Forest Innovation Program

About the program

The Forest Innovation Program (FIP) was created in 2012 to support the first phase of the forest sector innovation process by facilitating research and development (R&D) for innovative technologies, products, and processes in the emerging bioeconomy. FIP funds R&D and pilot projects that are aligned with future market and consumer demand, as well as those that help the sector adapt to current and anticipated fibre supply challenges. This is done by:

• supporting Canada’s forest sector at all levels of production, from seed to market
• funding the development of new technologies and practices to improve the sustainability and economic productivity of Canada’s forest sector
• fostering a stronger and more efficient forest sector for the future of Canada’s forests and economy

As part of its 2023 renewal, the program will remain focused on enabling the growth of the forest bioeconomy by delivering R&D and technology transfer funding for the forest sector. Similar to the Investment in Forest Industry Transformation (IFIT) program, FIP will support the advancement of products, processes, and technologies that contribute to the decarbonization of the forest sector, as well as the sustainable use of resources that generates more value from the same amount of harvested wood.

FIP consists of three streams that work together to support its mission:

Bioeconomy support through forest innovation

FIP supports pre-commercial R&D and knowledge and technology transfer for innovative technologies and processes in the forest bioeconomy. This includes investments in projects administered by the private not-for-profit FPInnovations, a national R&D organization focused on the Canadian forest sector, and other federal laboratories performing R&D related to the forest bioeconomy. It also supports codes and standards to help develop early-stage bioeconomy products and grow markets.

Enhancing diversity in the forest sector

FIP provides funding for scholarships and grants to promote the forest sector to students and recent graduates of post-secondary institutions in Canada. These scholarships and grants, delivered through the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), are designed to attract youth, women, Indigenous peoples, visible minorities, and immigrants to research and careers in related fields to improve diversity and representation within the Canadian forest sector.