On 3–4 November, the Forest 4.0 consortium gathered in Kaunas for two inspiring and productive days dedicated to co-creation, knowledge exchange, and exploring new partnership opportunities across the forestry and furniture sectors.
Co-creating the Future Centre of Excellence
The first day of the meeting focused on a series of co-creation workshops aimed at shaping the vision and role of the upcoming Centre of Excellence (CoE). Partners explored how the CoE can become a vibrant meeting ground where researchers and companies collaborate, exchange expertise, and turn scientific knowledge into real-world innovation.
Discussions centred on how to ensure the Centre becomes a trusted hub that supports the entire forestry value chain—from research and development to technology transfer and industry application.
Visiting Furniture Factories Around Kaunas
The second day was dedicated to field visits, offering participants a closer look at the operations and business models of furniture manufacturers in the Kaunas region. These on-the-ground visits provided rich insights into production processes, innovation practices, and potential areas for collaboration.
A big thank you to our hosts: Baldai Jums – A company that oversees the full journey from log in the forest to the final product on the showroom floor, and Virūna – A factory known for its strong expertise in tailor-made, bespoke furniture solutions.
Exploring New Collaboration Opportunities
The knowledge gained during the visits set the stage for a productive business lunch, where partners were joined by representatives from the business community and policy-making institutions. These discussions highlighted several promising paths for future cooperation and strengthened the ties between research, industry, and public stakeholders.
The Forest 4.0 team continues to work on developing the Centre of Excellence into a reliable, forward-thinking partner for stakeholders across the forestry value chain. The ambition is clear: to build a top-of-mind innovation support hub for Lithuania and, in time, the wider region.
