Värmland is a region with a base in the forest and steel industry. A number of strong clusters have developed over a long time, creating a base for various projects focusing on increasing the interaction between companies, the public sector and academia. Paper Province is the cluster organisation that has gone from focus on pulp and paper technology to a broader perspective in creating an innovation environment for forest-based bioeconomy in connection with the appointment of Vinnväxt winner in 2013. The forest is an important resource in the transition to a sustainable society. We are seeing more and more strategies for biodiversity, forest values and bioeconomy at both European and national levels. In order for the forest industry to remain a strength for Värmland, the industry must invest in renewal, increase its service content and position itself in areas such as renewable energy and energy efficiency. In order to succeed in bioeconomy innovations, national and regional innovation systems are important. New products, services and processes must be accepted and adapted by actors and value chains in the ¿beextreal¿economy. The overall goal of the Sustainable Innovation project is to ensure a sustainable and long-term regional platform for innovation and development in forest-based value chains as a prerequisite for companies’ growth and innovation. This will create the conditions for maintaining high efficiency and profitability as well as increased innovation power in the base industry, while at the same time as development is based on sustainable and climate-smart solutions. The goal is more sustainable and innovative companies in the forest sector in Värmland. To achieve this, the project will carry out a number of activities in two areas. First, the conditions for innovation should be improved and the innovation process will be further developed. 1. Improve the conditions for innovation and application of low-carbon technology – Diversity, creativity & innovation is needed to secure skills supply that benefits innovation and development. Student collaborations and gender-conscious leadership are examples of activities to be carried out – Climate-smart business development is about strengthening companies’ knowledge of servicification, communication and sustainability so that they are better equipped for the future. 2. Development of the innovation process – Idea generation is about increasing the influx of climate-smart ideas, which will lead to both growth and a more sustainable region. This will take place in local workshops, around a large company in the forest industry, with participation in a quadruple helix perspective. — Funding and project development will give Värmland more international perspectives and additional resources for research and development. — Tests and demonstrators environments will be needed to test new ideas so that they are sustainable both ecologically and economically. “Internationalisation will increase innovations, companies and Värmland’s visibility internationally to achieve increased growth through increased global demand for Värmland innovations.
