A Roadmap for the Canadian Value Added Wood Products Industry and the Prefabricated Building Systems Industry was completed in 2007 under the Value to Wood Program. Current information is needed to confirm actual industry’s needs for innovation. The project consisted in conducting a Value Added Sector Assessment Survey to update the previous Roadmap.
Information and data were essentially collected through the use of an online interactive survey prepared by the FPInnovations’ economics and markets group. A total of 2,086 industry and research people were contacted to complete the questionnaire. Of that total, 256 respondents returned questionnaires which were kept for analysis.
The study has reviewed the research issues and needs raised by industry respondents. These issues and needs were analyzed and sorted in different themes and then compared to the findings of the 2007 roadmap. The conclusions of the study are notably:
The driving forces of innovation identified in 2007 are still relevant and valid today
o Global competition and consumers needs are the main driving forces leading businesses to seek greater manufacturing and cost efficiencies.
The priorities and research needs identified in the 2007 Roadmap are still pertinent today
o There is a need to increase product development capacities through better design, better finishing, better quality, etc.
o Provide relevant and up to date market intelligence information to support the value added sectors.