Spotlight on innovation: The 2025 Innovative Wood Product CompetitionFriday 25 Jul 2025
Held as part of the annual University of Canterbury School of Forestry showcase, the 2025 Innovative Wood Product Competition brought together some of the most promising minds in forestry, engineering, and design. Students from across Aotearoa showcased innovative ideas to improve sustainability, efficiency, and technology in the wood sector. Bridging Education and Industry The student competition is more than just a showcase. It represents how academic learning can translate into industry-ready ideas, solving genuine challenges faced in forestry and timber production today. Many of the students involved were part of the Bachelor of Forestry Science programme at the University of Canterbury, an applied degree combining science, technology, and practical skills. The 2025 Innovative Wood Product Competition gave them a chance to test their ideas in front of professionals from across the forestry and wood processing sectors. “This is where we start to see the future of the industry,” said Thomas Lim, WIDE Trust Senior Lecturer at the School of Forestry. “Students bring fresh thinking, and competitions like this give them a voice, and a runway.” Celebrating the Winners This year’s competition was judged by a highly respected panel made up of leaders from across the forestry, engineering, and timber sectors. WIDE Trust is proud to recognise the following winning groups and their awards: Best Performance Award – $1,000 Team Truss Samuel Carter, Kelvin Milne, Joshua Nolan, Will Potter Second Best Performance Award – $500 Team I-Lam Liam Cassidy, Sophie Cusack, James Dyne, Henry Roil Innovation & Environmental Sustainability Award – $500 Team Nailed It Rebecca Craven, Demi Mant, Phoebe Naske, Molly Sinclair Competitions like the 2025 Innovative Wood Product Competition are made possible through support, both financial and academic. That’s where WIDE Trust comes in. WIDE Trust exists to support Wood, Industry, Design and Education in New Zealand. For students, this means access to grants, scholarships and project funding that can help cover fees, support research, or unlock practical learning opportunities. The 2025 Innovative Wood Product Competition is just one example of how education, industry, and trust-backed support can come together to fuel progress. With the right backing, today’s students become tomorrow’s innovators, researchers, and industry leaders. More >> Source & image credit: WIDE Trust | ||
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