Scion's science platforms

Forest systems ($7.2M per year)

Delivering innovative knowledge, tools and capability to support the continued expansion of the New Zealand forest growing industry, thereby contributing to New Zealand’s economy, environmental performance and social and cultural health.

By 2024, success in this Platform will see an increase in forested land, improved forest productivity, a diversified forest estate, increasing carbon sequestration (positioning New Zealand to meet its ETS requirements) and increased exports. The Māori economy will improve, and we will see increasing international investment into New Zealand forestry. We will continue to build on and strengthen the partnerships we have with the Forest Growing Levy Trust Board R&D Committee; Forest Growers Research Ltd, the Radiata Pine Breeding Co Ltd, Central and Local Government, individual companies and Māori.

Specifically, the Forest Systems Platform will:

• Increase value from plantation forested land under Impact Area 1 (SSIF funding $2,675K; other funding $11,738K);
• Increase the resilience of forests to biotic and abiotic risks under Impact Area 2 (SSIF funding $2,445K; other funding $8,415K);
• Sustain licence to operate across the forest industry value chain under Impact Area 3 (SSIF funding $285K; other funding, $2,130K); and
• Diversify forests and local manufacturing to support regional growth under Impact Area 4 (SSIF funding $1,753K; other funding $3,223K).

Manufactured products from trees ($10.2M per year)

Delivering the innovative knowledge, tools and capability to enable the Manufacturing Industry to derive greater value from processed trees through a more diversified product range, build manufacturing in the regions, meet increasingly stringent international protocols around product stewardship and address non-tariff trade barriers. This includes high-risk research into disruptive concepts such as distributed manufacturing and additive manufacturing.

By 2024, success in this Platform will see increasing investment into Manufacturing Industries, diversify the range of manufactured products from trees (and their export), including utilisation of waste wood products, increasing penetration of tree-derived products into buildings, packaging, bioenergy and polymers/chemicals, bioenergy and biofuels contributing to New Zealand’s energy supply.

Specifically, the Manufactured Products from Trees Platform will:

• Sustain licence to operate across the forest industry value chain under Impact Area 3 (SSIF funding $200K; other funding, $222K);
• Diversify forests and local manufacturing to support regional growth under Impact Area 4 (SSIF funding $400K; other funding $434K);
• Increase the use of wood and fibre products in the built environment under Impact Area 5 (SSIF funding $2,500K; other funding $917K);
• Manufacture and apply biorefinery products from wood fibre, waste and other biomaterials under Impact Area 6 (SSIF funding $4,790K; other funding $7,302K); and
• Use more forest biomass to improve New Zealand’s energy security and reduce emissions under Impact Area 7 (SSIF funding $2,350K; other funding $1,080K).

Across the two Platforms, SSIF will support Scion’s thought leadership for the forestry industry and the emerging bioeconomy, supporting capability critical for its future, and challenging current industry paradigms through a strong focus on discovery science. SSIF will strengthen Scion’s partnerships with Māori, support five of the National Science Challenges, and extend national and international collaborations.