Periodic Reporting for period 1 - Forest 4.0 (Creation of the centre of excellence in smart forestry)
Reporting period: 2023-05-01 to 2024-10-31
Our ability to mitigate climate change, biodiversity loss, deforestation, and forest degradation depends in part on the open sharing of forest-related data. While data from government-owned satellites and other remote sensing observations are increasingly openly shared, the sharing of data directly collected in forests is still very limited. Indeed, separate organisations collect it for their own purposes, there is no dedicated infrastructure for such data, and interchange standards are not defined. We propose to create a Centre of Excellence (CoE) in forest-related Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Internet of Things (IoT) technologies to develop and promote innovative data-based solutions to forestry management in the whole value chain, from forest resources management to end-products. The CoE will be called FOREST 4.0.
FOREST 4.0 aims to contribute to the Lithuanian Smart Specialisation Strategy by developing an innovative forest-based Lithuanian bio economy through the digitalisation of forest operations. FOREST 4.0 will promote a science-based contribution of sustainable managed forests to the achievement of the EU Green Deal and the some of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), and the transition to a circular and sustainable bioeconomy through the provision of innovative data collection and processing applications.
The project is organized in 7 work packages (WPs): WP1 focuses on the establishment of Forest CoE as a legal entity with its by-laws and governance and management structure. WP2 intends to design and implement all the human resources policies. WP3 is dedicated to establish the CoE infrastructure; purchase or rent the equipment; manage the infrastructure and equipment and the operations of the CoE. WP4 provides scientific excellence and education activities development, implement the scientific strategy of the CoE. WP5 is responsible for implementation of the CoE business model that consists in providing high-value innovation services to stakeholders in the view of transferring knowledge. WP6 is responsible for building awareness of the project among the target groups, transfer of knowledge and exploitation of project results. In WP7, Forest 4.0 ensures efficient consortium management, monitoring, reporting, etc.
The Forest 4.0 consortium is coordinated by Vytautas Magnus University (Lithuania), the Forest 4.0 consortium involves 5 partners from two European countries (Lithuania and Sweden), including universities - Linnaeus University, Kaunas University of Technologies and Vytautas Magnus University, industry partners - Interior Cluster Sweden, ART21, UAB and AgriFood Lithuania DIH.
FOREST 4.0 aims to contribute to the Lithuanian Smart Specialisation Strategy by developing an innovative forest-based Lithuanian bio economy through the digitalisation of forest operations. FOREST 4.0 will promote a science-based contribution of sustainable managed forests to the achievement of the EU Green Deal and the some of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), and the transition to a circular and sustainable bioeconomy through the provision of innovative data collection and processing applications.
The project is organized in 7 work packages (WPs): WP1 focuses on the establishment of Forest CoE as a legal entity with its by-laws and governance and management structure. WP2 intends to design and implement all the human resources policies. WP3 is dedicated to establish the CoE infrastructure; purchase or rent the equipment; manage the infrastructure and equipment and the operations of the CoE. WP4 provides scientific excellence and education activities development, implement the scientific strategy of the CoE. WP5 is responsible for implementation of the CoE business model that consists in providing high-value innovation services to stakeholders in the view of transferring knowledge. WP6 is responsible for building awareness of the project among the target groups, transfer of knowledge and exploitation of project results. In WP7, Forest 4.0 ensures efficient consortium management, monitoring, reporting, etc.
The Forest 4.0 consortium is coordinated by Vytautas Magnus University (Lithuania), the Forest 4.0 consortium involves 5 partners from two European countries (Lithuania and Sweden), including universities - Linnaeus University, Kaunas University of Technologies and Vytautas Magnus University, industry partners - Interior Cluster Sweden, ART21, UAB and AgriFood Lithuania DIH.
The first 18 months of Forest 4.0 has been devoted mostly to the preparation of establishment of Forest 4.0 CoE, communication with partners, developing CoE governance strategy, cooperation with Ministry of Science, Education and Sports to participate in a call for co-funding project development. September 8th,2023 the Co-funding project has started. In parallel, we have started to design the collaboration with the practitioners, Ministry representatives, Lithuanian State Forestry, businesses and other stakeholders. According to the project plan - 12 deliverables were provided and 11 milestones.
In WP1,within the18 months of the project implementation, a new legal entity was established. The name of this public entity is “VšĮ Forest 4.0”. The only shareholder of this entity is Vytautas Magnus University. The Governing board was established, which consist of 9 members, representatives of the shareholder of public entity, as well as main stakeholders and project partners.
In WP2, the fundamental task was to design the human resource strategy and policies. Plan and manage the recruitment of the CoE’s staff.
In WP3, the team focused on the infrastructure and equipment acquisition and management and the operational processes. The procedures of obtaining equipment have started, public procurement procedures performed. The new infrastructure obtained to allow it to properly achieve its objectives. This infrastructure is funded by the national complementary funding brough to the project. Infrastructure and equipment policy deliverable was prepared.
In WP4,during this period so far, the team has developed a number of deliverables in relation to the project goals (Report on development of smart forestry open data infrastructure; Implementation of methodological framework for research projects). Researchers have set the grounds for the open research infrastructure as well as in a coproduction way developed a methodological framework for starting new cross-disciplinary projects. The so far work shows promising results and now we will start implementing some activities related to strengthening the research culture within CoE Forest 4.0.
In WP5, the team was developing Innovation support service programme and Overall Design of the Acceleration Programme and Planning.The survey conducted within the consortium and associated parties, identified the need to provide innovative tools for real-time forest monitoring, predictive analytics, and automation of critical tasks, such as forest health assessment, growth modelling, carbon sequestration, resource allocation, etc. Innovative technologies should target stakeholders such as forest managers to for example, help make data-informed decisions that enhance sustainability, improve operational efficiency, and mitigate environmental risks. Through its innovation support services, the CoE plans to assist future “clients”, offering consultancy, training, and development of technology applications.
In WP6, the foundation for future communication, dissemination, and exploitation of results has been successfully established. The project's visual identity, templates, and communication materials have been created.
In WP7,project management structures and procedures were established to ensure effective project governance and implementation, administrative, financial and research coordination within the consortium.
In WP1,within the18 months of the project implementation, a new legal entity was established. The name of this public entity is “VšĮ Forest 4.0”. The only shareholder of this entity is Vytautas Magnus University. The Governing board was established, which consist of 9 members, representatives of the shareholder of public entity, as well as main stakeholders and project partners.
In WP2, the fundamental task was to design the human resource strategy and policies. Plan and manage the recruitment of the CoE’s staff.
In WP3, the team focused on the infrastructure and equipment acquisition and management and the operational processes. The procedures of obtaining equipment have started, public procurement procedures performed. The new infrastructure obtained to allow it to properly achieve its objectives. This infrastructure is funded by the national complementary funding brough to the project. Infrastructure and equipment policy deliverable was prepared.
In WP4,during this period so far, the team has developed a number of deliverables in relation to the project goals (Report on development of smart forestry open data infrastructure; Implementation of methodological framework for research projects). Researchers have set the grounds for the open research infrastructure as well as in a coproduction way developed a methodological framework for starting new cross-disciplinary projects. The so far work shows promising results and now we will start implementing some activities related to strengthening the research culture within CoE Forest 4.0.
In WP5, the team was developing Innovation support service programme and Overall Design of the Acceleration Programme and Planning.The survey conducted within the consortium and associated parties, identified the need to provide innovative tools for real-time forest monitoring, predictive analytics, and automation of critical tasks, such as forest health assessment, growth modelling, carbon sequestration, resource allocation, etc. Innovative technologies should target stakeholders such as forest managers to for example, help make data-informed decisions that enhance sustainability, improve operational efficiency, and mitigate environmental risks. Through its innovation support services, the CoE plans to assist future “clients”, offering consultancy, training, and development of technology applications.
In WP6, the foundation for future communication, dissemination, and exploitation of results has been successfully established. The project's visual identity, templates, and communication materials have been created.
In WP7,project management structures and procedures were established to ensure effective project governance and implementation, administrative, financial and research coordination within the consortium.
The ambition of Forest 4.0 is to push the boundaries of current knowledge, to convert the empirical research into sustainable new research product commercialisation and have wider impact in 5 major areas:1) Increase scientific capabilities of the beneficiary institution and the host country enabling them to successfully apply for competitive funding in the EU and globally / higher participation success in Horizon Europe and more consortium leadership roles; 2) Develop and enhanced research and innovation capacities and the uptake of advanced technologies; 3) Enhance innovation and integration of planned processes, services and products of the centre; 4) Increase science and innovation capacities for all actors in the R&I system in widening countries; 5)Strengthened role of the Higher Education sector in research and innovation.