BIOSYS North Karelia International Growth Ecosystem Hits Milestones in Japan

The BIOSYS North Karelia Ecosystem Held Region-to-Region Forest Bioeconomy Workshops on Nagano’s “Forest Valley” and Karelia’s “Forest Joensuu” in Ina City, Nagano.

By Naomi Moriyama

On November 13, 2024, key members of the Forestry Division of Nagano Prefecture Government, Ina City and North Karelia Taskforce convened at the INADANI SEES, the Ina City’s triple-helix facility, for the Nagano Prefecture & Ina City – North Karelia Forest Bioeconomy Day.

INADANI SEES was developed modeling after Science Park, Joensuu.

Nagano and Ina forestry teams and North Karelia taskforce members in front of the Inadani Sees facility

Mr. Markus Hirvonen admiring the birch tree he transplanted with the Nagano representatives in June 2022

Mr. Takeyoshi Ueda, Assistant Director, Forestry Policy Division, Nagano Prefecture, moderated the region-to-region forest bioeconomy day.

Mr. Takeyoshi Ueda, Vice Director, Forestry Policy Division, Nagano Prefecture

Mr. Shigeyuki Mukaiyama, Director, Nagano Prefecture Forestry comprehensive Research Centre

Mr. Markus Hirvonen, Region Mayor, Regional Council of North Karelia

Workshop Theme 1: Specific Examples of Regional Activities

Mr. Noboru Chishiro, Division Director, Local Timber Utilization Division, Nagano Prefecture presented “Kiso Valley and Ina Valley Forest Valley initiatives”

Mr. Tateshi Sakai, Division Director, 50 Years of Forest Promotion Division, Ina City Agriculture and Forestry Department, presented “INADANI SEES, a base facility for industry-academia-government collaboration”

Mr. Kazane Yamamoto, explained “Ina Forest Education Initiatives”

Dr. Masato Katoh, CEO, Precision Forestry Measurement Ltd. (PreFore), presented Strategic Collaboration with Arbonaut Oy

Mr. Timo Leinonen, Manager for Cross-border Cooperation, Regional Council of North Karelia, presented “Roles and Tools of the Regional Council in Supporting Cooperation in Research, Development and Innovation in North Karelia”

Dr. Erkki Verkasalo, Research Professor, Wood Science and Technology, LUKE

Workshop Theme 2: New Food Product Development Utilizing North Karelian Raw Materials for the Japanese and South Korean Markets

Dr. Susanne Heiska and Dr. Jose-Martin Ramos-Diaz, Senior Scientists of the Natural Resources Institute Finland (LUKE), presented “Co-creation Process and Luke’s Expertise” and “Food Pilot, Extrusion, Model Food Products” respectively. They invited the audience to taste and give feedback about the new food items made with North Karelian ingredients such as lingonberries and black currents. About 30 people participated in the sampling session.

Workshop Theme 3: Wood Utilization, Construction and Value-chains

Dr. Robert Prinz, Senior Scientist, LUKE

Professor Jouni Pykäläinen, Forest Economics & Policy, University of Eastern Finland

Workshop Theme 4: Mushroom as Materials

Dr. Hiroya Nakauchi, Post-doctoral Researcher, University of Eastern Finland, presented his research and key findings

Workshop Theme 5: Health and Well-being Effects of Wood-based Solutions

Professor Tuula Jyske, Wood, Science and Wellbeing, University of Helsinki and Senior Scientist, Natural Resources Institute Finland (LUKE)

Mr. Valter Huttunen, Master’s Degree Student, Forest Sciences, University of Helsinki

Closing Remarks

Dr. Daizo Tsutsumi, Chairman, Nagano Prefecture Council for Promoting the Introduction of Overseas Forestry Technology and Professor, Faculty of Agriculture, Shinshu University, closed the workshops.

Press Interview

Networking

Inadani Sees Displays

Inadani Sees Cedar Fibre Osaka Expo Seal

Photos Naomi Moriyama 写真森山奈保美

Location: INADANI SEES 伊那市産学官連携拠点施設
7200-27 Nishiminowa, Ina, Nagano伊那市西箕輪7200-27

主催:

北カレリヤ地域評議会
BIOSYS Japan

共催:

フィンランド自然資源研究所（Luke）
東フィンランド大学
ProAgria＆MKN 東フィンランド
長野県
伊那市
長野県海外林業技術等導入促進協議会

Organizers:

Regional Council of North Karelia
BIOSYS Japan

Co-organizers:

Natural Resources Institute Finland (LUKE)
University of Eastern Finland
ProAgria＆MKN East Finland
Nagano Prefecture
Ina City
Nagano Prefecture Council for Promoting the Introduction of Overseas Forestry Technology

長野県より出席

●長野県　林業総合センター　所長　向山　繁幸（むかいやま　しげゆき）氏
●長野県　林務部　信州の木活用課　課長　千代　登（ちしろ　のぼる）氏

伊那市より出席

●伊那市　副市長　伊藤徹（いとうとおる）氏
●伊那市　企画部　地域創造課　課長　田中久（たなかひさし）氏
●伊那市　農林部　50年の森林推進課　課長　酒井建（さかいたてし）氏

BIOSYSより出席

●フィンランド自然資源研究所（Luke）BIOSYSリード　ユッタ・カウッピ博士　
●北カレリア地域評議会　BIOSYSプロジェクトマネジャー　森山　奈保美（もりやまなおみ）

Attendees

Regional Council of North Karelia

Mr. Markus Hirvonen, Region Governor
Mr. Timo Leinonen, Manager for Cross-border Cooperation
Ms. Naomi Moriyama, Communications Specialist, BIOSYS International Growth Ecosystem

Luke

Dr. Jutta Kauppi
Professor Tuula Jyske
Dr. Susanne Heiska
Professor Erkki Verkasalo
Dr. Robert Prinz
Dr. Jose Martin Ramos Diaz

University of Eastern Finland

Professor Jouni Pykäläinen, Forest Economics & Policy, University of Eastern Finland
Dr. Hiroya Nakauchi
Ms. Katri Rusanen

University of Helsinki

Mr. Valter Huttunen

Audiences

Nagano business and organization owners and executives

The BIOSYS North Karelia International Growth Ecosystem is run by Natural Resources Institute Finland / Luonnonvarakeskus as a project lead, the Regional Council of North Karelia Pohjois-Karjalan maakuntaliitto, University of Eastern Finland and MKN Itä-Suomi | Rural Women´s Advisory Centre (RWAC) of Eastern Finland. The project is funded by Renewing and Competent Finland 2021–2027, EU Regional and Structural Policy Programme’s Just Transition Fund – JTF, and Regional Council of North Karelia.

Project Profile in Finnish
プロジェクト概要日本語　
 Project Profile in English
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For more information, please contact Naomi Moriyama [email protected]