The University of Tasmania has been granted a “once-in-a-generation” opportunity to host a national institute focused on supporting research for Australia’s forest industries.
The Australian Government will invest more than $100 million to establish the Australia-wide National Institute for Forest Products Innovation, which will operate as Australian Forest and Wood Innovations (AFWI).
The University will host AFWI and deliver one of three research centres that will support the program.
University of Tasmania Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) Professor Anthony Koutoulis said this was an exciting time for the University, as the host of what is a once-in-a-generation opportunity in forest and wood products research and innovation that will also generate a workforce based on future needs.
“The University has a long and globally respected history of forest and wood products research, with more than 25 years leading national centres in forestry research needs,” Professor Koutoulis said.
“As a result, we have broad capability in forestry and wood products research, and an extensive academic and industrial collaboration network to deliver valuable outcomes.
Julianne O'Reilly-Wapstra, Professor in Forest Sciences and Head of Biological Sciences at the University of Tasmania, worked closely with the Australian Forest Products Association, the Commonwealth, and teams within the University to secure the future of this research.
“The institute will provide the knowledge to support a national sector that is a critical contributor to meeting the challenges of climate change, protecting biodiversity and multiple forest values, and growing a large and vital value-adding industry for Australia.”
“Nationally, it is important to build research capacity and capability in forest and wood products. This will deliver innovative outcomes for the sector, grow a major sustainable industry, and support the transition to a low-emissions global economy”
AFWI will be based at the University’s Newnham campus in Launceston, and will be supported by three research centres, one in Launceston and the other two locations to be determined by an expression of interest process that will be run shortly.
AFWI will also undertake an annual call for research projects which will be open to researchers from across the country.
See the press release from the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Murray Watt, or visit the AFWI website.