Södra Foundation for Research, Development and Education is contributing additional amount of SEK 6.4 million to research projects in forest management and the forest industry.

Biofuel

Södra contributes SEK 6.4 million to research projects

Södra contributes SEK 6.4 million to research projects

Bild: Göran Örlander, Chairman of the Södra Research Foundation

Five new research projects are now to share a SEK 6.4 million ($752,941) from the Södra Foundation for Research, Development and Education. The projects awarded funding include research into advanced construction material, fuel and forest management.

“By funding research, Södra is paving the way not only for future forestry but also for new, climate-smart products and sustainable production. Investment in research is vital if we are to manage the transition of society and phase out fossil-based products,” said Göran Örlander, Chairman of the Södra Research Foundation. 

The “Kompetenscentrum f3 – Providing Energy for the Transport Sector” project has been awarded funding. It works to advance the analysis and knowledge of renewable fuels.

“The centre of excellence (Kunskapscentrum) has created a unique position for the analysis of renewable fuels. This work is set to continue to build expertise that focuses on how renewable resources can – with a high level of climate efficiency – achieve a rapid transition from fossil to renewable fuels. It is important that long-term knowledge-building initiatives in the field of sustainable fuels continue in order to create lasting change,” said Catrin Gustavsson, President of Södra Innovation.

Another project granted funding aims to develop new types of environmentally beneficial surface treatments for fire-resistant, bio-based construction materials. This is to produce sustainable solutions that favour the use of wood in exposed environments.

In addition, three forest management projects were approved. These include a project that will study methods of effectively establishing and cleaning mixed coniferous stands.

“The most common mixed forest in southern Sweden contains pine and spruce. For management purposes, mixed coniferous forest is well suited to soil with varying soil properties. It yields good value production and improved cultivation reliability in conjunction with climate change. However, the proportion of mixed coniferous forest in young forests has declined for several decades, which makes this project particularly relevant,” said Göran Örlander.

Founded in 1938, Södra is Sweden’s largest forest-owner association, with 53,000 forest owners as its members.