Forest industry RDI activities in numbers
Research, development and innovation (RDI) are the key drivers of productivity and economic growth in the long term. The Finnish forest industry creates a renewable, sustainable future by investing in research, the development of products, services and production processes, and the commercialisation of ground-breaking innovations.
The majority of companies in the chemical forest industry engage in RDI activities
According to the latest EU-wide CIS (Community Innovation Survey), 77% of the Finnish companies in the chemical forest industry engaged in innovation activities. This is more than the average of all Finnish companies (69%).
Process innovations are common
According to the CIS (Community Innovation Survey), 82% of the Finnish companies in the chemical forest industry engaged in process innovation. However, the share of product innovations was also significant, 62%.
Cooperation of companies with research organisations
According to the CIS (Community Innovation Survey), 54% of the Finnish companies in the chemical forest industry cooperated with research organisations in 2020. The amount increased by 16% when compared to 2018. 17% of companies in the mechanical forest industry cooperated with research organisations.
Research and development investments in the mechanical forest industry increased
According to the latest CIS (Community Innovation Survey CIS), Finnish mechanical forest industry companies' own and commissioned research and development expenses totaled EUR 18 million in 2020. The increase when compared to 2018 was 38%.
Finnish companies are the global leader in forest industry patents
Forest industry companies take the lead in international patenting statistics in technologies related to micro- and nanocellulose, wastewater and sludge treatment, and lignin recovery. Patent activity is increasing: in the years 2006–2010, there were 102 patent publications related to nanocellulose in Finland, and in the years 2016–2020, that number is almost 700.
