The general objectives of the project is to create the Centre of excellence (LignoSilva) in the field of a forestry, wood-processing and a pulp-paper complex involving two major organizations, the National Forest Centre in Zvolen and Pulp and Paper Research Institute in Bratislava in cooperation with the European Forest Institute as a leading research organisations from high performance countries of the EU. LignoSilva will help to strategically transform Forest-based sector of the region towards the innovation growth based on the knowledge economy (in terms of RIS 3 SK vision) and the implementation of the principles of Green Economy. LignoSilva will represent the Centre of excellence that integrates research, development and innovation potential of a Forest-based industry that rationally links the chain of wood production, processing and utilisation. Project covers 4 interlinked priority areas: 1. Forest resources and sustainable wood production 2. Biomass and bioenergy 3. Paper-pulp technologies 4. Recycling and cascading system of wood and wood products use The intention of the project partners is to establish an autonomous entity by grouping a number of existing facilities into one cluster. CSA and FPA will be directed so that the newly established CE can benefit from massive past investments whilst bringing more dynamics into the forest based industry in Slovakia The CE will benefit from European Forest Institute and its network participation. EFI with its member is in a unique position to provide collective science-based insights at European and regional level to support informed policy making. Concerning LignoSilva EFI's Research function aims to (i) Conduct and promote interdisciplinary and cross-sector research of Forest-based industry and (ii) Support the coordination, strengthening and networking of forest research capacities aiming to overcome the fragmentation and low performance of FBI in Slovakia.

The LIGNOSILVA Centre of Excellence for Forest-based industry stands for a systematic and structural change in the research landscape of the forest-based sector (FBS). The EU has made a strategic turn towards a circular bioeconomy, striving for a low-carbon society based on renewable sources, including wood biomass. It requires to transfer of knowledge and brings new innovation into FBS practice. FBS research landscape in Slovakia - as well as in countries with similar political histories - is highly fragmented and loses much of its potential due to insufficiently organised structures and strategies. Moreover, it is not linked to collaboration with Western/Northern EU countries. In the long run, this affects the entire value chain. The overall objective of the CoE is to contribute to overcoming these shortcomings by upgrading the existing LignoSilva Center of Excellence (CoE). The essence of upgrade lies in institutional reform that introduces European science management standards, increases excellence, expands research capacities, digital transformation based on the implementation of Forestry 4.0 and Pulp & Paper 4.0 into CoE research-innovation activities, support for open science and more efficient knowledge transfer to FBS. The main goal is to bring excellent research and applicable innovation into FBS in three research areas: - Intelligent technologies and systems supporting wood production and industrial wood processing. - Pulp and paper technologies for biodegradable packaging and special papers development with multifunctional properties - Recycling technologies and use of cellulose sludge and wood ash CoE LignoSilva's objective will be reached by concentrating the research and infrastructure capacities of the National Forestry Centre and the Pulp and Paper Research Institute in Bratislava. They will build up and foster cooperation with the advanced partners Fraunhofer Wilhelm-Klauditz-Institute (Germany).