RERAM Research to Innovation in Resource Efficiency
Areas: green economy, resource efficiency, wood-based industries.
Duration: 2014-2016
Clients: project funded by the 7th Framework Programme of the European Commission in the field of climate protection, resource efficiency and raw materials. It is one of the few FP7-INCO projects addressing the forestry and woodworking sector.
Partners: The project consortium includes 12 partners from 9 countries. RERAM is coordinated by the International Institute of Forestry and Wood Industries NRW e.V. (IIWH) at the University of Münster, an established German competence centre in the fields of forest ecology, forestry and wood industries. Wood Processing and Furniture Cluster, under PPV Knowledge Networks management, was a partner in the project.
PPV Knowledge Networks Involvement: organizing events for business – seminars, workshops, study visits, conferences, delivering studies, lobbying, managing cross-sector initiatives.
The overall objective of RERAM project is to improve resource efficiency and raw material consumption of the forest and woodworking sector in ENP eastern countries by bridging the gaps between research and innovation via effective knowledge support measures for regional SMEs, research and authorities.
RERAM targets the woodworking industries, which generate the local demand for wood and are part of the problem due to their large, inefficient raw material use. Applicable know-how and technologies of an improved, sustainable material use and resource supply are largely unknown or not accessible so far.
The four general objectives of the project are:
- Raise awareness on resource efficiency potentials along the value chain (forestry → primary wood processing → secondary wood manufacturing).
- Optimize conversion pathways of wood raw material in SMEs by introducing innovative technologies, processes and planning methods.
- Promote the competitive research potential of innovation clusters through new business models, cleaner production and collaborative processes.
- Enhance regional to international collaboration in knowledge value chains by joint action, knowledge transfer and outreach among R2I actors.
PPV Knowledge Networks has engaged companies wood-based industries operating in Western Ukraine in the project activities. Within the project, several resource efficiency company checks were carried out, resource efficiency auditors trained, online map of wood-based industries developed and a toolkit for resource efficiency in wood-based industries published. The project has also led to multiple new contacts and networks established, which have already resulted in new joint collaborations and projects.