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Webinars, web site reveal IFIT funding program details

Canadian mills hoping to benefit from the federal government’s Investments in Forest Industry Transformation program will have to act quickly. Program details were announced Aug. 2, and the first Call for Proposals is open from Aug. 2 to Sept. 17, 2010.
In addition, IFIT program information webinars will be held on Aug. 10 and 11.
The program will provide $100 million over four years for projects that implement new technologies leading to non-traditional, high-value forest products and renewable energies. The funding was promised in the 2010 budget, and program details are now available at forest-transformation.nrcan.gc.ca.
The objective of the IFIT program is to support Canada’s forest sector in becoming more economically competitive, and environmentally sustainable, through targeted investments in innovative technologies.
To register for the information webinars, send an email to IFIT@nrcan.gc.ca with “Webinar Registration” in the subject header, indicating your name, company affiliation and preferred date/time. An IFIT program officer will respond back promptly to provide a confirmation of your registration and all the details in order for you to access the webinar.
English sessions are offered Tuesday, August 10, 13:30-14:30 (Eastern) and Wednesday, August 11, 13:30-14:30 (Eastern). French sessions take place Tuesday, August 10, 15:00-16:00 (Eastern)
Wednesday, August 11, 15:00-16:00 (Eastern).
Applicants to the Investments in Forest Industry Transformation program must be companies that produce forest products and that own at least one existing forest product manufacturing facility in Canada.
The program web site explains that projects must constitute an advancement of forest sector technology in Canada, must be located in Canada, and must be primarily based on wood fibre.
The proposed project must be at pilot or commercial scale, and the technology should not yet exist, at the proposed scale and specifications, in a forest sector industrial facility in Canada. Projects may be located at existing mill sites, either open or closed.
Any costs associated with the production or export of softwood lumber products are not eligible under this program.