Emphasize the importance of the forestry and timber sector

Valbowal, in collaboration with Filière Bois Wallonie, Ateliers de l'Avenir and Wood.be, took part in a workshop on DIS 1 (Strategic Innovation Area dedicated to circular materials). The aim: to reaffirm the essential place of the forest-wood sector at the heart of Wallonia's smart specialization strategy.

The discussion highlighted the strengths and specific features of the forestry-wood industry, as well as the need to fully integrate it into the dynamics of innovation and the transition to a regional, low-carbon circular economy. Indeed, the forestry-wood sector represents a strategic lever for meeting today's environmental and economic challenges, by sustainably developing a renewable local resource, generating added value and maintaining jobs in Wallonia.

During the meeting, discussions on the alignment of Walloon tools with the S3 - whether in terms of reforms to the innovation landscape, the research decree or investment aid schemes - highlighted the first avenues for a new regional innovation strategy. Participants insisted on the importance of clearly positioning the forestry-wood sector within these guidelines, notably through improved access to regional and European schemes, support adapted to the size and profile of companies (VSE/SME, ASBL status), and increased mobilization of financial resources - notably European - dedicated to innovation and the development of the wood value chain in Wallonia.

In the face of climate change, the adaptation of silvicultural practices, the promotion of mixed and resilient forests, and the support of landowners towards sustainable management are also inseparable priorities of this strategy.

At the same time, the forestry-wood industry must respond to major economic, technological and geopolitical challenges by increasing the added value of local resources, mastering technological/non-technological innovations and actively participating in circular value chains. The resource is evolving, and wood is making significant inroads in the fields of materials engineering, biotechnology and construction in all European countries. In order to rebuild the competitiveness of the Walloon timber industry, it is essential to capitalize on this momentum with a strong, structured, long-term innovation policy.

The main challenges facing the Walloon forestry-wood industry - which employs 19,000 people in nearly 9,000 companies (mainly VSEs and SMEs) and generates sales of over 2.5 billion euros - concern :

- the need to be able to continue supplying our businesses with "local" wood in the future, and to stimulate the development of the wood-processing industry;

- maximizing the added value of local wood, and cascading its use for long-term CO2 storage (such as the use of timber for construction and furniture, the manufacture of panels or insulation from residues, and the use of wood waste to produce energy or compounds for green chemistry...);

- integrating the industry (harvesting, sawing, processing, etc.) into a circular, low-carbon economy: wood is a circular, low-carbon material, and the wood industry has historically been a champion of reusing and recycling co-products. Innovation in this area needs to be pursued, particularly with a view to increasing the carbon sequestration time in wood products, and partly replacing petro-sourced materials and/or those with a larger environmental footprint;

- the development of new, innovative wood-based products and uses, including recycled or reused wood, particularly in the fields of industrial processing, green chemistry, and construction/renovation (public, residential, industrial, military buildings, etc.), where wood and wood-based insulation/biobased materials provide better thermal comfort in summer, thus limiting the need for energy for air conditioning... ;

- modernization and digitalization of SMEs in the sector (traceability software, robotics, etc.), in particular to prepare for new European directives (e.g. EUDR, ESPR, CPR);

- as well as strengthening cross-border and European collaboration to enhance the sector's competitiveness and sustainability.

These ambitions can only be achieved through targeted innovation policies, consistent with the realities of the companies in the sector (mainly made up of VSEs and SMEs) and articulated around a shared vision of the circular transition.

With this in mind, Valbowal will be continuing its work, notably at the next steering committee meeting, while Filière Bois Wallonie will be convening its "Innovation" thematic working group at the end of the year. The aim is to consolidate a series of concrete recommendations and proposals for action designed to strengthen the wood sector's strategic position in the future direction of innovation in Wallonia. This sector provides a large number of local jobs that cannot be relocated.