NXTGENWOOD

Prof. Michael Morris

Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine

NXTGENWOOD, multisectoral research programme funded by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, will address innovation in structural timbers, green adhesives and resins for bonded wood products such as plywood and MDF, extraction and synthesis of valuable bio-materials and biochemicals, and the development of wood-based composites and biopolymers.

The project will also develop a research network that will:

1) launch higher value wood and wood-derived products into the market

2) generate innovation and unique wood materials/biochemicals that can be exploited

3) develop highly trained people that can enter the Irish workforce and foster the uptake of those emerging technologies

4) support industry in the transition and commercialisation process

5) contribute to Ireland’s sustainability targets

The project brings together multi-disciplinary teams from across Ireland, including three SFI research Centres (AMBER, APC and BiOrbic) to advance the value and impact of Irish research. National research leaders, experts in their field, will drive the technical work packages. This includes Profs. K O’Connor (bioeconomy), L Joshi (tree chemistry), R Babu (biopolymers and bioseparation), MA Morris (polymer materials), JD Holmes (nanoscience and coatings/films), M Collins (lignocellulose materials) and F Murphy (ecology and Life Cycle Assessment). Each of these will lead or co-lead each theme or sizeable project, but ensuring management is de-siloed to leverage knowledge from one team to the others. The project derives from discussions with Coillte, Enterprise Ireland, DAFM Forestry representatives and the NZSCION Centre. These will contribute to our scientific advisory board (SAB). We have also consulted with industry to provide a manufacturing perspective and potential products. Two industry representatives will be on our SAB to promote industry participation and co-funding through the project.