Forest Biomass for Renewable Energy: Building Regional Cooperation and Clusters for New Opportunities
Hotel International, Zagreb, Croatia 26-28 October 2011
The RoK-FOR Conference No. 2 displayed forest sector potential in renewable energy and clustering
The conference presented the highlights of the Joint Action Plan for interregional cooperation developed within the project. Keynote speakers included i.a. Mr Lucas Janssen from European Commission, Ms. Sandra Hižak from Wood Cluster of Northwestern Croatia, Mr. Stéphane Latour from Xylofutur Pole of Competitiveness and Mr. Dušan Jović from the Serbian Ministry of Agriculture, Trade, Forestry and Water management. In addition to the RoK-FOR regions, keynotes included e.g. presentations of UNECE/FAO clustering initiative and Western Macedonia bioenergy case (Greece) in BIOCLUS project.
Wednesday 26 October 2011
Mentoring Seminar on Regional cluster development: practical examples of cluster formation and functioning with regional approach. Targeted for Croatian and Serbian stakeholders and RoK-FOR Partners.
Dr. Gerhard Weiss, EFICEEC, Austria
Presentation of existing clusters in Croatia
Ms. Sandra Hizak, Wood Cluster of Northwestern Croatia, Varazdin and Mr. Marijan Kavran, Wood Cluster Ltd, Delnice
Challenges to develop wood-based cluster in Serbia
Ms. Mirjana Stevanov, Institute of Lowland Forestry and Environment, Novi Sad, Serbia
Forest cluster in North Karelia and Finland
Mr. Harri Välimäki, Development Manager, Joensuu Science Park Ltd, Finland
Energy cluster: towards biomass future
Dr. Yannis Fallas, University of Western Macedonia, Greece / BIOCLUS project
Science, Industry & Policy - How to make them work together? The example of Xylofutur
Mr. Stéphane Latour, Director, Xylofutur Pole of Competitiveness, France
Cluster development in Catalonia: strategy and instruments
Mr. Joan Martí Estévez, Manager of Cluster Development, ACC1Ó, Government of Catalonia, Spain
Options and strategies for cluster creation in South-Eastern Europe
Dr. Douglas Clark, Forest Products Marketing Specialist, UNECE/FAO Forestry and Timber Section
Thursday 27 October 2011
Welcoming and introductions by local hosts, project coordinator and the European Commission. Sessions on Clusters & Bioenergy: regional aspects and RoK-FOR Joint Action Plan for pan-European cooperation within forest-based Lead Markets.
Dr. Timo J. Hokkanen, RoK-FOR Project Coordinator, North Karelia Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment
Bioenergy in European context and regional aspects: the role of regions?
Mr. Lucas Janssen, Policy Officer, DG Research and Innovation, Regional Dimension of Innovation, European Commission
Regional aspects of RoK-FOR project
Dr. Dijana Vuletic, Director, Croatian Forest Research Institute
Renewable energy projects in Croatia - Status quo and perspective
Dr. Branka Jelavic, Energy Institute "Hrvoje Pozar", Croatia
How to promote bioenergy? Best practices and lessons learned
Dr. Julije Domac, Director, North-West Croatia Regional Energy Agency
Mr. Dusan Jovic, Directorate of Forestry, Serbian Ministry of Agriculture, Trade, Forestry and Water Management
Dr. Stjepan Posavec, Forestry Faculty, University of Zagreb, Croatia and Mr. Danko Aleksic, FOPER II Project, Belgrade, Serbia
Cluster-based Development in Regional Development Strategies - Case North Karelia
Dr. Eira Varis, Regional Development Manager, Regional Council of North Karelia, Finland
Mr. Timo Tahvanainen, Development Manager, Joensuu Science Park Ltd, Finland
Introduction to the Joint Action Plan developed by the RoK-FOR project
Ms. Päivi Pelli, WP4 Leader, European Forest Institute
Innovative Business Models (forest owners)
Mr. Ander González Arias, Neiker, Government of Basque Country, Spain
Bioenergy cluster concept and feasibility: Case Western Macedonia in the BIOCLUS project
Dr. Yannis Fallas, University of Western Macedonia, Greece / BIOCLUS project
Financing international bioenergy clusters - Case Biomass Trade Centre II
Dr. Nike Krajnc, Slovenian Forestry Institute
At the end of the afternoon, there was an inspiring panel discussion. The panel of invited experts gave feedback on the conference day presentations, gave guidance for Joint Action Plan implementation and provided insights on how international cooperation can also support regional research agendas in the RoK-FOR regions. There was also open floor for questions and feedback from the audience. The panel was chaired by Dr. Dijana Vuletic from the Croatian Forest Research Institute, and the invited experts were:
- Professor Heinrich Spiecker, Institute for Forest Growth, University of Freiburg, Germany
- Dr. Julije Domac, Director of North-West Croatia Regional Energy Agency, Croatia
- Mr. Stéphane Latour, Director, Xylofutur Pole of Competitiveness, France
- Mr. Joan Martí Estévez, Manager of Cluster Development, ACC1Ó, Government of Catalonia, Spain
The official conference dinner took place in a restaurant in downtown Zagreb.
Friday 28 October 2011
Partnering Event on developing concrete RoK-FOR Joint Action Plan measures targeted for RoK-FOR Partners and regional stakeholders.
JOINT ACTION PLAN DEVELOPED BY THE ROK-FOR PROJECT
RoK-FOR project supports European cooperation in forestry. The RoK-FOR regions are cross-border clusters Croatia–Serbia and Aquitaine–Basque (France-Spain), Catalonia (Spain), Baden-Württemberg (Germany) and North Karelia (Finland).The interests of these six regions have now been compiled into a Joint Action Plan 2011-2013. You can find a summary of the Joint Action Plan (in PDF) here.
CONTACT INFORMATION
For inquiries on the RoK-FOR Conference in Zagreb please contact:
Elvis Paladinić: tel. +385 (0)1 6311585 - Mobile: +385 (0)98 339749 - Email: elvisp(at)sumins.hr
Hrvoje Marjanovic: tel. +385 1 6311583 - Mobile: +385 98 339 534 - Email: hrvojem(at)sumins.hr
Croatian Forest Research Institute, Cvjetno naselje 41, 10450 Jastrebarsko, Croatia www.sumins.hr
