Metsä Group and the University of Jyväskylä have entered into a partnership agreement aimed at advancing research and education related to forests, the forest industry, and wood-based products. The goal is to strengthen alignment with the evolving needs of working life and industry. The agreement was signed in Jyväskylä by Ilkka Hämälä, President and CEO of Metsä Group, and Jari Ojala, Rector of the University of Jyväskylä.
“Metsä Group considers it essential that high-quality research on forests and nature is conducted in Finland. We are pleased to support this work and believe that the cooperation will bring benefits to all parties involved,” stated Hämälä.
The partnership will focus on joint initiatives in several key research areas:
- Regenerative forestry and land use, with a view to improving biodiversity and the overall state of nature;
- Chemical analytics in the study of wood-based processes and products;
- Sustainable business strategies and models supporting the forest sector’s green transition.
The collaboration will include joint research projects, guest lectures delivered by Metsä Group experts, and site visits for university staff and students to Metsä Group’s facilities.
A key objective of the agreement is also to ease students’ transition into working life and enhance the regional availability of highly qualified professionals. Metsä Group will offer students thesis opportunities and summer jobs, and may co-finance doctoral dissertations and other research projects on a case-by-case basis.
“Our collaboration with Metsä Group will include multidisciplinary research into solutions that promote sustainability in the forest industry. The University of Jyväskylä brings to the table not only strong research expertise and facilities, but also insights from the latest academic findings across multiple disciplines. This partnership also provides an excellent pathway for our students to smoothly integrate into the workforce,” commented Rector Ojala.
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