FPInnovations

FPInnovations has played a key role in this ongoing transformation. The $20.6 million in funding announced today will enable the organization to continue to advance research and facilitate collaborations between the public and private sectors. This work has already led to the development of a variety of new products such as cellulose fibrils and nanocrystalline cellulose; the adaptation of cross-laminated timber for use in North America; and the publication of the Technical Guide for the Design and Construction of Tall Wood Buildings in Canada.

The Government’s latest investment will support 78 research projects that will advance products and technologies with significant market potential to create new revenue streams for the sector. While leveraging an additional $9 million from other funding partners, these projects will contribute to strategic priorities, including developing next-generation building systems, developing new bio-products, maximizing value in the production chain and bringing innovation to the marketplace.

Transforming the forest sector

The sustainable management and development of Canada’s natural resources can transform local communities, create enduring opportunities for First Nations, and generate growth and prosperity for generations to come. The Government of Canada is promoting the transformation and diversification of the forest sector through a variety of strategic partnerships and investments, including measures that are:

• supporting innovation in the forest sector;
• expanding overseas markets for Canadian forest products;
• opening up new domestic opportunities for the sector in non-residential and mid-rise construction and supporting research needed to facilitate proposed changes to national and provincial building codes; and,
• promoting higher levels of First Nations’ participation in the forest economy.

Fostering innovation and expanding markets is essential to a thriving forest sector. By stimulating innovation, the Government of Canada has been helping build a more diversified, prosperous forest sector. Our forest industries are now manufacturing a broader range of higher value-added products, creating additional revenue streams and reducing their operating costs.

For example, as part of  the Government’s strategy for forest sector renewal, the Expanding Market Opportunities program is helping open doors to new business opportunities and is diversifying the markets for Canadian forest products. These efforts have been particularly successful in increasing sales to China, where exports of Canadian wood products have grown by more than 1,000 percent between 2007 and 2013.