Investments in Forest Industry Transformation Program

Name of transfer payment program

Investments in Forest Industry Transformation Program (Voted)

Start date

June 17, 2010

End date

March 31, 2018

Fiscal year for terms and conditions

2014-15

Strategic Outcome

1 – Canada’s Natural Resource Sectors are Globally Competitive

Link to department's Program Alignment Architecture

1.2 – Innovation for New Products and Processes > 1.2.2 – Forest Sector Innovation

Description

The objective of Investments in Forest Industry Transformation is to support forest industry transformation that will make the forest industry more economically viable and environmentally sustainable. The objective will be achieved by investing in innovative technologies that lead to a more diverse, higher-value product mix including bioenergy and renewable power, as well as biomaterials, biochemicals, and next generation building products.

The Program will fund innovative projects implementing transformative technologies at the pilot to commercial scales that direct wood fibre and by-products from wood processing into higher value uses, which 1) increase the total revenues available from a log, 2) diversify product lines for the forest industry, stabilizing economic performance, and 3) produce renewable energy and other products that are beneficial to the environment. By providing funding to Canadian forest firms for capital investments in bioenergy or bioproduct industrial processes to advance these technologies towards full, commercial-scale implementation, this Program will broaden and build upon previous investments in forest sector transformation.

This transfer payment program does not have any repayable contributions.

Expected results

Expected outcomes of the program include the following:

• Canada’s forest sector is more commercially and environmentally sustainable
• New forest bioproducts (including next generation building products) and processes are commercially available
• Canada’s forest sector has increased capacity to develop and supply commercial bio-products (including next generation building products) and processes
• Forest sector companies collaborate on bioproduct-related projects and processes with other sectors (e.g. energy and chemical).

Fiscal year of last completed evaluation

2013-14 (as part of sub-program 1.2.2 – Forest Sector Innovation)

Decision following the results of last evaluation

Continuation

Fiscal year of planned completion of next evaluation

2017-18

General targeted recipient groups

Companies that produce forest products that have existing forest product manufacturing facilities (e.g., pulp, paper or panel mills) located in Canada.

Initiatives to engage applicants and recipients

Program applicants are supported through the establishment of a dedicated program website (www.forest-transformation.nrcan.gc.ca), which includes access to program guides, eligibility requirements, and project announcements, as well as program administration contact details (ifit@nrcan.gc.ca). Calls for Proposals were widely advertised through public press releases, e-mail distribution lists, and liaisons with a wide range of associations, other government departments, and other stakeholders. Selected program recipients are further engaged through regular communication with program administrators to monitor progress on the achievement of program objectives.

Total grants

Total contributions

Total transfer payments