4 CONFERENCES, 200 PARTICIPANTS AND 60 LECTURERS
The Croatian Wood Cluster draws up the preparation for the most important international conference this year, where all the key players from SEE countries in this sector will be gathered. After the successful edition of the 14th Wood Technology Conference in Opatija and 8th Congress of the Sawmill Industry, the most current topics on the forest-based sector will be presented on AWD. With over 60 lecturers coming from Brussels, Western countries and Mediterranean areas, ADRIATIC WOOD DAYS consists of four thematic, but program-separated international conferences in the field of forestry, wood processing, wood energy, timber construction, furniture manufacturing and related creative industries. The emphasis of this year’s AWD will be on R & D and application for EU funds in the field of bio-based and forest-based industries, as well as on issues of education and staff building. There is a great deal of interest in professional thematic workshops, and the registered participants are particularly interested in the PROJECT IDEA EXCHANGE that will provide an opportunity to strengthen awareness of EU projects, or to make contact with foreign experts looking for or offering participation in project consortia for EU projects. The Cluster in Dubrovnik secured the presence of a number of partners, such as the InnoRenewCoE research institute from Slovenia, which has collected more than 45 mil EUR from EU funds so far. The Investment and Competitiveness Agency is also a partner that supports the theme of investing and equipping hotel capacities. The Dubrovnik Assembly is a good opportunity for many companies, as well as sectoral institutions and associations for active involvement in EU projects.
STUDY VISITING MLJET: Representative Picula on the management of forests on the islands
Adriatic Wood Days will gather important institutional representatives from Croatia, neighboring countries and the EU. The arrival was confirmed by Tonino Picula, a Croatian MP in the European Parliament, and the Vice-President of the European Parliamentary Group for the Islands. Through his work, Picula launches a number of initiatives and projects, with the aim of getting the islands into the focus of European institutions. One of the topics to be dealt with on the first day of the AWD (Monday) will be related to the management of forests on the islands. The delegate will actively participate in the conference program and will talk about innovative solutions and the use of stimulating European funds as one of the sources of funding for afforestation on the islands, puncturing new fire-fighting roads etc. On Sunday (December 3rd), an afternoon study visit will be held to the island of Mljet , as an example of a wooded island with a tradition of forest management.
ADRIATIC WOOD DAYS: Dubrovnik Becomes the Center of European Wood Industry and Forestry!
The most comprehensive international sector event in the Mediterranean will be held for the fourth time in Dubrovnik, on December 3th and 4th 2018. Four professional conferences, sector discussions, workshops and B2B meetings will surpass the last year’s edition, bringing together numerous participants from the forestry, woodworking and furniture manufacturing, energy from wood, biomass, hotel industry and related creative industries. Many participants from different countries are expected in Dubrovnik. This includes potential investors, relevant domestic and foreign politicians, owners of large-scale woodworking companies, sector media, academic community and technology producers. AWD originally promotes greater use of wood in the Mediterranean, but at the same time represents an exceptional opportunity for sectoral networking and expansion of business partners network. All interested parties can present examples of good practice and participation in the program. For all participants, the best rates for accommodation in the Sheraton Hotel are provided
CURRENT TOPICS AND SPECIALIZED CONFERENCES: From timber trade and furniture production to energy from wood
Various conferences will gather target groups of participants on specific topics of hotel equipping, the possibilities for greater use of wood in construction, through wood trading to discussing the quality and certification. Dubrovnik offers a unique opportunity for networking accommodation providers, from luxury hotel chains to private accommodations with hotel equipment manufacturers. Wood as sustainable and environmentally-friendly material is insufficiently represented in construction in the region, and through its projects and legislative frameworks can promote its greater use, which will also be one of AWD’s issues. At the center of the European debate, there is currently an amendment to the OIE Directive and the introduction of biomass criteria, while the main European associations are equally involved in the creation of European policies. This field could greatly affect the application of the cascading model and will, besides the companies, attend the conference and relevant European associations and present possible implications for the sector. Also, a review of already implemented investments and an analysis of their profitability will be given.
EU PROJECT PROTECTION: Exchanging Project Ideas. Slovenes looking for partners
The emphasis of this year’s AWD will be on R & D and application for EU funds in the field of bio-based and forest-based industries. The expert workshops in the form of PROJECT BURDEN will give participants the opportunity to gain insight into EU projects or to make contact with foreign experts seeking or participating in project consortia. The Partner Workshop is a research institute of InnoRenew CoE from Slovenia, whose representatives will present concrete activities related to applying to EU funds, which have so far been very successful, as they collected 45 mil EUR of development funds that finance a large number of project activities. The Dubrovnik Assembly is a good opportunity for many companies, as well as sectoral institutions and associations for active involvement in EU projects. The number of participants is limited.
GOOD PRACTICES FROM PORTUGAL: Suggestions for Improving Social Dialogue and Education in the Sector
One of the partners of this year’s AWD is the Portuguese Association of Wood Industry and Furniture (AIMMP), which at the end of the year celebrates 60 years of activity and has more than 7,500 members. At AWD their representatives will introduce participants to the current situation and trends in the Portuguese wood industry. AIMMP President Vitor Poças is currently working as chairman of the Working Group on Social Affairs within the European Confederation of Wood Industry (CEI-Bois), where Croatia’s interests are represented by the Croatian Wood Cluster as a full member of this lobbying association. AWD will report on the adoption of concrete action plans, currently being discussed in Brussels: from employee training; the attractiveness of the sector; joint promotions; cooperation between educational institutions and the economy; the harmonization of the profile of sector workers etc. The next meeting of the working group will be held at the beginning of next year where AWD conclusions will be presented on this topic and a proactive discussion is expected.
Dubrovnik becomes the center of European wood industry and forestry!
Join us in Dubrovnik at Adriatic Wood Days 2019 and participate at several international conferences in the field of forestry, wood processing, energy from wood, furniture production and creative industries!
CEI-Bois Planns to Expand the Network of Members in Southeast Europe
The five-day sector event in Dubrovnik gathered the sector representatives from Southeast Europe and important participants from Brussels. The European Confederation of Woodworking Industry, CEI-Bois, was represented by the Secretary General Patrizio Antonicoli, who addressed to the participants with a very optimistic messages aimed at joint action in the EU. We are expanding our network of members in Europe and after what I heard in Dubrovnik from the leading representatives of the Croatian Wood Cluster, led by the President Darko Prodan, I can confirm that there is a good perspective for Croatia to become a member soon. The level of discussion and professional argumentation of problems confirms that Croatia has a good working structure that can be successfully integrated into the activities of the CEI-Bois. I spoke with the representatives of other sectoral associations from Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro, and can point out that in South-East Europe there is a lot of potential for improving the situation in the sector, which is an important contribution. Without a doubt, we will continue with our activities in this part of Europe, said Antonicoli.
Fastgrowing Tree Species Cause Great Interest, but There is a Lack of Planting in Larger Areas
One of the world’s most exploited topics of energy from wood production refers to the use of raw materials from plantations and the use of fastgrowing species for the production of wood chips. On AWD were presented two examples: the planting of fastgrowing paulownia and miscanthus giganteus. Simeon Apostolov from Bulgaria presented a series of arguments for planting Chinese paulownia, which is a hybrid variant adapted to the European climate. Nikola Bilandzija, PhD, from the Faculty of Agriculture presented the examples of research which were conducted at the experimental orchards, Miscanthus giganteus in Croatia. During the debate, the need for further research and providing financial incentives for the planting of fastgrowing species that can provide by 58 years a large quantities of biomass and reduce the pressure on the raw material that is characteristic to the joint European biomass market.
Project BASIS Was Presented. Useful Information Exchanged on B2B
In yesterday’s intensive program of AWD, there were numerous useful presentation on the topic of energy from wood. A great interest was shown for the presentation of one of the successful European projects in the field of biomass, BASIS Bioenergy, which establishes the interaction between investors and developers in the bioenergy sector. Through the interactive map BASIS offers a quick overview of the energy capacity based on biomass, as well as insight into the purchasing capacity of chips. There was a B2B communication organized between the participants who presented a number of demands and offers: There was a sale of project for a building cogeneration of 2 MW in Pakrac, on 17 hectares of industrial land and with all necessary permits. The price is 1.4 mil. Euros and the interest has already been shown at the workshop by Austrian company. Also, at the BASIS workshop there were presented new production capacity of chips in Glina, where the company Sherif is building a collection center capacity of 200,000 t of chips, while Hercegbosnian forests presented their production capacity of chips around 100,000 t per year
