Forest-based Sector Technology Platform (FTP)

What Forest-based Sector Technology Platform (FTP) does

Forest-based Sector Technology Platform (FTP) is a pan-European non-profit association (AISBL) established in 2005 and headquartered in Brussels, Belgium, that coordinates research and innovation activities for the European forest-based sector. The organization aggregates R&I priorities from national forest-based sector stakeholders across 19-20 European countries through its National Support Group (NSG) network spanning Austria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland, and channels them to the EU dimension via partnerships with Horizon Europe, Horizon 2020, the Circular Bio-based Europe Joint Undertaking (CBE JU), and ERA-NET programmes.

FTP's core products comprise the FTP Research and Innovation Portal (db.forestplatform.org), a database cataloging EU research funding opportunities, call topics, and research projects relevant to the sector; the Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda (SIRA), with the fourth edition (SIRA 2040) expected to be adopted in 2027; and Vision 2040, a joint sector-wide strategic vision document. The platform also operates annual and regional conferences, task forces (such as the Pulp & Paper Industry Task Force), and a regular newsletter to convene and inform its community.

FTP operates a membership-based revenue model with Full Members, Associate Members, and Other Stakeholders categories, supplemented by EU project participation and national contributions. The organization holds formal positions in EU policy bodies including the European Innovation Partnership on Raw Materials (EIP RM) High-Level Steering Group and Operational Group, is a founding member of the European Bioeconomy Alliance, and an associate member of the Bio-based Industries Consortium (BIC). FTP maintains strategic relationships with the European Commission's DG Research and Innovation and has played an advisory role in establishing the Bio-Based Industries Joint Undertaking (BBI JU) and its successor CBE JU. With only 7 employees, FTP executes its pan-European coordination mandate primarily through its distributed NSG network and partner ecosystem rather than centralized headcount.

Name

Forest-based Sector Technology Platform (FTP)

Legal name

Forest-based Sector Technology Platform (FTP) AISBL

Website

https://forestplatform.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

FTP is a Brussels-based non-profit AISBL coordinating pan-European research and innovation for the forest-based sector, operating a 19-country National Support Group network, an EU funding call database, and the SIRA/Vision 2040 strategic agendas for sector stakeholders and policymakers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Research and Innovation Coordination

NAICS

Computer Systems Design and Related Services (54151)

SIC

International Affairs (9721)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPADANAB

Technical Committees, Working Groups & Expert Panels

Business & Public Services/International Organizations & Development/International Standards, Policy & Regulatory Cooperation

SECONDARYBPADAEAL

Digital Development & ICT4D / GovTech Technical Assistance

Business & Public Services/International Organizations & Development/International Development & Technical Assistance

Keywords

• Forest bioeconomy research
• Sector technology platform
• Research innovation coordination
• Strategic research agenda
• European bioeconomy policy

Headquarters

HQ city

Brussels

HQ country

Belgium

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

FTP is a pan-European coordination platform (AISBL under Belgian law) that aggregates research and innovation priorities from national forest-based sector stakeholders through 19 National Support Groups and channels them to the EU level. It maintains the FTP Database of EU-funded research projects and funding opportunities, develops strategic research and innovation agendas (SIRA / Vision 2040), and serves as the recognised interface between the European forest-based sector, the European Commission, EIP Raw Materials, BIC, and the European Bioeconomy Alliance.

Product overview

The Forest-based Sector Technology Platform (FTP) operates as a pan-European coordination platform for research and innovation in the forest-based sector. Rather than offering a traditional software product, FTP provides a suite of strategic coordination services including the FTP Research and Innovation Portal (a database of EU funding calls and research projects), strategic agenda documents (FTP SIRA 2040 and Vision 2040), a network of 20+ National Support Groups across European countries, annual and regional conferences, and a newsletter service. These services work together to align R&I priorities, mobilize resources, and facilitate transnational collaboration among forest-based sector stakeholders including researchers, policymakers, industry, and forest owners.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• FTP SIRA: Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda - FTP's strategic document outlining research priorities for the European forest-based sector
• FTP Vision 2040
• FTP Database

Products and services

• FTP Research and Innovation Portal (FTP Database) Online database portal (db.forestplatform.org) cataloging EU research funding opportunities, call topics from Horizon Europe and other programmes, and registered research projects relevant to the forest-based sector. Serves as the central self-serve knowledge hub for R&I collaboration, used by researchers, industry, and policymakers.
• FTP SIRA (Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda) Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda documents that define the European forest-based sector's R&I priorities and needs, mobilising extra resources and guiding transnational R&I collaboration. Used by forest-based industries, researchers, EU policymakers, and national support groups as the sector's authoritative reference.
• Vision 2040 Joint strategic vision document developed across the European forest-based value chain, outlining the pathway toward resilient ecosystems, smart products, and social growth within the circular bioeconomy by 2040. Used by sector stakeholders as a long-term strategic compass.
• FTP National Support Groups (NSGs) Pan-European network of National Support Groups in 19 countries (Austria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland) that coordinate national innovation priorities at the EU level and provide sector stakeholders with national-level access to FTP's pan-European activities.
• FTP Annual and Regional Conferences Annual and regional conferences (e.g., FTP Conference 2019 in Helsinki) that bring together forest-based sector stakeholders to discuss R&I priorities, funding opportunities, and sector developments. Includes participation in major EU events such as European Paper Week, EU Raw Materials Week, European Bioeconomy Days, and the Global Bioeconomy Summit.
• FTP Newsletter Regular email newsletter that keeps subscribers updated on FTP news, R&I developments, EU funding opportunities, and forest-based sector innovations. Distributed to the wider forest-based sector community as a top-of-funnel engagement channel.

Quantifiable outcome

• Around 150 Horizon Europe call topics with ~€2.1 billion in funding identified as relevant to the forest-based sector
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• WoodCircus (EU Project)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 July 2018WoodCircus is a joint project of FTP and 17 European research organizations and companies, led by VTT (Finland). The project evaluates the European wood processing industries' efficiency and recycling performance in the construction sector, with the goal of increasing wood waste collection and recycling expertise.
• ForestValue ERA-NETcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 October 2017ForestValue is a transnational ERA-NET Cofund programme 'Innovating forest-based bioeconomy' launched 17 October 2017. With a total available budget of over €40 million, the joint European Call contributes to transforming the current resource-intensive economy to a sustainable biobased one. FTP is involved in planning new joint calls for RDI proposals. The programme was pre-announced in early 2017 with a budget estimated to surpass €30 million.
• European Hardwoods Innovation Alliance (EHIA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 October 2016EHIA is a trans-national and multi-actor collaboration focused exclusively on hardwood species as a complementary potential field for innovations. InnovaWood and the European Forest Institute are calling upon forest-based stakeholders to develop a European Innovation and Research Program (EIRP) dedicated to the sustainable and added-value use of hardwood species. EHIA coordinates know-how and critical mass leading to breakthroughs in innovation, research and education, and creates new qualified employment in smart rural regions within Europe. The initiative was accepted as a commitment under the European Innovation Partnership for Raw Materials (EIP RM).
• InnovaWoodcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 October 2016InnovaWood partnered with the European Forest Institute to launch the European Hardwoods Innovation Alliance (EHIA), calling upon forest-based stakeholders to develop a European Innovation and Research Program for sustainable hardwood use. InnovaWood is a key player in the European forest-based sector's research coordination ecosystem.
• European Forest InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 October 2016European Forest Institute (EFI) partnered with InnovaWood to co-lead the European Hardwoods Innovation Alliance (EHIA), a trans-national initiative focused on sustainable hardwood species innovation. EFI brings extensive research network capabilities across Europe.
• Swedish Innovation Agency VinnovaminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 April 2016FTP participated in the 'Innovation in Forest, Fuel and Freight' seminar held under the auspices of the Swedish Innovation Agency Vinnova. The seminar brought together forestry, fuels, and transportation sectors to discuss cross-sectoral synergies and cooperation in innovation. FTP Managing Director Johan Elvnert represented the forest-based sector's views.
• VERAM (Vision and Roadmap for European Raw Materials)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 April 2016VERAM is a Horizon 2020-funded coordination project linking two European Technology Platforms (ETPs) in minerals and forestry and two European Research Areas (ERA-NETs). FTP is a key partner, profiling wood as a crucial resource for a long-term strategy aimed at sustaining raw materials supply for Europe. VERAM delivered a Research and Innovation Roadmap 2050 with close to 180 concrete activities across minerals, metals, and biotic raw materials value chains. Total budget of €1.4 million over 30 months, kicking off December 2015.
• European Innovation Partnership on Raw Materials (EIP RM)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFTP was nominated as a member of the EIP on Raw Materials. FTP Board Chairperson Lena Ek was nominated as a member of the High-Level Steering Group (HLSG), and FTP Managing Director Johan Elvnert was appointed as member of the Operational Group (OG). FTP also helped define future R&I priorities through the EIP RM.
• European Bioeconomy Alliance (EUBA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFTP is a founding member of the European Bioeconomy Alliance, an informal alliance of leading European organizations representing sectors active in the bioeconomy including agriculture, forestry, biotechnology, sugar, starch, vegetable oils, pulp and paper, bioplastics, and renewable ethanol. The Alliance is dedicated to mainstreaming and realizing the potential of the bioeconomy in Europe.
• Bio-based Industries Consortium (BIC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFTP is an associate member of the Bio-based Industries Consortium, which represents the private sector in the Bio-Based Industries Joint Undertaking (BBI JU). FTP played a key advisory role in establishing the BBI JU as a Public-Private Partnership between the EU and BIC to support Europe's biobased economy. BIC members contributed €2.7 billion to the €3.7 billion BBI JU budget for 2014-2020.
• Bio-Based Industries Joint Undertaking (BBI JU) / Circular Bioeconomy Europe Joint Undertaking (CBE JU)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBBI JU is the Public-Private Partnership between the EU and BIC for biobased industries. FTP played a key advisory role in its establishment and continues to identify relevant call topics for the forest-based sector. BBI JU was succeeded by CBE JU on 30 November 2021, a €2 billion partnership. FTP selected relevant BBI JU and CBE JU call topics for the forest-based sector.
• Bio-Based Industries Consortium (BIC) Open Innovation CompetitionminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFTP highlights the BIC Open Innovation Competition 2025, led by BIC, which fosters collaboration between industry leaders, SMEs, and startups to drive innovative solutions for key challenges in the bio-based industries sector, including a challenge on transforming softwood bark into new bioproducts.
• European Technology Platforms (ETPs) - Joint Statement on FP10coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFTP joined 17 other European Technology Platforms (ETPs) in a joint statement calling on the European Commission to reaffirm support for ETPs' strategic role in FP10. The statement highlighted ETPs' role in mobilizing EU-wide actors and developing joint visions and strategic R&I agendas and roadmaps.
• European Commission (DG Research and Innovation)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFTP maintains ongoing engagement with the European Commission's DG Research and Innovation for input into Horizon Europe, Horizon 2020, and FP10 programme development. FTP's Managing Director and Board Chair participate in EIP RM High-Level Steering Group and Operational Group meetings, and FTP provides strategic input to EU bioeconomy policy through the European Bioeconomy Stakeholders Panel.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• European Forest Institute (EFI): EFI is a pan-European research organization that conducts and coordinates forest science across Europe. It is a direct peer to FTP in terms of forest-based sector research coordination and is a documented partner (co-leads the European Hardwoods Innovation Alliance). Both organizations aggregate European forest research efforts but with different scopes and instruments.
• InnovaWood: InnovaWood is a European network focused on wood-based innovation and research coordination. It is a direct peer to FTP in coordinating forest-based sector R&I, and is a documented strategic partner having co-launched the European Hardwoods Innovation Alliance.
• European Bioeconomy Alliance (EUBA): EUBA is an informal alliance of European organizations active in the bioeconomy, of which FTP is a founding member. It is a direct peer in terms of bioeconomy advocacy and policy coordination at EU level, with overlapping stakeholder communities in forestry, agriculture, and bio-based industries.
• European Construction Technology Platform (ECTP): ECTP is one of the 17 European Technology Platforms that signed the joint FP10 statement alongside FTP. As fellow ETPs with similar coordination structures and EU-level R&I mandates, ECTP is a direct peer in the ETP ecosystem, though in a different industrial sector (construction).
• ForestValue ERA-NET: ForestValue is a transnational ERA-NET Cofund programme focused on forest-based bioeconomy research with a €40+ million budget. FTP is involved in planning joint calls and serves as a strategic partner, making ForestValue a direct peer in coordinating transnational forest R&I funding.
• European Technology Platform for the Bio-based Economy (Plants for the Future): Plants for the Future is another European Technology Platform (ETP) covering bio-based economy R&I. As ETPs with shared EU-level coordination roles and FP10 joint statements, FTP and Plants for the Future are direct peers within the ETP ecosystem.

Broad incumbents

• Bio-based Industries Consortium (BIC): BIC represents the private sector in the Bio-Based Industries Joint Undertaking (BBI JU) and CBE JU. FTP is an associate member of BIC. BIC is a broader bioeconomy incumbent that overlaps with FTP's bio-based industry coordination mandate but spans a wider industrial scope.
• Bio-Based Industries Joint Undertaking (BBI JU) / Circular Bioeconomy Europe JU (CBE JU): CBE JU (formerly BBI JU) is the EU's €2 billion public-private partnership for bio-based industries. FTP played an advisory role in establishing BBI JU and identifies relevant call topics for the forest-based sector. CBE JU is a broader incumbent that overlaps in coordinating bioeconomy R&I funding.
• Confederation of European Paper Industries (CEPI): CEPI is the European industry association representing the pulp and paper industry, one of FTP's primary stakeholder segments. CEPI operates a broader industry advocacy role whereas FTP focuses specifically on R&I coordination, making it a related incumbent with overlapping but distinct mandates.

Regional players

• WoodCircus Project (VTT-led): WoodCircus is an EU project led by VTT (Finland) with FTP as a partner, focused on wood processing industry efficiency and recycling. VTT is a major European research organization that conducts applied forest-based research with comparable coordination and convening functions to FTP.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/forest-based-sector-technology-platform

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Forest-based Sector Technology Platform (FTP)