As part of the EUFORE event “Shaping the Future of Forest Research & Innovation for a Competitive Europe” held on Wednesday, 15 October 2025, FOREST FUSION was a dynamic networking session designed to spark meaningful connections and collaboration among key stakeholders in the forest-based sector, bringing together 70 participants.
Using a “speed-dating” format, six 10-minute discussions between 2–3 researchers interested in the same topics took place sequentially across 25 meeting points. Based on participants’ interests, approximately 150 meetings were organized. Prepared and moderated by Carina Lemke (FNR, DE), the session grouped participants according to the Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda (SRIA) topics, creating an environment conducive to focused dialogue and joint project ideation.
By encouraging exchange among research, industry, administration, and civil society, FOREST FUSION served as both a catalyst for innovation and an incubator for future project (e.g. within FOREST Partnership calls). Feedback was overwhelmingly positive, with participants emphasizing the value of open dialogue and the new networking opportunities created through EUFORE and ForestValue2.
