Joensuu is a global leader in forest bioeconomy. Approximately 83% of the entire area of North Karelia is covered by forest. This provides an excellent opportunity for the utilisation of raw material. The region has top expertise in the sustainable use of forests, and special competence areas include new technologies, digitalisation of forestry, renewable energy and circular economy, collection of forest information and management of forest resources. This is made possible by the expertise that has been gained through various research, development and business initiatives.
Forerunner in digital forestry
In Joensuu, the extensive expertise in forestry is combined with top expertise in photonics, strong IT education offering and software companies. The region’s expertise in forest bioeconomy can be seen, for example, in the fact that there are more than 500 companies and 6,000 jobs in the sector.
The region’s unit of Natural Resources Institute Finland and the headquarters of the European Forest Institute EFI are recognised to have the top expertise in the sector, making our forestry ecosystem to rise on the top level. Several companies that are successful both in Finland and abroad operate in the region:
- The world’s largest forest machine factory John Deere Forestry Oy
- Logistics and materials handling operator Mantsinen Group Ltd Oy
- Timber harvesting and logistics operator Kesla Oyj
- Pole solutions, impregnated wood products and services for infrastructure networks provider Iivari Mononen
- Special plywood manufacturer UPM
- Enocell pulp mill that produces top-quality softwood and hardwood pulps, Stora Enso Oyj
- Activated carbon plant in Ilomantsi, Neova Group
- Systems and services for forest inventory and planning are provided by Oy Arbonaut Ltd, Bitcomp Oy and Blom Kartta Oy
- One of Europe’s largest sawmill and wood processing companies, Binderholz Nordic Oy
- And many other small or medium-sized exporting companies in wood processing or forest technology
Education is provided for professionals of all levels, from vocational education to doctoral degrees:
- University of Eastern Finland
- Karelia University of Applied Sciences
- Riveria vocational school
- Forest machine training in Valtimo