Once again this year, there was a good turnout of members at the annual meeting of the Norwegian Wood Cluster, which this time was held at Prøysenhuset in Ringsaker on Wednesday, April 17. The premises provided an unusual and pleasant setting for the meeting.
Good support for cluster work
– Despite a demanding market, the cluster continues to attract interesting members and activity in key areas is high. Thanks to support from Innlandet County Council and Innovation Norway, we are developing the cluster further this year, with the ambition of being promoted to the cluster program,” said Chairman of the Board Jan Tore Meren, who thanked the members for their support of the cluster’s work.
– Climate crisis and nature crisis, various demands in the wake of the EU’s Green Deal… There are many challenges for our value chain, but also some opportunities. The value chain’s commitment to circular solutions has increased in recent years. During 2024, as part of our strategy work, we will consider whether the cluster should take a more active role in this area,” said Meren.
The annual report and financial statements for 2023 showed a positive trend in terms of both activity and finances. The board received full support in all matters at the annual meeting.
Study tours as a new offering
Cluster manager Berit Sanness reviewed the status of ongoing projects and informed about the plans for new projects that member companies want to be prioritized.
– “We try to let new projects have one of the subject groups as their ‘home’. Right now we have a new project underway in the circular area, and this topic belongs within the Sustainability theme group. We also have a new project underway within the Future Building Solutions subject group,” said Berit Sanness. She was pleased that the cluster is now recruiting a further full-time project manager, this time in the competence area of wooden structures.
– With an additional resource person in the cluster administration, we should be able to capture the companies’ needs to an even greater extent and rig relevant projects,” said Sanness.
– “Until now, we haven’t organized study tours to look at construction solutions. As more member companies want this, we are now organizing study tours at the end of May, in June and in September,” said Sanness.
