The Blue Sky Young Researchers and Innovation Award aims to recognize students, young researchers, and engineers carrying out projects in a wide range of activities relevant to forest-based science, products using forest-based raw materials, process improvements, or other innovations throughout the value chain. The award is not only about research and development; it is about showcasing significant innovations in science and technology in the forest and paper industry.

 

The awards program is sponsored by the International Council of Forest & Paper Associations (ICFPA), a worldwide network of forest and paper industry associations that promotes cooperation in areas of common interest to its members and serves as the industry’s advocate at the international level. As founding member of the ICFPA, the American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) is invited to submit the top U.S. three applicants to this international competition.

 

Award and Recognition:

This awards program provides applicants with a unique opportunity to showcase their projects alongside those from countries around the world. Each country/region will nominate up to three candidates to compete internationally after going through the national selection process. The U.S. application process is being handled jointly between AF&PA and TAPPI.

The ICFPA awards program will take place every two years. The winning submissions will have the opportunity to present their projects in front of an audience of global forest products industry CEOs at the international CEO Roundtable meeting in Berlin in May 2017.

 

The theme for the inaugural awards program is "Game Changing Technologies for the Forest and Paper Industry - Unfolding the Potentials of Forest, Paper and Wood-based Products." Subcategories include, but are not limited to:

 

a) Future Generation Forestry: Forest tree breeding and biotechnology; Precision forestry; Measurements and inventory

b) Innovation in the Forest-based Industry: Analysis and properties of pulp and paper; Facilities, instrument and process control; Bioproducts and wood chemistry; Recycling, deinking and environment; Timber for construction; Material substitution with wood.

 

Applicants to the award program should be 30 or under. The application package should include the following items:

1. Short CV (one page maximum)
2. Statement of purpose including:

• 500 words; double spacing; font Calibri 12
• objectives
• description of project
• summary of methodology
• expected results
• relevance to forest products industry
• how it fits with the selected theme
• what makes it innovative.

3. One Letter of Support.

 

For further information or questions, please contact Katie Missimer, Manager, Environmental Policy, AF&PA or Tanya Hickson, Member Relations Manager/Student Liaison, TAPPI.