Scaling up the exchange between forest science and business

The sub-plenary session “Scaling up the exchange between forest science and business” at the IUFRO 2024 Congress in Stockholm on June 24th aimed to enhance collaboration between scientific research and business practices to address key sustainability challenges. Organized by TEAMING UP 4 FORESTS, the session featured a distinguished panel of scientists and experts who explored science-based solutions to critical issues in forestry.
Moderated by Maja Radosavljevic and Carola Egger, the session brought together a diverse array of expertise and guided discussions toward actionable insights and collaborative opportunities. The panelists included Viveka Beckeman, Director General of the Swedish Forest Industries; Bernard de Galembert, Director of the Forest Solutions Group at the World Business Council for Sustainable Development; Rob Kozak, Professor and Dean at UBC Faculty of Forestry; Dirk Längin, Group Head of Fibre Sourcing at Mondi; and Tetra Yanuariadi, ITTO Projects Manager of Trade and Industry.
The session underscored the importance of building bridges between science, business, and stakeholders to foster sustainable forestry practices and address the pressing challenges of our time. The engaging discussions and diverse perspectives provided a comprehensive overview of how science can inform and drive sustainable business practices in the forestry sector, emphasizing the potential of integrating scientific insights into business strategies for the benefit of forests and society. With Mentimeter engaging the audience in the session, most respondents reported participation in science-business collaborations, highlighting primary challenges such as common understanding and trust, differing values, and translating knowledge into practice.