In March a group of Finnish companies in the forest cluster set up an innovation company called Metsäklusteri Oy in association with Technical Research Centre of Finland (VTT), the Finnish Forest Research Institute (Metla) and four universities. The aim is to shape the concentration of expertise into the world's strongest innovation environment for the forest cluster.

Metsäklusteri Oy will be responsible for the operations of the Strategic Centre for Science, Technology and Innovation of the entire forest cluster. The company's task will be to initiate research and innovation programmes and channel research funding into chosen areas of emphasis.

The company is a response to the change in the Finnish forest industry's operating environment.

"The forest cluster must strengthen its competitiveness quickly in order to cope with worldwide competition. We are aiming to do this by improving the profitability of operations and strengthening top expertise and innovations in the sector," says Pauli Hänninen, Executive Vice President (Technology), UPM, and Chairman of the steering group responsible for setting up the company.

The forest cluster is one of the Strategic Centres for Science, Technology and Innovation set up in Finland. Others include energy and the environment, metal products and machine construction, health and well-being, and the ITC industry and services.

The wellbeing of the forests and attending to the regeneration of the growing stock are important to the forest industry.