Greater regional and international visibility for Slovenian forest research
The project EUFORINNO (European forest research and innovation) was established to help the SFI modernise its infrastructure, enhance the scientific excellence of its personnel, and gain visibility in Europe and beyond. First, partners outlined research and innovation development goals in support of the SFI becoming a reference point in the European Forest Research and Innovation Area (EUFORIA). The focus was on closing gaps in genetic monitoring, biodiversity and functional diversity, belowground complexity, and net ecosystem carbon exchange in time and space. Other early project work involved building a long-term strategy for the SFI and recruiting and training researchers, all supported with the participation of eight excellent research partners. The Institute's equipment and laboratories were also upgraded, adding to its technical excellence. A total of six employees were recruited, including three experienced scientists. EUFORINNO also recruited an innovation and intellectual property (IP) manager to develop an IP management strategy and a technical editor tasked with improving the Institute's publishing house. An open-access repository was established at the house for authors to self-archive their articles, and a librarian was hired to support this repository. SFI researchers took part in 43 external visits and the Institute hosted 43 partner visits. Scientific networking included the organisation of four conferences and participation in more than 10, as well as targeted workshops and related events. A roundtable discussion on scientific publishing in forestry, wood and paper followed the first scientific conference (2013) on certification in forestry and wood products. Further, 12 National Contact Points were selected for activities regarding regional and intercontinental networking. Dissemination activities included a project website, a communication package and eight newsletters. The target groups were forest and wood-related stakeholders, researchers and industry, and the European public. Dissemination and networking helped reinforce the SFI's image and gain greater visibility. Overall, EUFORINNO efforts have helped the SFI to better utilise its resources and services in advancing research on forest biodiversity and its management in relation to climate change. Project-related successes raise the potential for the SFI to realise its vision of becoming a leading scientific and professional hub for Europe's forestry domain.
Keywords
Forest research, Slovenian Forestry Institute, EUFORINNO, research and innovation, biodiversity
