Building Collaboration for Innovation: Highlights from the Forest 4.0 Partner Meeting in Kaunas
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.
Balancing Society’s Needs and Ecosystem Protection: Insights from the Vilnius GreenTech Forum
At the Vilnius GreenTech Forum, a high-level discussion on the future of Lithuania’s forests brought together experts from policy, science, and industry. The session was moderated by Nerijus Kupstaitis, CEO of the Forest 4.0 Centre of Excellence, who opened the conversation by reflecting on the remarkable progress Lithuania has made in developing its forest sector.
Over the past five decades, Lithuania has expanded its forest cover from 20% to 33% of the country, established productive timber-rich forests, and designated nearly 35% of them as protected or ecologically valuable areas. The forest sector now generates more than 5% of GDP, provides around 60,000 jobs, and supports a growing wood processing industry and biomass energy sector.
Yet today, climate change, biodiversity loss, and evolving societal expectations are reshaping what Lithuania needs from its forests. Kupstaitis emphasised that these challenges require not only changes in forestry practices but also stronger political will to make long-term strategic decisions. The National Forest Agreement (2021–2023) demonstrated that balancing competing interests: economic use, recreation, conservation, and climate goals - is impossible without compromise and a clear strategic direction.
During the discussion, experts explored several critical questions:
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How can multifunctional forests and protected areas be managed to reflect diverse societal needs while safeguarding ecosystems?
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What types of forests - more diverse, naturally developing, or actively managed—will best serve future generations?
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Are current forestry practices sufficient, or should Lithuania expand approaches such as continuous-cover forestry, precision forestry, or agroforestry?
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How can the interests of nature conservation and sustainable timber use be better aligned?
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Is there a viable alternative to the current timber-based financing model?
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And what role should science, education, and digital innovation play in shaping the next Lithuanian Forest Strategy?
The conversation highlighted a shared understanding that Lithuania’s forests face both significant challenges and significant opportunities. As Kupstaitis noted, finding balance will require evidence-based decisions, innovative technologies, and close collaboration across sectors.
The Forest 4.0 Centre of Excellence will continue contributing to this dialogue, supporting smarter, more sustainable solutions for Lithuania’s forests.
Digital Transformation: Toward New Business Models for the Forestry Value Chain
Digital transformation has reshaped almost every part of our daily lives - from how we shop and learn to how we manage work and personal tasks. It’s hard to imagine a world without the internet; the thought alone feels uncomfortable. This shift is powered by the rapid development of digital technologies that are fundamentally changing how we live and do business.
Innovation today is inseparable from technology. With digital infrastructure at the core of modern life, disruption is inevitable. Artificial Intelligence (AI) is the current headline topic - every industry is exploring how to use it, even if not everyone fully understands it yet. The Internet of Things (IoT) is another driver, transforming physical objects into connected, data-driven components of integrated platforms. Blockchain, augmented reality (AR), and virtual reality (VR) are also blurring the lines between the physical and digital worlds, and they are already entering traditionally conservative sectors such as furniture manufacturing and forestry.
Technology-driven change is not new. History shows a steady wave of industrial revolutions: Steam power and mechanization (Industry 1.0), Electricity and mass production (Industry 2.0), Automation and electronics (Industry 3.0), today’s cyber-physical systems and data-driven innovation (Industry 4.0). What’s different now is the scale and speed of data generation. Every day, each of us produces an astonishing amount of digital information - about 1.7 megabytes per second. Photos, calls, clicks, and online interactions leave a constant data trail. This data doesn’t disappear; it’s stored, analyzed, and monetized, powering decisions and shaping new business models.
Tech adoption is accelerating faster than ever. Consider how long it took to reach 100 million users for different platforms: Google Translate was growing for 78 months, ChatGPT hit this milestone in just 2 months. On the other hand, companies that fail to adapt risk disappearing. Once-dominant brands like Nokia and Kodak illustrate what happens when businesses ignore technological change. Meanwhile, companies like Amazon and Netflix reinvented entire industries without owning physical stores or traditional broadcasting channels.
For sectors like furniture and forestry, long seen as stable and traditional, this is a wake-up call. The question is no longer if digital disruption will come, but how to move from reacting to it toward proactively shaping it.
This is where the concept of Forest 4.0 emerges - envisioning a forestry value chain that leverages data, automation, and digital platforms to innovate sustainably and create new business models for the future.
Interested on how these developments will take place? Follow the Forest 4.0 journey online and find out!
Insights from Arianit Kurti’s presentation in the international conference in Tranas.
Digitalisation Meets the Forest – First Webinar Recap
On September 19th, we launched the Forest 4.0 webinar series - a journey of ten online sessions exploring how digital technologies can transform forestry and help address the challenges our forests face today. The first webinar set the stage by looking at the big picture: what is Forest 4.0 and how can digitalisation help manage forests more sustainably and effectively than current approaches?
During the session, Nerijus Kupstaitis, CEO of the Centre of Excellence (CoE) Forest 4.0 in Lithuania, pointed out that the digital maturity level in the country’s forestry sector varies widely. While some areas have begun integrating technology, many are still taking their first steps. Tools such as artificial intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), blockchain, virtual and augmented reality (VR/AR), and robotics are emerging but remain in the early stages of adoption. These technologies have the potential to transform data collection, forest monitoring, and decision-making, opening doors to smarter and more efficient forest management.
Gintautas Mozgeris, scientist at Vytautas Magnus University (VMU), emphasized that if we truly want to protect forests and the benefits they provide, we need innovative solutions based on scientific research and reliable information. Tackling today's challenges requires new tools built on solid scientific data and reliable information. Advanced digital technologies can monitor forests in real time, increase transparency and accountability in forest management, boost operational efficiency, and support long-term ecosystem sustainability. By combining science with cutting-edge digital tools, we can better understand our forests and protect them for future generations.
And review the presentation slides (only in Lithuanian): Slides about Forest 4.0 & Slides about Smart Forestry
The Forest 4.0 journey is just beginning. Our next webinar will take place on October 17, 13:00–15:00 EET, focusing on the discussion on forests and digitalisation. Follow Forest 4.0 to receive your invitation and stay connected as we continue exploring how technology can help safeguard and enhance our forests.
https://youtu.be/s9eT3sE0UKw
September Highlights: Forest 4.0 Sharing Insights at Key Innovation Events
September was an intensive and exciting period for the Forest 4.0 team, filled with presentations, international visibility, and the launch of new initiatives. Our experts were invited to share insights on how digital technologies, artificial intelligence, and innovative research can transform forestry and contribute to sustainable development in Lithuania and beyond.
The Forest 4.0 Centre of Excellence (CoE) kicked off a new free webinar series, “Smart Solutions for Forests.” The series is designed to bring together policymakers, foresters, forest owners, researchers, businesses, and everyone who cares about the future of forests. Participants can expect insights into advanced forestry in Lithuania, digitalisation trends, practical tools for forest inventory and data analysis, international case studies, and discussions on nature-based forestry and innovation. The first introductory webinar set the stage for open dialogue and knowledge exchange on how technology can support sustainable forest management.
The team also participated at an event organized by the Research Council of Lithuania, dedicated to exploring Innovation Perspectives for Businesses. The gathering brought together forward-looking innovation leaders from companies such as ELINTA, Blackswan Space, and Agrokoncernas Group, alongside representatives from academia and government institutions. Tomas Krilavičius, lead partner of Forest 4.0, shared his vision on the transformative potential of artificial intelligence:
“Artificial intelligence is like the new electricity or the new internet – we will need to explore and fine-tune how we can use it effectively and ethically. It will shape many areas of our daily lives, businesses, and even state governance. With Forest 4.0, we are exploring how AI can support sustainable forest management and bring innovation into the very traditional field of forestry,” said Tomas Krilavičius.
Forest 4.0 took part in the GO Furniture Meta-Cluster Hub Meeting 2025 in Tranås, Sweden - an event led by Interior Cluster Sweden, which brought together professionals from academia, cluster organisations, public authorities, and businesses to accelerate the green and digital transformation of the furniture, interior, and forestry sectors. The discussions focused on how breakthrough technologies such as AI, IoT, and blockchain are reshaping even the most traditional industries and ecosystems. The Forest 4.0 team also visited EFG headquarters and participated in the Möbelriksdagen conference, gaining valuable insights into innovation trends in the Nordic furniture and forestry industries.
The project was also showcased on the global stage at the Venice Architecture Biennale, where a symposium was hosted by the Lithuanian pavilion. Nerijus Kupstaitis, CEO of the Forest 4.0 Centre of Excellence, together with Dr. Marius Aleinikovas, Deputy Director of the Lithuanian Research Centre for Agriculture and Forestry, joined discussions on how forests, wood, and innovative research are shaping the future of sustainable architecture. Lithuania’s contribution highlighted the importance of sustainable forestry and advanced research in creating new opportunities for climate-conscious design and construction.
Finally, Tomas Krilavičius participated in the KoDi’25 conference in Šiauliai, which brought together experts in computer science, AI, ICT, cybersecurity, and digital innovation in education and business. He spoke on “Information Technology in Lithuania: Challenges and Opportunities” and presented Forest 4.0 as a practical example of how coding and digital tools can bring innovation and sustainability to forestry, connecting one of the most traditional sectors with modern technologies. More about the conference here.
These activities demonstrated the growing importance of technology and innovation for the future of forestry and highlighted Forest 4.0’s role as a bridge between cutting-edge research, digital transformation, and practical solutions. By engaging with leaders in technology, business, design, and academia across Lithuania and Europe — and by creating platforms such as the Smart Solutions for Forests webinar series — the project continues to shape the dialogue on how artificial intelligence and data-driven innovation can redefine the future of forestry and its contribution to a more sustainable world.
Forest 4.0 in Venice Architecture Biennale
Nature and architecture must work together as interconnected systems – this would help combat climate change and other ecological challenges of today, according to researchers from the Faculty of Arts at Vytautas Magnus University (VMU) Faculty of Arts, who are curating an international, interdisciplinary student symposium that invites participants to rethink ecological practices and architecture as a living system. This symposium is part of the Lithuanian pavilion at the 19th Venice Architecture Biennale, dedicated to sustainable and innovative architectural ideas from around the world.
The symposium, which takes place during this year's Venice Architecture Biennale, presents a total of eighty student works that in one way or another reflect the main theme of the Lithuanian pavilion – the relationship between trees and architecture.
Dr. Jūratė Tutlytė, curator of the Lithuanian pavilion at the 19th Venice Architecture Biennale and associate professor at the Faculty of Arts at Vytautas Magnus University, notes that although the main idea behind the pavilion draws attention to the preservation of trees, especially in cities, sustainability issues are viewed in a much broader context.
"Trees evoke certain dualistic attitudes towards them. On the one hand, they are living organisms. It is important to protect them out of respect for life and the entire natural ecosystem. After all, Lithuanian and Baltic culture has had a special relationship with trees, especially forests, since ancient times. The gifts of nature were sacred to humans. On the other hand, we have always had a very practical relationship with trees: we built with them, worked with them, and used them for heating. Therefore, when considering carbon dioxide reduction in the construction industry (which is one of the most polluting industries), we cannot ignore the possibility of using wood as a sustainable material that sequesters carbon dioxide. However, we must do so responsibly, ensuring mechanisms for balancing consumption and restoration, and carrying out consistent monitoring and supervision," notes Doc. Dr. J. Tutlytė.
As an example of such an approach, the commissioner of the Lithuanian pavilion highlights the international project Forest 4.0, initiated by Vytautas Magnus University, which has established a new competence center dedicated to forest environment monitoring and an innovative, forest-based bioeconomy in Lithuania.
Forest 4.0 participation in the Venice Architecture Biennale was organised by the VMU team Gintautas Mozgeris and Nerijus Kupstaitis. N. Kupstaitis also presented the Forest 4.0 poster in the Biennale, bringing the innovative and future oriented approach to the Lithuanian pavilion.
More about the event (in Lithuanian) here: LINK
We are kicking off a new webinar series “Smart Solutions for Forests”!
Forests are at the heart of climate resilience, biodiversity protection, and sustainable resource use. In Lithuania, as elsewhere, the forestry sector faces complex challenges: adapting to climate change, halting biodiversity loss, and finding innovative ways to manage resources responsibly. We believe these challenges cannot be solved without bold and forward-looking approaches. That is why the Forest 4.0 Centre of Excellence is launching a brand-new series of webinars dedicated to digital and smart solutions for forestry.
What makes this series special? Over the course of 10 monthly webinars, we will:
- Explore the vision of advanced forestry in Lithuania;
- Discuss the state of digitalisation in the forestry sector and future needs;
- Look at practical tools for forest inventory, data collection, storage, and analysis;
- Share international experiences and good practices;
- Talk about nature-based forestry and how technology can support it;
- Create space for dialogue, knowledge-sharing, and new ideas from participants.
Our first introductory webinar takes place on September 19, 13:00–15:00. Topic: Presentation of the FOREST 4.0 project, Centre of Excellence, and the vision of advanced forestry. Speakers: T. Krilavičius, N. Kupstaitis, G. Mozgeris. The webinar will be held in Lithuanian only.
Participation is free of charge, but registration is required: Registration link
We warmly invite policymakers, foresters, forest owners, researchers, businesses, and anyone who cares about the future of forests to join us. Together, let’s create a smarter and more sustainable forestry sector!
Forest 4.0 Strengthens Connections with European Digital Innovation Hubs
On July 14–18, representatives from Agrifood Lithuania’s Forest 4.0 and GFarm for Life projects joined colleagues from the Lithuanian Confederation of Industrialists for the EDIH4IAE networking mission, which focused strongly on international collaboration and digitalisation.
This mission had a twofold purpose: on one hand, Lithuanian SMEs had the chance to present their activities, gain valuable contacts, and discuss shared challenges with innovation stakeholders across Europe. On the other hand, ecosystem support organisations explored cooperation opportunities and exchanged good practices in supporting digital transformation.
“Our visit focused on exploring two distinct yet complementary innovation ecosystems: the Czech Republic and Italy. The Czech EDIHs are strongly rooted in industrial sectors, with technological strengths in high-performance computing, cybersecurity, and applications tailored to manufacturing and engineering. In contrast, Italian EDIHs emphasize AI-driven solutions for public administration, sustainable agriculture, tourism, and broader digital transformation. While their sectoral priorities differ, both ecosystems share a commitment to collaborative EU projects, technology transfer, and strengthening SME competitiveness through digital innovation,” – says Artūras Jakubavičius, Innovation Development Expert at the Lithuanian Confederation of Industrialists.
Beyond the opportunity to spotlight the potential of Lithuanian industrial SMEs, the mission also enabled the Agrifood Lithuania team to introduce two of its flagship initiatives: Forest 4.0 and GFarm for Life.
“Throughout our mission, we had the opportunity to present the Forest4.0 Centre of Excellence – a forward-looking initiative highlighting digital innovation in the forestry sector. By showcasing our solutions and cross-sectoral collaboration models, we emphasized Lithuania’s strengths in sustainable digital transformation and our readiness to contribute to the European innovation ecosystem. We also had an opportunity to exchange ideas on developing such centres of excellence with our Italian counterparts,” – says Inga Vyšniauskienė, Head of Communications at Agrifood Lithuania.
The week-long mission underlined the importance of cross-border collaboration in accelerating digital uptake across Europe. By connecting with leading innovation hubs and sharing best practices, Lithuanian stakeholders strengthened their role in the European digital landscape – opening new doors for cooperation, technology transfer, and future project development.
Forest 4.0 on site in Clusters Meet Regions in Cluj-Napoca!
During Clusters Meet Regions in Cluj-Napoca, Romania, on July 1–2, the Forest 4.0 project was represented by cluster leaders Anna Rosenqvist (Interior Cluster Sweden) and Kristina Šermukšnytė-Alešiūnienė (AgriFood Lithuania Cluster), who both actively participated in the conference program and strategic discussions.
In the panel “Innovation in Action – Unlocking the Potential of Clusters”, they addressed questions focused on:
- How to build trust within clusters
- The role of digital platforms and shared infrastructure in collaboration and innovation
One of Anna Rosenqvist’s quotes captured the essence of the discussion: "If we manage to collaborate and have fun, and if we live it in an altruistic way and do really collaborate, then I think that trust becomes like the engine in the business that we do."
Trust, systems thinking, and an altruistic mindset were highlighted as fundamental factors for building long-term value and innovation capacity – principles that also define the work within Forest 4.0.
Anna also participated in strategic meetings within the European network GO Furniture Meta-Cluster, which brings together 14 cluster organizations from 10 countries. The days also included discussions around establishing a Thematic Smart Specialisation Partnership (TSSP)for the furniture and interior sector – an important step in strengthening the meta-cluster’s role in the EU’s work with smart specialization and sustainable value chains.
Many of the issues discussed at the conference are central to Forest 4.0, where we are driving the green and digital transition across the entire value chain – from forest to finished product. Through collaboration between clusters, regions, academia, and industry, we are creating new conditions for a more resilient and sustainable Europe.
Next steps: All 14 member countries of the meta-cluster are invited to an international conference in Tranås on September 18–19, with the aim of sharing knowledge about the work and research being conducted within Forest 4.0 on data-driven business development – led by Arianit Kurti.
“We see that cross-sector and cross-national collaboration is crucial for creating long-term change. Forest 4.0 brings together actors who want to help shape the sustainable industrial ecosystems of the future,” says Anna Rosenqvist.
Follow for more news on the international conference, organized by GO Furniture Meta-Cluster and Interior Cluster Sweden, in collaboration with Forest 4.0.