RoK-FOR Conference

 

Innovative and Sustainable Wooden Architecture and Construction

Basque Country, Spain 22-23 February 2012

 

The RoK-FOR Conference No. 3 displays cross-border cooperation in support for research-driven clusters,

and potentials and challenges in the wood construction sector

 

The conference presented cross-border cooperation in support for the forest-based sector by highlighting the potentials of the host region, the Aquitaine and Basque Country cross-border region. And the international conference “Innovative and Sustainable Wooden Architecture and Construction” focused on wood as a building material displaying resource efficiency and innovation. The themes were illustrated by experts and practitioners from the RoK-FOR regions – i.e. Baden-Württemberg in Germany, Catalonia in Spain, North Karelia in Finland, Basque Country in Spain and Aquitaine in France, as well as Croatia and Serbia – and from international projects working in this field.

 

DAY 1 Cooperation support for Innovation in the Forest Sector

in the Aquitaine-Basque Euro Region

Wednesday 22 February – Hondarribia


Welcome by the Aquitaine and Basque Country hosts

Mr. Jon Azkue, Basque Government, Vice-minister of Environment, Territorial Planning, Agriculture and Fisheries, Basque Country, Spain

Mr. François Maïtia, Regional Council of Aquitaine, Vice-President, Europe and Cross-Border Cooperation, Aquitaine, France

 

Opening Keynote: European Action Plan for Forests in the Green Economy

Mr. Matthew Fonseca, UNECE/FAO Timber Section

 

EU territorial cooperation after 2013: What can we expect for RoK-FOR and for the forestry and wood sectors?

Mr. José Varela, Head of Service, Interreg Authority, Department of Economy, Basque Government, Spain

 

RoK-FOR Objectives and examples of cross-border cooperation on promoting research-driven clusters and international cooperation in forestry and wood sectors

Dr. Timo J. Hokkanen, RoK-FOR Project Coordinator, North Karelia Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment, Finland

 

Aquitaine – Basque Country cross-border region and priority issues, Financing of priority areas in the Aquitaine – Basque Country cross-border region: instruments available for RoK-FOR and SMEs

Mr. Marc Moulin and Mr. Miguel Ángel Crespo, Euroregion

 

Panel discussion on trans-boundary cooperation, highlighting viewpoints of forest owners, industries and R&D units

Mr. Josu Azpitarte Andrinua, Confederation of Forest Owners from the Basque Country

Mr. Tanguy MASSART President of Xylofutur and Director of FINSA SA

Mr. José Miguel Abascal, Tecnalia

Mr. David Cosme, CAFSA

 

Introduction to the RoK-FOR Joint Action Plan and planned activities

Dr. Ander González Arias, Basque Institute for Agricultural Research and Development Neiker-Tecnalia, Spain

 

Parallel group sessions to further elaborate Joint Action activities in Aquitaine – Basque Country:

  1. New business models (private forest owners) led by Mr. Inazio Martínez de Arano, Union of Foresters of Southern Europe (USSE)
  2. Climate change and sustainability of Forest Sector (ToSIA and tools) led by Dr. Diana Vötter, European Forest Institute, Mr. Sebastién Cavaignac, FCBA and Mr. Alejandro Cantero, IKT/HAZI
  3. Guidelines for climate change adaptive management and related forest risks led by Mr. Christophe Orazio, EFIATLANTIC
  4. Promoting the use of wood in the Euroregion led by Mr. Eduardo Jiménez, Habic

 

Wrap-up and conclusions. Insights for future collaboration for companies: presentation of a successful case of trans-boundary collaboration

Mr. Luis Capirochipi, Commercial Director in France, Egoin, Spain

Mr. Jac Tortos, Nobatek, France

Mr. Eduardo Jiménez, Basque Habitat & Contract Cluster Habic, Spain (Download the presentation in Spanish here)

Mr. Charrier, Professor and Manager of the BEMA project, France

 

DAY 2 International RoK-FOR conference

“Innovative and Sustainable Wood Architecture and Construction”

Thursday 23 February – Bilbao

 

Welcome addresses by the Basque Country Government

Mrs. Amaia Barrena Tellería, Head of Innovation, Department of Environment, Territorial Planning, Agriculture and Fisheries, Basque Country, Spain

 

Welcome by the RoK-FOR project – introduction to planned RoK-FOR activities 2012-2013

Dr. Timo J. Hokkanen, RoK-FOR Project Coordinator, North Karelia Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment, Finland

 

Assessment and promotion of carbon efficient wood construction

Mr. Matti Kuittinen, Coordinator, ECO2 WoodWisdom-Net project, Aalto University, Finland

 

Key wood properties for construction: consequences for managers and sawmills

Prof. Juan I. Fernández-Golfín Seco, Wood-Lab, CIFOR INIA, Ministry of Science and Innovation, Madrid, Spain

 

Invited commentary: Wood in architecture – requirements, limitations, opportunities

Mr. Iñaki Santiago, Basque Wood Sector Association Mesa, Spain

 

Case studies and pilot projects in wood construction

 

Public procurement and promotion of wood use

Ms. Bettina Schaefer, Ecoinstitut de Barcelona, Spain

 

Financing innovation, research and development for SME – example of wood promotion cooperation

Mr. Ricardo González Iglesias, Director, Galician Wood Cluster CMA, Spain

 

Why promoting the use of wood in construction and the role of joint research agendas

Mr. Filip de Jaeger, Secretary General, European Confederation of Woodworking Industries CEI-Bois

 

Regional timber and forest cluster

Mr. Martin Borowski, ForstBW, Germany

 

Information about the process of building a European forest research agenda and action plan

Ms. Niina Valbuena, European Forest Institute

 

Horizon 2020: Future of the framework programme - prospects for the forest-based industries

Mr. Lucas Janssen, Project Officer, European Commission (DG Research & Innovation)

 

Panel discussion on the day’s topics moderated by Prof. Trevor Harris, Harris-Kjisik Architects

Panelists: Mr. Juha Mäki-Jyllilä, Ms. Bettina Schaefer, Mr. Filip de Jaeger, Mr. Martin Borowski