In Slovenia, around 60 percent of the country’s area is covered with forest. This resource must be sustainably utilized and managed in order to enable innovative growth throughout the country and the region. The prerequisites for this are good. The forestry sector and the wood-processing industry in Slovenia have access to international markets and, furthermore, have production capacities which can be used more innovatively in the future. This strategy requires cross-sector networking and the integration of the wood value chain into the design of residential and working environments in the future (including renovation/refurbishment).
Together with nine Slovenian partners, the Fraunhofer WKI, as “advanced partner”, is pushing forward the application-oriented cutting-edge research into the use of renewable raw materials in Slovenia. Companies receive support in the implementation of R&D activities and are provided with access to scientific expertise in the wood sector. The project is funded via the Horizon 2020 Framework Programme of the European Union; H2020 WIDESPREAD-2-Teaming: #739574.
Excellent international employees from science, research and technology are being recruited for the Centre of Excellence, and young researchers are being specifically trained. Currently, more than 40 international researchers in seven research groups are addressing questions from the specialist disciplines of materials research, sustainable buildings, ICT and the development of corresponding research tasks.
In the so-called Living Lab, cross-sector networking and the integration of the wood-processing value chain into the design of living space and the working environment of the future takes place. By combining traditional prowess and knowledge concerning the utilization of wood and wood-compatible natural materials with smart materials, building management systems and intelligent software, this needs-oriented industrial product development has become a success. The member companies contribute directly towards value creation and, through Living Lab activities, are an integral component of the development process.
Further information on InnoRenew can be found on the following website: https://innorenew.eu/about/institute/
Fraunhofer Institute for Wood Research 
