Bioeconomy of the forestry and wood processing complex (BIOFORWOOD)

The essence of the bioeconomy lies in the efficient production and use of biological resources, innovative biological processes and principles with the aim of sustainably providing goods and services in all economic sectors. The challenge for the forestry and wood processing sector lies in creating horizontal and vertical integration within the entire forestry and wood industry, creating value chains of products and services and linking them to sustainability. The research focus of the team is primarily focused on the area of ​​sustainable production and use of wood raw materials as a natural, renewable and sustainable source of material and energy. Attention is paid to supporting policies, mechanisms and tools for sustainable forest management and support for the production of forest products, monitoring and quantification of material flows. The economic aspects related to the efficient use of wood raw materials in accordance with the principles of cascading, the conditions for creating and building sustainable value chains and the sector's contributions to climate change mitigation through carbon storage in wood products are evaluated. The team's spectrum of expertise also includes consumer values, attitudes and preferences and the influence of stakeholders on creating demand for products of the forestry and wood complex. Supporting the creation of attractive jobs in bioeconomy sectors, including in rural areas, is important. All of this is evaluated in connection with supporting innovation activities with the aim of increasing the competitiveness of the forestry and wood complex. The results of scientific and research activities are regularly published in renowned scientific journals and presented at international scientific conferences at home and abroad. Team members cooperate with practice and provide consulting and research activities for various forestry enterprises and enterprises in the wood processing sector.

The team members have more than 160 publications in the Web of Science Core Collection database with over 1,400 citations and an H-index of 20 (2025). The team members have long-term research experience in the areas of research focus and train doctoral students. The results of scientific research activities are regularly published in renowned scientific journals (WoS, Scopus) and presented at international scientific conferences at home and abroad. Some team members are highly cited scientists in the fields of social, forestry and material sciences, many of which were created through international collaboration. They have participated in the implementation of projects under the EU Framework Programmes, Horizon 2020, EU/FAO (STREAM) and COST (INTEGRAL, ALTERFOR, SILVANUS, Cost Action E51, ORCHESTRA, FACESMAP, PESFOR-W, ICGOORD, ENEC, ACTINPACK, SHIINE, CIRCULARB) and regularly lead projects funded by domestic grant agencies. In terms of evaluating internationally accepted research results, team members are involved in international scientific networks (IUFRO, WoodEMA).