The ROKWOOD project will support the cooperation between six European research-driven
clusters in order to improve research and technological development (RTD), market uptake and to
increase investments in wooden biomass production and utilisation schemes at regional level. The
six participating regional clusters will be co-ordinated in order to develop a Joint Action Plan (JAP)
at European level to drive economic development through research and technological development
activities in the selected topics of sustainable production and efficient use of wooden biomass.
Each regional research-driven cluster is represented in the ROKWOOD project by three partners
respecting the triple-helix concept (business entity, research entity and local/regional authority).
Apart from these partners the European Biomass Industry Association (EUBIA) has joint the
consortium in order to assure a broad dissemination of project results to a broad range of
stakeholders (e.g. industry, biomass producer, research organisations). All partners have been
actively involved in the development, implementation, monitoring and utilisation of short rotation
plantations (SRPs) for the regional production of wooden biomass. Taking into account the
knowledge and experience of the partners the project has the capacity to become one main driver of innovation in the wooden biomass sector in Europe. Some of the project partners have already
been involved in various common research projects in the addressed sector. However, the need for
a networking structure in order to enhance this collaboration was discussed several times among
the participating regions. “Regions of Knowledge” is the perfect funding scheme for further
discussions and implementation of ideas the proposing clusters have developed in the last years.