FPInnovations and the Quebec natural resources ministry have reached a new R&D agreement for the Quebec forest sector. Spread over two years, the Government of Quebec's $5.87 million investment will go essentially toward supporting forest sector companies, in order to enhance the value of forest sector assets, develop innovative solutions, and promote greater use of wood by the Québec construction industry.
FPInnovations has been involved in research and development for a number of years, with scientific and technical personnel at research laboratories in Quebec City, Montreal, and Vancouver.
According to Pierre Lapointe, president and CEO of FPInnovations, "The MRNF's investment in research and development and the support for innovation by all of our industry and government members contribute significantly to improving the Quebec forest sector's competitiveness."
An FPInnovations new release says the new R&D investment will enable support for wood product companies, to allow swift deployment of efforts to optimize products and boost companies' competitiveness, plus support for special projects to help revitalize the hardwood and new bioeconomy products processing industry.
As well, the funding will enable new measures to promote the use of wood by the Québec construction industry, including support of developers' efforts to create and obtain certification for structural and appearance wood products, and encouraging greater collaboration between university researchers and FPInnovations researchers.