Technology transfer and uptake: Industry

perspective

Elaine Birk, Rayonier New Zealand

Outline

1. Personal journey with Tech Transfer

2. What is Tech Transfer – definitions

3. What factors limit successful update of research

4. Rayonier initiatives contributing to improved R&D

uptake

5. Period of transition- Impacts of changing plantation

forestry R&D environment

6. Tech Transfer mechanisms – Industry and Providers

Tech Transfer 1990’s

Frustrating at times…

Technical Reports Register – lots of reports sent to foresters and summarised in a register but there was

minimal uptake of information or use of the register

% of potential TRV with fertiliser - calculated using the basal Area response model and inputs for different P retention soils, P rate and years of response

Forest Element in

deficiency

Foliage concentration at sampling

planting year

Age at fertilisin

g in 2009

Phosphate retention class

Treatment regime 2009 Do nothing response Growth/yield assumptions assuming harvest at 27 yrs in SLD and 26 yrs in NLD and BOP; and no other limitations to growth

Glenbervie

P 0.095 2001 8 low - medium

73 kg P/ha - any P fertiliser

Reduce potential TRV by 14%; assume decrease in large saw logs and pruned volume; with increase in pulp and small saw logs

Assume stand is currently growing at 14% less than potential;over next 18 years the stand could achieve 89-92% of potential TRV (variation is around P retention capacity)

Riverhead

P 0.095 6 medium 73 kg P/ha - any P fertiliser

Reduce potential TRV by 14%; assume decrease in large saw logs and pruned volume; with increase in pulp and small saw logs

Assume stand is currently growing at 14% less than potential;over next 20 years the stand could achieve 91% of potential TRV

Tairua P 0.09 10 high 90 kgP ha - as rock phosphate (RPR) (Ernslaw uses 80 kg P as RPR so this could be adequate)

Reduce potential TRV by 18%; assume decrease in large saw logs and pruned volume; with increase in pulp and small saw logs

Assume stand is currently growing at 18% less than potential;over next 16 years the stand could achieve 89% of potential TRV

Maramarua

P 0.09 8 low 73 kg P/ha - any P fertiliser

Reduce potential TRV by 18%; assume decrease in large saw logs and pruned volume; with increase in pulp and small saw logs

Assume stand is currently growing at 18% less than potential; over next 18 years the stand could achieve 84% of potential TRV

Fertiliser Response Estimates – simple Coop tool used to develop internal guidelines but not sufficient to change

Operational practice around fertiliser management

“process of developing practical applications for the results of scientific research” (wordiq)

Tech transfer - definitions

“process of introducing new tools, processes and practices enabling change in organisations” (FFR)

Does Tech Transfer occur after the research is done?

What limits successful uptake of R&D outputs

Not relevant

Interesting information

but „how can I use it‟?

No decision tool or model

Trials installed and

measured without user

input

Tools developed without

user input

Funding cut-before useful

results or delivery vehicle

are obtained

Conservative foresters

Would trial results deliver

operationally - risk of no

return

Attitudes toward research-

disjoint between R&D and

forest operations

Is it relevant to my patch

Poorly communicated

results / applications

Poor implementation –

“tried it - doesn‟t work”

Outline

1. Personal journey with Tech Transfer

2. What is Tech Transfer

3. What factors limit successful update of research

4. Rayonier initiatives contributing to improved R&D

uptake

5. Period of transition- Impacts of changing plantation

forestry R&D environment

6. Tech Transfer mechanisms – Industry and Providers

Rayonier NZ Initiatives enhancing Tech

Transfer and uptake

„Improvement‟ culture

Involvement in Industry

Research – all levels

Rayonier Technical and

R&D Steering group –

strategies, priorities

Annual Forester meetings

and field days

Identify improvement

opportunities

Measure and review

Challenge what we do

Bring in experts

Document our practices

and basic principles

Exchange learnings with

other companies

Active in FFR testing and

trials

Managers reinforce what is

important – enabling process

Transition to Research Consortia

Research Cooperatives

Consortia

WQI, FFR

From Research Cooperatives

1990s- early 2000’s

Scientist driven objectives and

competitive bids for funds

Minimal Industry investment

Outputs – trial updates, reports,

presentations, journal pubs,

spreadsheet tools, field visits

Limited Industry uptake • passive process

• reliant on technical reps

• Success varied between Coops

Transition to Research Consortia

Research Cooperatives

Consortia

WQI, FFR

Increased Industry Engagement Increased Industry Funding

Increased Tech transfer success - examples

New tools developed and

commercialised

Time resource characterised

Wood quality standards

Methods and models

Properties affecting

performance in use

Site and silviculture effects

Wood Properties e-Book

Steep slope harvesting Forecaster model Nutrition Manual Lidar/Rapideye Cluster projects Erosion risk map/model FSC cluster herbicide research Land use model Technical workshops

Why rather than ‘what’ – reasons for increase

in successful tech transfer

Shift in research engagement and management to more active

Industry involvement and Industry driven research (esp WQI)

End use applications identified at the beginning

WQI reports included a „so what‟ for Industry section

Industry-Science Cluster groups focused on testing new technologies,

testing herbicides of direct relevance to deliver solutions

Workshops focused on specific key learning areas and applications

for users e.g. silvi workshop

Manuals putting in one place a compendium of knowledge – Nutrition

Manual; Wood Properties e-book

Comprehensive „one-stop shop‟ websites including all historical

reports

Theme leaders – part time – actively linking scientists with Industry,

ensuring targeted workplan development and product delivery

Next step-up in Industry engagement:

Forest Owners R&D Innovation Plan

and Levy Funding driving research objectives

Research Cooperatives

Consortia

WQI then FFR

FOA Levy Funding

Forest Owners actively engaged and Set the R&D target to raise the profitability of current and future plantations

Research Cooperatives

Consortia

WQI then FFR

FOA Levy Funding

Strong focus on Tech Transfer

Forest Owners R&D Innovation Plan

and Levy Funding

“Growing Confidence in Forestry’s Future”

Broader range Industry participants

Suggestions for Industry to increase R&D uptake

Culture of improvement / innovation across organisation

Integrate research into reviews of current practices

Top down – communicate expectations – create forum

Active not passive focus on research and technical

improvements

Prioritise – what will make the biggest difference to your

operations; be proactive; „small steps‟

Support staff involvement in Industry R&D where it works

best for you company - commit

Don‟t wait for the outputs – get into the cluster groups

Stay informed – participate in workshops, trials, website

Recognise different learning styles among staff

Suggestions for science leaders and Industry

collaborators

Science teams and Industry collaborate from beginning

Build knowledge into decision support tools, test new

technologies and incorporate data and processes into

models – Industry uptake requires a proven ‘vehicle‟

Develop models transparently and collaboratively

Be able to answer the question „how will this improve our

plantation business outcomes‟

Take up the challenge to understand what companies

will need to achieve physically and financially to adopt

new results, technologies and models

Tech Transfer does not start with trial results, reports, tools

and models, it starts with problem definition and a mutual

understanding of what is required so that outcomes and

developments will make a material difference

Quality science is a key ingredient

Industry buy-in throughout is a necessity

Final comment

All sorted

Sweet!