Roots for Growth objectives:

• Encourage a collaborative approach to training, research and knowledge sharing
• Create a better understanding of wood amongst professionals and wood users
  

A collaborative approach
Drawing together researchers, industrialists and government representatives at both the national and Scottish levels has led to the identification of research priorities, and the undertaking of projects designed to plug some of the gaps in our knowledge.

One aim has been to encourage a shift in Cluster research focus from ‘how to grow’ to ‘how to use’ wood. It has been recognised that sharing and disseminating knowledge needs much more effort and we are therefore active in:

• establishing network contacts overseas and highlighting examples of ‘best practice’ from which to learn - including participation in the European WoodWisdom programme;
• advocating the need for a managed programme of research in the use of timber in construction;
• participating in the UK Forest Research Coordinating Committee (now closed, February 2008) – a forum for the major research funding bodies for forest industries;
• supporting Forest Research’s work on indicators of timber quality;
• facilitating contact with forest owners across Scotland to assess the likely future availability of the private sector timber resource.

Creating a better understanding of wood amongst users
As a result of support from Scottish Enterprise through the Cluster and significant commitment by the industry, the new Centre for Timber Engineering (CTE) has been established at Napier University to enhance the professional knowledge base in timber engineering, promote the transfer of technical knowledge, provide research services to industry and conduct strategic research.

CTE is a national resource focusing on providing relevant under- and post-graduate education in timber engineering but also supporting the engineering and architectural professions through CPD, research and information.  It is the aim of the Centre to encourage the greater use of timber as a construction material.

The objectives of the CTE are complemented by Barony College's Scottish Forest Industries Technology Centre, established in 2001 to offer training in forestry, arboriculture and wood-processing and machine-operator training.

The Cluster has provided support for a range of continuing professional development (CPD) seminars for architects and industry professionals, as well as support for a coordinator in Scotland for the Forest Education Initiative which is working to create new and improved educational material about the industry for schools.

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For information about current research in relation to the Forest Technology Platform, and the UK National Support Group - the Wood Using Industries Research & Development Group (WUIRD) - which co-ordinates the UK's National Strategic Research Agenda, please refer to the research page on the ConFor website.