AFWI announce A$5 million in research funding

Friday 11 Oct 2024

 
Australian Forest and Wood Innovations (AFWI), hosted by the University of Tasmania, announced eight research projects that will be funded through its inaugural A$5 million National Open Call for Research.  

This marks the first research funded through the Albanese Government’s A$100 million commitment for AFWI. AFWI’s $5 million funding will catalyse over A$8.3 million in industry and research contributions, bringing the total investment in research for the forestry and wood products industries to A$13.3 million.

The projects were recommended by AFWI’s Research Advisory Committee, a panel of industry and research experts, ensuring the projects align with industry needs, deliver transformative outcomes to the sector and support growth in research capacity.

The Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Julie Collins, said that the selected projects span a diverse range of research areas aimed at addressing key opportunities and challenges faced by the forestry and forest products industries. “The first round of projects will play an important role by delivering research that seeks to provide climate change solutions, make the most of our available wood fibre, and support the sustainable management of Australia’s forests,” Minister Collins said. “I congratulate the eight successful projects from the inaugural National Open Call.” 

AFWI’s Chair of the Research Advisory Committee, Professor Rod Keenan, highlighted the importance of collaboration between industry and researchers. “These projects are the first step in developing new partnerships between industry and research organisations under the AFWI arrangements,” Professor Keenan said. “The Research Advisory Committee was impressed with the level of interest in this call and overall quality and breadth of applications.

“In addition to addressing industry needs, the eight funded projects will support 36 early-career and higher-degree researchers, helping to cultivate the next generation of forestry research professionals, enhancing the long-term sustainability of the sector.” 

The eight projects selected for funding include:
  • Evaluation of suitable timber species for Australian sports flooring systems 
  • Modernising Australian timber windows: addressing regulatory challenges, resource and material shifts 
  • Odour misinformation: a new way to reduce vertebrate pest damage to plantation seedlings 
  • Long-term creep behaviour of Australian structural glulam 
  • Developing more productive plantation trees better adapted to changing environments 
  • Enhancing fire resilience in Australian plantations 
  • Future lightweight timber framing: productivity 
  • Delivering fauna trends in forestry landscapes using sensors and AI 
The successful projects will be invited to enter into contract negotiations with AFWI and are expected to begin research in the coming months. A complete list of project partners and details can be found here.

Source & image credit: AFWI


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