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.