POINTE-CLAIRE, QC — Two major North American paper institutes that have worked together in the past have signed a formal agreement to work together that could translate into huge dividends for their …
POINTE-CLAIRE, QC — Two major North American paper institutes that have worked together in the past have signed a formal agreement to work together that could translate into huge dividends for their member companies.
The Pulp and Paper Research Institute of Canada (Paprican) and the Institute of Paper Science and Technology (IPST) have signed a formal agreement to explore collaborative possibilities, which could potentially lead to greater services offered to its member companies across the continent.
IPST, an accredited graduate school formed by the United States paper industry in 1929, currently serves over 50 member companies through four centres based out of the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta. Paprican is the Canadian research and development organization based in Pointe-Claire, QC, with laboratory and pulping and screening plants in Vancouver and technology transfer centre in Prince George, BC.
The deal between the two organizations calls for the creation of a high-level team sponsored by the presidents of the two organizations to jointly explore potential future collaboration opportunities. The team is expected to present its conclusions by the end of April 2001.
“These two institutions have been informally working together since the 1920’s. Now we have a formal agreement that allows us the latitude to find those areas where we can combine our forces to solve our industry’s most significant problems or identify new economic opportunities,” said Dr. James L. Ferris, president of IPST.
Dr. Joseph D. Wright, president of Paprican, said the agreement has the potential to be positive for everyone involved. “With the consolidation in our industry, the global forces at play, and the absolute imperative to invest in technology as a key component of a successful business strategy, this agreement will open opportunities for each institute to serve its joint and individual members more than ever.”
George Weyerhaeuser Jr., who serves as trustee for both Paprican and IPST and is a past chairman of the board of Paprican, said that both institutions have provided their respective member companies with service for more than 70 years. “With an increasingly common company membership base resulting from cross-border mergers in the pulp and paper industry, there are emerging opportunities to seek economic synergies and develop research partnerships that will benefit all members of IPST and Paprican.”
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