MISTRA DIGITAL FOREST 2019 1
MISTRADIGITALFOREST ”Increase digital competence”
One of a total number of four areas of development that forest companies need to address in order to begin a digital transformation is to increase their digital compentence. That is what Jonny Holmström, professor of informatics at Umeå University and the Swedish Center for Digital Innovation (SCDI), states after conducting an interview study among the forest companies. Jonny Holmström has conducted 16 interviews with people in the forest companies. – If you want to increase digital opportunities, you have to start by asking people working in the area about the challenges and opportunities that they themselves see, explains Jonny Holmström. – We note that the raw material-based value chain works efficiently, while the digital value chain is more fragmented, says Jonny Holmström. The volumes of data used in the industry are limited, and mainly related to individual companies. – We see that there are compartmentalised sectors that need to be addressed. But in reality it is a more complex question. In these companies, there are traditions that have been built up over hundreds of years. The digitalisation of value chains involves higher level of co-operation between organisations, Jonny Holmström explains. The study also reveals that the level of digital maturity varies. – Increasing digital competence will promote Swedish forestry in a tangible way. It’s not just a question of bottlenecks here and there, instead we see that the entire value chain is affected. But people are aware of this, and there is an enormous urge to take the next step, says Jonny Holmström. FOUR KEY AREAS OF DEVELOPMENT: 1. Identify the level of digital maturity We need to know the nature of the problem, and our starting point. 2. Establish digital ecosystems Digital ecosystems involve moving from a traditional linear value chain to an ecosystem. Data is the key to a functioning ecosystem. The bigger stakeholders may be able to build their own, but there is also potential in a common ecosystem. 3. Increase the level of service innovation Establish a systematic approach to capturing new service innovations. How do we pick up ideas from our colleagues? How can we build up the different digital services? 4. Increase digital competence Collaborate with higher education institutions and create tailor-made training for your company. This is fundamentally important and phenomenally exciting! But you have to make demands, and find the right level for negotiations. First steps for the next generation planning system In 2009, the Heureka system for forest-based analysis and planning was launched. Karin Öhman is a professor at SLU, and leads the developmental work on forest management planning models based on comprehensive data within Mistra Digital Forest. Throughout the autumn, she has gathered stakeholders to begin work on the next generation planning system. The Heureka system was developed by SLU (Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences) and Skogforsk. It is an analysis and planning system for Swedish forests. – We know that the lifetime of this type of system is about 20 years, since the wider world’s expectations of forests changes, and knowledge and technology develops. Having said this, it takes at least ten years to develop a new system, so it’s high time to start now, says Karin Öhman. Hopes for the next generation system During the autumn, two meetings were arranged where representatives of different forest owners, authorities and various forest values contributed their wishes for a future system. – There is an emphasis that the new system must be able to handle risks, such as fire, storm damage and insect infestation, says Karin Öhman. This is something currently missing from today’s Heureka. The stakeholders would also want a new system to be able to plan for new ecosystem services, as well as facilitating communication. – We do a lot in forestry, something we must be able to show to customers and to the general public. A system like this could help to point out the future consequences of varying decisions. Different kinds of planning systems increase our ability to act before it is too late. The alternative is to implement management activities out in the forest and then wait and see what happens. But since it often takes a long time, maybe 50–100 years, to see the different consequences, we don’t have that luxury. Perhaps by then, the opportunity to shape the landscape as we want it, has already gone, says Karin Öhman. – Establishing a new research program to develop the new system is our current goal. The parallel development of Heureka will continue, as that system will be in use for many years to come, Karin Öhman concludes. 4 R t P T o h o A S : t M O o : L s c N i O a k l a r s H Ö H h g m a N b n K I R o N Ö P h Ö H M A N Y ö N e r g J O M