Book Description

This report synthesizes current information and expert opinions pertaining to technological innovation & competitiveness and assesses the technological performance of the Canadian forest products sector. The opening chapter examines the process of technological innovation and technology's role in and impact on society. The next chapter assesses the technological capacity of the forest sector and describes some approaches for evaluating the adequacy of research and development funding. Chapter four identifies and discusses features and characteristics of the Canadian forest products sector and market that affect the industry's technological capacity and rate of innovation. The last chapter examines the changing competitive circumstances of the industry and how these conditions are expected to circumscribe the industry's future technological requirements. It also reviews and summarizes findings from previous chapters and reorganizes them into issues and considerations for positioning the forest sector in a knowledge-based global market. The appendix contains an overview of organizations involved in forestry and forest products research and development in Canada.