Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) is one of the key drivers of productivity and economic growth in the long term. The Finnish forest industry is creating a renewable, sustainable future by investing in research, the development of products, services and production processes, and in the commercialization of pioneering innovations.
Majority of companies in the chemical forest industry engage in RDI activities
According to the latest EU-wide CIS (Community Innovation Survey CIS), 64% of Finnish companies in the chemical forest industry were engaged in innovation activities. This is more than the average for all Finnish companies (62%).
Process innovations are common
According to the CIS (Community Innovation Survey CIS), 75% of companies in the chemical forest industry engaged in innovation activities made process innovations. However, the share of product innovations was also significant, at 46%.
Cooperation of companies with higher education institutes
According to the CIS (Community Innovation Survey CIS), 54% of Finnish companies in the chemical forest industry cooperated with higher education institutions in 2022.
Finnish companies are global leaders in forest industry patents
Finnish forest industry companies lead international patenting statistics in technologies related to micro- and nanocellulose, wastewater and slurry treatment, and lignin recovery. Patent activity is increasing: between 2006 and 2010, Finland became 102 patent publications belonging to nanocellulose, while in 2016-2020 nearly 700.
