Scottish Forest IndustriesScottish Forest IndustriesCedric Wilkins, Scottish EnterpriseCedric Wilkins, Scottish Enterprise

Presentation to Irish National Forest Strategy ConferencePresentation to Irish National Forest Strategy Conference

1212thth March 2004 March 2004

www.forestryscotland.comwww.forestryscotland.com

Why is Scottish Enterprise Why is Scottish Enterprise supporting the Forest supporting the Forest Industries cluster?Industries cluster?

• Important cluster (worth £1.3 bn to the Important cluster (worth £1.3 bn to the economy)economy)

• Big opportunity for Scotland (resource is Big opportunity for Scotland (resource is doubling to 10mm3 by 2020)doubling to 10mm3 by 2020)

• Enthusiasm and engagement of industryEnthusiasm and engagement of industry• Government support (FCS secondment)Government support (FCS secondment)• SE network can make a differenceSE network can make a difference

Why aWhy a ClusterCluster??

• An inclusive approach to development – throughout the An inclusive approach to development – throughout the wood chain into government, research and infra-structurewood chain into government, research and infra-structure

• Both strategic and action orientedBoth strategic and action oriented• A cluster is a group of inter-related industries whose A cluster is a group of inter-related industries whose

linkages mutually reinforce their competitive advantagelinkages mutually reinforce their competitive advantage• Not just competitive firms or industries - but competitive Not just competitive firms or industries - but competitive

clustersclusters• Co-operating to compete or “co-opetition”Co-operating to compete or “co-opetition”• Cluster Map as a key toolCluster Map as a key tool

Roots for Growth: Roots for Growth: Strategy for ActionStrategy for Action• RfG now completed second yearRfG now completed second year• Partnership with Forest Industries Development Partnership with Forest Industries Development

CouncilCouncil• Leadership Group drawn from all parts of the cluster Leadership Group drawn from all parts of the cluster

provides strategic direction and priorities for actionprovides strategic direction and priorities for action• Meets quarterly and is supported by Network teamMeets quarterly and is supported by Network team

Key objectives – Key objectives – Competitiveness and Competitiveness and InnovationInnovation

• Developing knowledgeDeveloping knowledge• New products and marketsNew products and markets• Strengthening the networkStrengthening the network• Developing the links with the wider communityDeveloping the links with the wider community

Developing Developing KnowledgeKnowledge

• Collaborating in research and best practice: e.g. knowledge Collaborating in research and best practice: e.g. knowledge about spruce for new market applications New research about spruce for new market applications New research resources, Proof of Conceptresources, Proof of Concept

• Centre for Timber Engineering: Research programme, KTP Centre for Timber Engineering: Research programme, KTP schemes, new degree offerschemes, new degree offer

• A better understanding of wood amongst users: FEI, CPD and A better understanding of wood amongst users: FEI, CPD and visit programmes visit programmes

• Training programme development: Barony College, Contractor Training programme development: Barony College, Contractor training, career development, management training supporttraining, career development, management training support

New Products and New Products and Markets – developing Markets – developing home based advantagehome based advantage

• Looking at major processing opportunities: e.g. Energy, Pulp and Looking at major processing opportunities: e.g. Energy, Pulp and Paper, EWPs, Sawmilling Forest Industries Investment Group FIIGPaper, EWPs, Sawmilling Forest Industries Investment Group FIIG

• Bio-energy from wood: 12 new initiatives underway includingmajor £65M Powergen scheme at Lockerbie

• Construction: Timber Frame industry links, new engineered Construction: Timber Frame industry links, new engineered products, new markets e.g. timber cladding, panel systemsproducts, new markets e.g. timber cladding, panel systems

• Wood as a sustainable material: demonstration projects, a key Wood as a sustainable material: demonstration projects, a key message for all message for all

Strengthening the Strengthening the NetworkNetwork

• E-business: e-Forum: hub programme recognised as E-business: e-Forum: hub programme recognised as best practise in SE - Standards developed, new level of best practise in SE - Standards developed, new level of awareness but low rate of applicationawareness but low rate of application

• Change management programme: benchmarking Change management programme: benchmarking showing increased uptakeshowing increased uptake

• Strategic sites for major processing facilities: SPPG sites Strategic sites for major processing facilities: SPPG sites allocated; Lockerbie clusterallocated; Lockerbie cluster

• Transport and logistics: Timber Transport forum Transport and logistics: Timber Transport forum established - demonstration projects, preferred routes, established - demonstration projects, preferred routes, and codes of practice developedand codes of practice developed

Developing links with Developing links with the wider communitythe wider community

• With other clusters (biotech seminar on European bio-With other clusters (biotech seminar on European bio-forestry, energy/bio fuel research, tourism projects, “wild forestry, energy/bio fuel research, tourism projects, “wild harvest”: food, NTFP)harvest”: food, NTFP)

• Rural development: hardwoods; Forest Fest and IFF, Rural development: hardwoods; Forest Fest and IFF, community initiatives; link with Scottish Forestry Strategy; community initiatives; link with Scottish Forestry Strategy; Regional Cluster Groups; other “countries” in the UKRegional Cluster Groups; other “countries” in the UK

• Overseas links: e.g. New Zealand, Scandinavia, Canada, Overseas links: e.g. New Zealand, Scandinavia, Canada, Euro programmesEuro programmes

Some Learning from New Some Learning from New ZealandZealand

• Leadership Group “Learning Journey”Leadership Group “Learning Journey”• Need to know more about our main species and Need to know more about our main species and

its fit for purpose applicationsits fit for purpose applications• Need to broaden and localise the work of the Need to broaden and localise the work of the

cluster: new opportunity to encourage and cluster: new opportunity to encourage and collaborate with emerging cluster organisations collaborate with emerging cluster organisations in England and Walesin England and Wales

• Need to provide more coherent training supportNeed to provide more coherent training support• Importance of co-locationImportance of co-location

Key IssuesKey Issues

• Fibre supply chain must become more efficient to successfullyFibre supply chain must become more efficient to successfullyhost major new investmenthost major new investment

• Private growers must engage better with their markets; resourcePrivate growers must engage better with their markets; resourceinvestors must become more active.investors must become more active.

• Government policies, especially in bio-energy, must becomeGovernment policies, especially in bio-energy, must becomemore supportive to the commercial forest industrymore supportive to the commercial forest industry

• Research community and industry need to work much moreResearch community and industry need to work much moreclosely and strategically – much done, more to doclosely and strategically – much done, more to do

• Industry needs to present itself better to government and theIndustry needs to present itself better to government and thepublicpublic

Priorities for the Priorities for the futurefuture

• Promote the opportunities for inward and indigenous investment in Promote the opportunities for inward and indigenous investment in energy, paper, and added value timber products through the FIIGenergy, paper, and added value timber products through the FIIG

• Further strengthen links between research and industry particularly Further strengthen links between research and industry particularly through CTE and with other clusters – e.g. Biotechnology energy through CTE and with other clusters – e.g. Biotechnology energy and tourismand tourism

• Promote the role of timber in sustainable construction e.g. in joinery Promote the role of timber in sustainable construction e.g. in joinery and laminated structural timberand laminated structural timber

• Enhance career pathways and improve access to training Enhance career pathways and improve access to training • Consolidate work of transport and e-business forum and establish Consolidate work of transport and e-business forum and establish

regional cluster groupsregional cluster groups• Foster a stronger and more coherent voice for the forest industriesFoster a stronger and more coherent voice for the forest industries

Scottish Forest IndustriesScottish Forest IndustriesCedric Wilkins, Scottish EnterpriseCedric Wilkins, Scottish Enterprise

www.forestryscotland.comwww.forestryscotland.com