The Forest 4.0 Centre of Excellence and Vytautas Magnus University (VMU) joined the SILVA Network Annual Conference in Zollikofen, Switzerland, hosted by HAFL – Bern University of Applied Sciences on 18–20 May 2026. This year’s theme — “Co-operation in higher forest education – from open educational materials to joint curricula and degrees” — brought together more than 50 European universities to address the rapid transformation of forestry higher education.
Representing Forest 4.0 CoE and VMU, Nerijus Kupstaitis and Prof. Vitas Marozas introduced the Centre of Excellence and shared concrete examples of how it is shaping the next generation of forestry professionals. Their contribution highlighted innovative digital technologies applied in forest science and education, together with ongoing collaboration models that bridge research, teaching and the forest sector.
A dedicated part of the presentation introduced the new Digital Forestry Master’s programme currently being developed at Vytautas Magnus University — a programme designed to equip future forest professionals with the digital, analytical and interdisciplinary skills demanded by climate-smart forestry, biodiversity conservation, the bioeconomy and digital innovation.
Forest 4.0 CoE’s participation reaffirms our commitment to deeper European cooperation in forest education and to building joint capacity for digital transformation across the sector. We thank the SILVA Network and HAFL for the warm hospitality and look forward to continuing the dialogue with our European partners as we co-create the curricula and competences that tomorrow’s forests will require.