We are proud to announce that the Advanced Forestry Centre of Excellence (Forest 4.0) has been officially included in the Lithuanian Roadmap for research infrastructures. This important change was initiated by Vytautas Magnus University and the Lithuanian Research Centre for Agriculture and Forestry.
What does this change mean?
This milestone marks a significant step towards advancing sustainable forestry and environmental technologies. The Lithuanian Research Infrastructure Commission has recognized the potential of the Forest 4.0 project and the capability of the Vytautas Magnus University and Lithuanian Research Centre for Agriculture and Forestry consortium to create and develop an open forestry and climate changes research and data infrastructure, to join relevant European and International initiatives.
As a part of Lithuanian Research Infrastructures, Forest 4.0 is now a priority infrastructure for forest research in Lithuania. This opens doors to improved research opportunities, as the consortium can now participate in competitions to receive funding for research, equipment, and join international consortia and infrastructures, enabling the exchange of crucial forest data and research-related knowledge.
Prof. Tomas Krilavičius, project leader and dean of the Faculty of Informatics at Vytautas Magnus University, says: “Now, everything can be developed. We are increasingly involving more Lithuanian organizations and companies operating in the forestry sector in Forest 4.0 activities. We collaborate and share new solutions. Moreover, being recognized makes it easier for us to cooperate with foreign partners and join their infrastructures. We can access data from around the world and participate in the development of standards and solutions.”
Another important milestone achieved is that Forest 4.0 was officially established as a public institution in September, and the Governing Board has approved the list of Advisory Board members. The Advanced Forestry Centre of Excellence is already collaborating with and consulting the Lithuanian State Forest Service, addressing digitalization challenges.
Forest 4.0: Future perspectives
Next year, Forest 4.0 will focus more on knowledge-sharing. Prof. Tomas Krilavičius mentions that the consortium is planning a forestry summer school, emphasizing the application of artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things in forestry. Additionally, a public event will be organized, inviting key stakeholders – forestry companies, state organizations, and institutions – to discuss the digitalization of forestry, its process, and the specific needs of each participant.