Beginning of RoK-FOR project on February 1st 2010 - European Institute of Planted Forest

RoK-FOR is a Coordination and Support Action of FP7-REGIONS-2009-1 in the area « Transnational cooperation between regional research- driven clusters ». RoK-FOR is the acronym of the project titled « Sustainable forest management providing renewable energy, sustainable construction and bio-based products ».

This project begins the 1st of February 2010 for 3 years. The Finnish partner is the coordinator and the budget is 1.776.371 for the 21 partners gathered in five regional research-driven clusters from six European countries: Germany (Baden-Württemberg); Finland (North Karelia); Spain (Catalonia), and the cross-border clusters from Croatia-Serbia and France-Spain (Aquitaine-Basque). RoK-FOR aims to create a region of knowledge in the forestry sector in Europe, and will significantly contribute to forest sector supporting sustainable use of natural resources, renewable energy, sustainable construction materials and biobased products, without jeopardizing the environment. These regional research-driven clusters collectively form a European level meta-cluster that will be working together to increase the coherence and address the needs of the three Lead Market Initiatives (renewable energy, sustainable construction, and bio-based products) under the umbrella of the sustainable forest management in an innovative and competitive manner.

The RoK-FOR work programme is divided into seven interconnected and state of the art work packages to analyse the regional R&D needs, capacities and policies of the participating clusters, (part coordinated by EFI Atlantic) and to integrate them in regional research agendas. A Joint Action Plan will be developed in the course of the project. RoK-FOR will also take measures towards implementing the Joint Action Plan, including business plans and R&D design. RoK-FOR will address the European need of capacity building of the clusters in contributing to regional strategies in the central theme of the project, will support integration of SMEs in RTD, and has a specific Work Package for mentoring the cross-border less-favoured regions of Croatia-Serbia.