The ambitious goal of the multidisciplinary FOBI research community is to provide the necessary scientific knowledge needed to transform from current forest-based bioeconomy into a biosociety – the bioeconomy’s 3rd wave. FOBI research provides science-based solutions needed to improve the sustainable and multifunctional management and use of forests for different ecosystem services. FOBI research contributes to creating and accelerating sustainable bioeconomy markets and business in a forest-based bioeconomy.
Changes taking place in nature, technology and economy, and in society at large, guide our use of forests. The Forests and Bioeconomy research community explores and adds to our scientific understanding of these changes, while also striving to develop forest-based solutions for the benefit of humanity – by showing respect for the environment.
Jouni Pykäläinen
Professor
News and events
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Upcoming events
Forests and Bioeconomy Research Community has three interconnected thematic research focus areas
FOBI RC focuses on three core research areas that enable cross-disciplinary research:
- Forest inventory and ecosystem modelling: This area advances understanding of forest structures and dynamics. It improves forest monitoring methods and develops data-driven tools for forest management and land-use planning.
- Novel forest-based products and services: This area explores new uses of forest resources, for example, in well-being, nutrition and green chemistry. The aim is to increase the sustainable value based on both wood and non-wood forest products.
- Market behaviour in bioeconomy: This area examines the decision-making of market actors and conditions that support sustainable innovation. On one hand, it draws on public discourse and observed behaviour of actors, and on the other hand, it develops decision analysis and innovation management in the field of forest bioeconomy.
Forests and Bioeconomy Research Community (FOBI) will enhance multidisciplinary research collaboration between research groups within and between the four interconnected thematic research focus areas. Research groups working in different disciplines but interested in the same global challenges and research themes, will apply together external competitive research funding from different national and international funding instruments. They hire joined researchers working across disciplines. FOBI RC will also enhance joined acquisition and efficient use of UEF research infrastructures.
The Forests and Bioeconomy Research Community (FOBI) will be in the future the leading research centre in Europe providing science-based solutions for a sustainable transition from the current forest-based bioeconomy into a biosociety, that relies on sustainably managed and utilised forests and sustainable production and consumption of pro-environmental products and services to mitigate climate change.
Members of the management group
Professor Jouni Pykäläinen (director)
Professor Tommi Laukkanen (vice-director)
Professor Janne Jänis
Senior Researcher Antti Kilpeläinen
Professor Mikko Vastaranta
FOBI Researchers
Aakala Tuomas Associate Professor, School of Forest Sciences
Haapala Antti Professor, School of Forest Sciences
Hakulinen Nina Senior Researcher, Department of Chemistry
Hujala Teppo Professor, Forest bioeconomy foresight, School of Forest Sciences
Jänis Janne Professor, Organic chemistry, mass spectrometry, Department of Chemistry
Karhunen Leila University Lecturer, Institute of Public Health and Clinical Nutrition
Kilpeläinen Antti Senior Researcher, School of Forest Sciences
Korhonen Lauri Senior Researcher, Forest Mensuration, School of Forest Sciences
Kumpula Timo Professor, Geography, Environmental Geoinformatics
Kärhä Kalle Professor, School of Forest Sciences
Lappalainen Reijo Professor, Biomaterials technology, Department of Technical Physics
Laukkanen Tommi Professor, Marketing and Consumer Behavior, Business School
Laurén Annamari Professor, Process-based forest ecosystem modelling, School of Forest Sciences
Maltamo Matti Professor, School of Forest Sciences
Mola Blas Associate Professor, Biomass Production and Bioenergy, School of Forest Sciences
Oksanen Elina Professor, Department of Environmental and Biological Sciences
Pappinen Ari Professor, School of Forest Sciences
Peltola Heli Professor in Silvicultural Sciences, School of Forest Sciences
Pukkala Timo Professor, Emeritus, School of Forest Sciences
Pykäläinen Jouni Professor, Forest economics and forest policy
Tikkanen Jukka Research Director, School of Forest Sciences
Tokola Timo Professor, School of Forest Sciences
Vastaranta Mikko Professor, Digitalization and Knowledge Leadership in Forest-based Bioeconomy, School of Forest Sciences
Vauhkonen Jari Professor, Forest planning, School of Forest Sciences
Weckström Katja Professor, Commercial law, Law School
Forests and bioeconomy research related groups and projects
Research group
- International Business and Sales Management (IBS)
- Marketing and Consumer Behavior Research Group
- Vastaranta Research Syndicate
Network of research
- Network of research Digital Geosciences
- Plant biology
- Biomass and Bioenergy
- Wood Materials Science
- Bioorganic chemistry
- Mass Spectrometry and Bioanalytical Chemistry Research Group
- Biomaterials technology group
- Food Research
- Forest Health
- Industrial Forest Biotechnology and Biorefining (InBio)
Consortium
Our partners
Units of UEF
- School of Forest Sciences
- Department of Environmental and Biological Sciences
- Department of Chemistry
- Department of Applied Physics
- Department of Geographical and Historical Studies
- UEF Business School
- UEF Law School
- Institute of Public Health and Clinical Nutrition
National research institutes
- Natural Resources Institute Finland
- Finnish Geospatial Research Institute of National Land Survey of Finland
- Finnish Meteorological Institute
- Finnish Environment Institute
- VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland
- University of Helsinki
- Tampere University
- Aalto University
- Oulu University
- University of Turku
International research institutes
The success of new bioeconomy products and services in international markets requires innovative business models and an understanding of consumer behavior and decision-making criteria.
Tommi Laukkanen
Professor
