Perceptions on the Importance of Forest Sector Innovations : Biofuels, Biomaterials, or Niche Products?

New innovations are called for to renew the European forest sector into bioeconomy. However, little research exists on how the industry innovativeness is publicly perceived. Using data collected with an online questionnaire in four European countries, we investigate perceptions related to forest sector innovations on 13 current and new bioeconomy-related products and services. Altogether, 218 valid responses were received in 2015, and the data were analysed using descriptive statistics, performance-importance analysis, and Gartner's innovation hype cycle. Based on our results, the respondents were in the strongest agreement that the forest sector has since the year 2000 has produced innovations related to wood building systems, construction materials, and wood composites. In the next 15 years, they foresaw a decline in innovations related to biofuels and paper products. The European forest sector also has future potential in wood construction, which is likely related to international policy targets related to carbon mitigation and capture. The observed variation in perceptions among the respondents on forest sector innovativeness calls for strengthening industry R&D, as well as by improving societal awareness of ongoing innovation projects by developing better communication.Peer reviewe

Layered Nanostructures in Proton Conductive Polymers Obtained by Initiated Chemical Vapor Deposition

Proton conductive copolymers of 1H,1H,2H,2H-perfluorodecyl acrylate (PFDA) and methacrylic acid (MAA) have been synthesized by initiated chemical vapor deposition (iCVD). Detailed insights into the copolymers molecular organization were gained through an X-ray-based investigation to serve as a starting point for systematic studies on the relation among proton conductivity and polymer structure. The method of copolymerization, iCVD, facilitated the tuning of the ratio between acidic COOH groups, coming from MAA, and the hydrophobic matrix from the PFDA components. It was demonstrated that the copolymers crystallize into a bilayer structure, formed by the perfluorinated pendant chains of PFDA, perpendicular to the substrate surface. The MAA molecules form COOH-enriched regions among the bilayers-parallel to the substrate surface-which can act as ionic channels for proton conduction when the acid groups are deprotonated. The interplanar distance between the bilayer lamellar structures increases by the presence of MAA units from 3.19 to 3.56 nm for the MAA-PFDA copolymer with 41% MAA, therefore yielding to 0.4 nm wide channels. Proton conductivities as high as 55 mS/cm have been achieved for copolymers with 41% MAA fraction. Such ordered, layered nanostructures were never shown before for copolymers deposited from the vapor phase, and their anisotropy can be of inspiration for many applications beyond proton conduction. Moreover, the one-step copolymerization process has the potential to manufacture inexpensive, high quality membranes for proton exchange membrane fuel cells

Bioeconomy perception by future stakeholders: Hearing from European forestry students

This article provides useful information for universities offering forestry programs and facing the growing demand for bioeconomy education. An explorative survey on bioeconomy perception among 1400 students enrolled in 29 universities across nine European countries offering forestry programs was performed. The data have been elaborated via descriptive statistics and cluster analysis. Around 70% of respondents have heard about the bioeconomy, mainly through university courses. Students perceive forestry as the most important sector for bioeconomy; however, the extent of perceived importance of forestry varies between countries, most significantly across groups of countries along a North\u2013South European axis. Although differences across bachelor and master programs are less pronounced, they shed light on how bioeconomy is addressed by university programs and the level of student satisfaction with this. These differences and particularities are relevant for potential development routes towards comprehensive bioeconomy curricula at European forestry universities with a forestry focus

Bioeconomy perception by future stakeholders: hearing from European forestry students.

The forest sector plays a pivotal role within the European bioeconomy and forestry students should be regarded as key-future stakeholders for the development of a forest-based bioeconomy. Nonetheless, while a number of studies have been conducted on public perception of bioeconomy and bio-based products in Europe, none of them has been specifically focused on forestry students. Researchers of the PerForm European cooperation network developed a quantitative online survey targeted at forestry students, including Bachelor, Master and Doctorate ones. The survey addresses students within eight countries across Europe (Austria, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Slovakia, Sweden and Russian Federation) and aims to analyse and compare their knowledge and perception of forest-based bioeconomy today and in a future perspective. It consists of a multi-language online questionnaire structured into six sections: from students\u2019 knowledge and perception of key-concepts and topics, to concrete application for future job opportunities. A stratified sampling approach is adopted to cover the main forestry courses in selected countries. Data collection and analysis are performed as part of Master theses. Responses are analysed and compared among countries and programmes across Europe, in order to gain an up-to-date and in depth picture of the level of knowledge and perception of forest-based bioeconomy by students, as well as gaps and expectations. Findings from the survey provide useful inputs to develop future action for the promotion of education, training and skills opportunities in forest-based bioeconomy across Europe, thus contributing to key-actions defined by the 2018 European Union (EU) Bioeconomy Strategy Action Plan