Co-Creating Well-Being about Forest Resources - COWELFR

Co-Creating Well-Being about Forest Resources (COWELFR) is a joint project between R&D institutions in Akita prefecture and North Karelia. Its aim is to strengthen collaboration between research institutes to create new value for forests based on the innovative technologies and ideas of each country and contribute to eliminating the knowledge gaps. The project aims in 1. promoting mutual understanding among participating institutions, 2. strengthening and expanding collaboration, 3. concluding inter-institutional agreements, 4. identifying joint R&D theme, 5. acquiring new funds in Japan and EU. This will be achieved with online and face-to-face meetings/symposiums and researcher and student exchange

The proposed activities will strengthen the connection between Japan and North Karelia Institutions via shared R&D activities supporting already existing project base on development of environmentally friendly biomaterials, wood building and forestry management bringing new expertise and insight to the projects. Via the project student and researcher exchange will be launched between institutions.

The Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST) funded COWELFR-project is led by Akita Prefectural University Institute of Wood Technology (IWT), Professor Katsuhiko Takata. Other Japanese partners in the pro Akita International University and Akita University of Art. Natural Resources Institute Finland (LUKE) Joensuu is acting as main partner in the COWELFR-project from Finnish side. Other Finnish partners in the project are University of Eastern Finland (UEF) and Business Joensuu Ltd.