The Basque delegation took part in the international event where administrations, technology centres, and companies exhibit innovative bio-based products.
The Basque Country promotes the Circular Forest Bioeconomy as a foundation for the development of new bio-based products that reduce dependence on fossil-based derivatives. A Basque delegation, formed by the general manager of Neiker, Olatz Unamunzaga, Gorka Altuna from Hazi Fundazioa, and Oskar Azkarate, general manager of Baskegur, has presented at the FIBC-Forest Innovation & Bioeconomy Conference in Vancouver, Canada, which ends today, the Basque policies for the promotion of R&D&I in the field of Forest Bioeconomy, contrasting the main developments carried out in countries that share the important economic sector linked to the sustainable management of forests.
Olatz Unamunzaga has conveyed to the FIBC plenary the commitment of the Basque Country – Basque Government, technology centres and Baskegur representing the value chain of the forestry and wood sector – to the development of the green economy, ‘aware of the need to take decisive steps in favour of decarbonisation to meet the objectives that the executive has set in its ecological transition plans’.
In addition to the conferences and product exhibition at the international conference venue, the programme included working visits to technology centres and companies developing cutting-edge solutions in both timber construction and the commercialisation of biomaterials. These included Bioproducts Institute and its bioenergy demonstration facility, FP Innovations, BC Research, Svante, Carbon Engineering, Cloverdale Fuel, FraserWood, and BC Passive House.
The attendees exchanged views with experts in sustainable forest management, green chemistry, bioenergy, and biomaterials to address the sector’s global challenges. The Basque Country is a benchmark region in Spain in terms of technology and companies dedicated to the engineering and construction of wooden buildings and other civil works.
The Basque delegation showed special interest in high-rise timber construction benchmarks such as the ‘Brock Commons’ student residence at the University of British Columbia, which at 53 metres high is the tallest timber building in the world. The conference was attended by more than 200 representatives from 82 international organisations from various sectors, including government agencies, start-ups, producers, research institutions, consultancies, and investment firms.
