Innovation and export of wood and furniture in Võru County and Vidzeme Planning Region (Wood & Furniture)

The main business sectors in Latvia and Estonia have been wood processing for years, however, about 40% of the timber exported abroad is unprocessed. In order to strengthen and promote the export capacity of the Baltic States in the wood processing and furniture sector, the Vidzeme Planning Region, in co-operation with the Võru County Vocational Training Centre, Estonia, has launched the project "Innovation and export of wood and furniture in Võru County and Vidzeme Planning Region". The project involves public authorities, entrepreneurs and education representatives to jointly find ways for a successful and innovative product marketing and export.

 

Title

Innovation and export of wood and furniture in Võru County and Vidzeme Planning Region

Abbreviation

Wood & Furniture

Lead partner

Võru County Vocational Training Centre, Estonia

Project number

Est-Lat 35

Programme

Interreg Estonia – Latvia 2014-2020

Partners
  1. Vidzeme Planning Region (Latvia)
  2. Võru County Vocational Training Centre (Estonia)

Aim

To enhance cross-border cooperation in Võru County and Vidzeme Planning Region between wood and furniture sector companies to innovate industry and add value to wood and furniture products, introduce design-thinking and increase export capacity.

Activities
  1. Research to summarize and analyze main tendencies and opportunities of the target industry;
  2. Hardware hackathon concentrating on wood industry challenges and its’ possibilities. It will involve participants from different target groups and backgrounds. Participants will form cross-border and cross-sectoral teams to develop over 48 hours new products or solve industries’ problems.
  3. Innovation and design workshops (one in Võru County and other in Vidzeme region). The focus of one workshop will be on furniture and other on wood. Target groups of the workshops are from both regions.
  4. Promotional video will be made about the regions and most innovative and design-oriented wood and furniture companies in the area. This video is meant mainly as a tool for the effective implementation of the project for both partners.
  5. Workshops on export will be carried out (one in Vidzeme and other in Võru region). The markets, which the workshops will focus on, will be selected based on the results of the research carried out in the beginning of the project. On the second day, more practical training about communication in specific markets will be carried out.
  6. Contact visits between partner regions’ companies will be held to introduce neighboring companies to business leaders from the partner region – to get to know with good practices and exchange experiences in business development in the industry.
  7. Trade missions from selected export target countries are invited to visit the area. Missions will involve visits to the companies from both regions and joint networking seminars. The aim of the activity is to create real business contacts.
  8. Visit to international exhibition, which will be selected based on the results of the research. Also, a seminar between our industry representatives and potential export partners will be carried out during the visit.

Results
  1. Research - results of the research will help to develop and implement educational activities of the project; 
  2. Hardware hackathon as a platform where to develop new products or solutions of industries’ problems;
  3. Developed international cooperation between enterprises of wood industry;
  4. One video about the industry in the regions and 12 different publicity videos about the wood and furniture enterprises from Vidzeme Planning Region and Võru County;
  5. 2 Innovation and design workshops for woodworking and furniture manufacturing companies to develope innovative and export-oriented products;
  6. Experience exchange trips between the wood processing and furniture industry companies of Võru and Vidzeme planning regions;
  7. 1 visit to international exhibition, which will be selected based on the results of the research.

 

Budget

Project total budget – 324 877,57 EUR

VPR budget – 125 985,97 EUR

Implementation period

10.04.2017 – 09.12.2018

Contact person VPR

Laima Engere

Wood & Furniture project manager

Tel. +371 28376912

woos@vidzeme.lv