The ‘creators' of our platform did a fantastic job when they developed and launched the Vision 2030 document and the Strategic Research Agenda. Both documents became the basis of implementing the FTP, for example within the context of the current Seventh Framework Programme for research (FP7). From an ‘outside' view, the FTP helped to make our sector much more visible. This supports us considerably in being a well-respected partner of European Commission representatives and other platforms.

The FTP can only work if it succeeds in strengthening collaboration and partnership between the different parts of the sector (forestry, wood, pulp and paper), as well as the different key stakeholders (industry, forest owners, researchers and educators). In your opinion, how can we succeed in strengthening this collaboration?

These are exactly the challenges we are facing. First of all we need a change in our minds - thinking and acting more in partnership and joint activities than according to the short-term view of competition between companies, forest-based industry sectors and nations. FP7 and the European Technology Platforms are vehicles on our European way to achieving the Lisbon and Gothenburg agendas, enhancing the competitiveness and knowledge-based character of the European economy. We can only succeed when we combine our efforts to jointly mobilise the tremendous potential of our sector. This basic message finally has to be adopted by all stakeholders. Those involved in the FTP are encouraged to communicate the message even more intensively.

Why are the National Support Groups so important in realising the FTP's ambitions?

The FTP process has so far been primarily a top-down development - very successful and well established. Now we are in the phase of realisation. That means preparing the right proposals for FP7 and of course also for obtaining other European and national research, development and education resources. This is a bottom-up process now and can only be realised though national stakeholders input. Our 25 National Support Groups (NSGs) are challenged to take the lead, supported and coordinated at the European level by FTP management.

What are your personal priorities and/or ambitions as FTP Project Director?

To speed up the implementation process, I will focus my work on visiting our National Support Groups (NSGs) and encourage them to become even more active. Furthermore FTP management will offer support and assistance to the NSGs and other stakeholders, so that they become more professional in meeting FP7 requirements and procedures, and succeed in getting as many projects supported as possible. Based on my own expertise, I will work on enhancing our network, which means more and better contacts to the European Commission, European Parliament, other Technology Platforms and key stakeholders. They must all become active in motivating others to join this great idea we have: making sure that Europe becomes home to the most competitive knowledge-based forest-based sector in the world.

Briefly, what are the plans of FTP Management for the coming months?

First of all, we will continue meeting our NSGs to learn more about their specific situations and projects, and to motivate stakeholders to become more active in the FTP. We will continue activating our European network of (already!) 25 NGSs. Together with the Slovenian NSG - this beautiful country will be European Union president during the first half of 2000 - we have started preparing the next FTP Conference, to take place during 20-21 May 2008. We will also start up the work of a new task force which shall assist NSGs and stakeholders in becoming more successful in gettings FP7 funding. An Education and Training Group will also initiate its work. Another important task will be to secure funding for FTP management activities for the years to come.