Forest4.0 Centre of Excellence Enters a New Phase
The Forest4.0 initiative has reached a significant milestone in its second year with the formal establishment of the Centre of Excellence in Kaunas, Lithuania. Under the leadership of Vytautas Magnus University and with the close collaboration of project partners, the legal structure of the Centre has now been finalized, and Dr. Nerijus Kupstaitis has been appointed as its Chief Executive Officer. With these key developments in place, the initiative enters a new chapter with high expectations for the years ahead.
The planning of upcoming activities was the focus of a two-day meeting held in Kaunas on April 7–8. The Forest4.0 team dedicated a full day to strategic discussions, reviewing project progress and aligning future priorities.
“The most significant achievement of the past year was the creation of the Centre of Excellence as a legal entity,” said CEO Nerijus Kupstaitis. “This marks a turning point for engaging researchers, fostering collaboration among universities, and building a robust network of stakeholders both within Lithuania and internationally. For the first time, we are seeing real momentum in connecting forestry professionals with digital technology experts. Looking ahead, our ambitions are even greater – we aim to expand beyond the Lithuanian ecosystem and establish Forest4.0 as a recognized international player.”
Ambitions for Growth
The potential for Forest4.0 to disseminate knowledge and influence broader ecosystems was also highlighted by Christine Ingridsdotter, Project Manager at Interior Cluster Sweden.
“Forests, and the issues of sustainability, resilience, and biodiversity, are more relevant than ever,” she noted. “Forest4.0 offers a powerful opportunity to share this knowledge – not just within Lithuania and Sweden, but more widely. Our goal is to equip policymakers, industries, and the public with a deeper understanding of the actions we must take now to preserve forests for the future. It’s essential that we voice clear and sometimes bold opinions on what must change to protect this invaluable resource.”
Cross-Project Collaboration
On the second day of the meeting, the Forest4.0 team joined the Interreg Baltic Sea Region project Diverse Gene Watch for a joint conference. A key focus was forest resilience, particularly the importance of preserving the genetic diversity of keystone tree species.
In his conference presentation, Dr. Arianit Kurti, Head of the Department of Computer Science and Media Technology at Linnaeus University, emphasized the critical role of interdisciplinary collaboration in driving innovation in forestry.
“Innovation thrives at the intersection of disciplines,” Dr. Kurti stated. “We must engage forest owners, producers, and stakeholders across the entire forestry value chain. Their insights are vital to shaping effective, forward-looking solutions. Forest4.0 is intentionally positioned at this
intersection – leveraging data and disruptive technologies to transform how we think about forests. They are not merely sources of timber and raw material; they hold far greater potential.”
Looking Ahead
With growing momentum and a range of events and initiatives planned for 2025, Forest4.0 is poised to further solidify its role as a transformative force in sustainable forest management and digital innovation. To stay updated on the project’s progress and upcoming activities, follow Forest4.0 on LinkedIn and Facebook.
