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FPInnovations reorganizes to be strategic partner for industry, government

FPInnovations has made a series of changes to better position the organization as a strategic partner to industry members and clients, federal and provincial governments, and the larger research community, especially universities.

FPInnovations has made a series of changes to better position the organization as a strategic partner to industry members and clients, federal and provincial governments, and the larger research community, especially universities.

FPInnovations will keep a strong hold on R&D through its collaborative research with forest industry members. To this, it adds a business development component which encompasses strategic research alliances, products and services; and licensing and ventures.

“It became clear that the collaborative research approach, which served us very well for many decades, was no longer sufficient to help us support our members and partners in pursuit of their new goals,” stated FPInnovations’ president and CEO Pierre Lapointe. “Although R&D remains the heart and soul of the organization, we are now equipped with new business tools to help FPInnovations continue to deliver results in the pursuit of transforming the Canadian forest industry.”

“I am convinced that this is the right move for FPInnovations. These changes will help us explore new partnerships with energy and chemical industries to name a few,” said Lapointe. “This new structure will be more efficient and offer the most growth potential while ensuring a bright future for FPInnovations’ members, clients and partners.”

Business development vice-president Hervé Deschênes will ensure the organization’s business alignment with potential customers and members in terms of licensing and ventures, building strategic research alliances, and developing new products and services. In addition to leading the PIT (Transportation) research program, Deschênes will take on and develop the Markets & Economics group.

Jean Hamel, as research vice-president of pulp, paper and bioproducts, will lead the following research programs: Market Pulps, Paper, Packaging and Consumer Products, Biorefinery and Bioenergy, and Biomaterials.

Peter Lister, as research vice-president of forest products and wood products, will lead the following research programs: Forest Operations, Wildfire Operations, Primary Wood Products Manufacturing, Secondary Wood Products Manufacturing, and Advanced Building Systems.

George Bruemmer will lead the Resource Assessment research program, in addition to his other responsibilities with the Canadian Wood Fibre Centre.

The research and business development vice presidents will report to Alan Potter, executive vice-president, who will ensure that all the research programs and associated research teams present FPInnovations’ enhanced value proposition to its industry members, clients and partners.

Strategic partnerships vice-president Jean-Pierre Martel will manage the organization’s relationships with the federal and provincial governments, national and international organizations, as well as university and Aboriginal partnerships.

FPInnovations is a not-for-profit organization that specializes in the creation of scientific solutions in support of the Canadian forest sector’s global competitiveness. FPInnovations’ staff numbers more than 550. Its research laboratories are located in Québec City, Montréal, Thunder Bay, Edmonton and Vancouver.