Organisation of the Forest-based sector Technology Platform

The High-Level Group (HLG) is the decision body of the project and steers the activities of the platform. At present, the HLG comprises six high-level persons from companies and the three confederations plus the chairman of the Advisory Committee and the chairman of the Scientific Council. The European Commission (DG Research and DG Enterprise and Industry) is involved in the HLG as an observer.

Project Management has been appointed by the HLG comprising a Project Director and a Secretary. Project management is responsible for monitoring the day-to-day development and operation of the platform. It is supported by a Project Management Group.

The HLG has appointed an Advisory Committee (AC). The AC comprises R&D / technical directors and federation representatives from core stakeholders. Each National Support Group (see below) has a representative in the AC. In the implementation stage, the composition of the AC shall reflect the Strategic Research Agenda. The main roles of the AC are to:

• secure that the views  and needs of industrial stakeholders, forest owners and forest products users are represented in the platform
• secure the links between the National Support Groups
• supervise the activities of Project Management

In order to link the FTP's wide scope with the national level, National Support Groups (NSG) serve as dual communication channels. NSGs typically comprise representatives of the forest-based sector in a specific country, including researchers and representatives of national financing and governmental bodies. All EU countries are invited to set up NSGs. The main roles of the NSGs are to:

• secure that the key stakeholders are represented at national level
• formulate national views on and inputs to the platform
• inform about the platform at the national level, e.g., through contacts with authorities, public financers, and so forth
• coordinate the devleopment and implementation of national research agendas

The Scientific Council (SC) has the important task of representing the research community at large in the development and implementation of the FTP. It has played a key role in establishing the Strategic Research Agenda. The SC consists of members from the various forest-based value chains. The member’s competencies reflect not only the core sciences and technologies in the sector, but also enabling technologies.

The Communication group’s major tasks are to promote awareness of and involvement in the platform and to undertake day-to-day activities concerning the FTP’s communication.

Establishment of an Education and Training Group is underway. The main task of this group will be to prepare a medium to long-term action plan to secure the supply of high-skilled work force in the sector.

The Strategic Research Agenda (SRA) is the core of the platform. Its implementation phase started after the publication of the document in February 2006. The official kick-off for the implementation phase took place during a two-day FTP event in Austria at the beginning of May 2006.