An international patent survey commissioned by the Finnish Forest Industries Federation, FFIF, shows that Finland is outperforming the USA, Japan, and China in several technology fields. Inventions and corporate patenting activity are important indicators of dynamic and successful research, development, and innovation operations.
The latest international patent survey indicates that Finland is among the global leaders in the development of several forest industry technology sectors. Judging by the capacity (strength) of its patent portfolio, Finland is a global leader in patents related to microfibrillated and nanofibrillated cellulose, wastewater and sludge treatment, and the recovery of lignin from black liquor. Regarding patents related to folding boxboard, molded pulp, and stickers and labels, Finland ranks among the top three countries in the world.
“Active interest in patents and a strong patent portfolio are positive evidence of the Finnish forest industry's ability to innovate and its competitiveness in global markets. Companies have invested heavily in research and product development,” explains Marjaana Suorsa, Head of Innovation Policy at the Finnish Forest Industries Federation (Marjaana Suorsa). Patent-related activity has been particularly active among major Finnish forest industry companies Metsä Group, Stora Enso, and UPM. Small and medium-sized enterprises in the sector had submitted relatively few patent applications by 2020 (the last year included in the survey).
Inventions and patents have a major impact on the competitiveness of the Finnish forest industry and its opportunities in the international market. M. Suorsa points out that not every patent necessarily leads to a product, but patents are an important indicator of research, development, and innovation activity. The FFIF survey did not calculate the monetary value of the patents.
The rest of the world is ahead of the EU
Forest.fi asked M. Suorsa to compare the situation between EU member states and the rest of the world. The result showed that in most of the technology fields included in the survey, the rest of the world is ahead of the EU in terms of the number of patents and patent publications. “The survey showed that the USA and Japan have particularly strong positions in this regard. In some technology fields, China is very strong,” informs M. Suorsa. “These findings clearly make Finland's position even more exceptional. It could be said that Finland has brilliant results in several technology areas,” M. Suorsa says proudly.
The Finnish national bioeconomy strategy emphasizes the importance of increasing the added value of the bioeconomy. Long-term technology and product development in the Finnish forest industry creates new opportunities for it. The patents obtained also characterize the industry's work and contribution to promoting sustainability. New solutions in materials and products can replace those products whose manufacture uses fossil materials or which are environmentally unfriendly in other ways. Inventions in wood processing and protection contribute to a longer life cycle for wood products and, for example, long-term carbon sequestration in construction.
The study commissioned by the Finnish Forest Industries Federation examined patent publications between 2006 and 2020 across nine technology fields. The survey was conducted by IP Analytics Karvonen and Turnip Innovations.