Abstract
The practice-oriented paper reflects on the results of a
strategic technology roadmapping project realised in the
Green Triangle region of South Australia. The project
integrated different methods in order to provide policy
recommendations for the renewal of the forest industry in
the region. Firstly, the project created a multi-criteria
assessment framework for the evaluation of the present
state of local companies. Secondly, the project made
three value chain depictions: one that described the
present value chain based on physical, monetary and
information flows, and two so-called 'potential' value
chain descriptions. Thirdly, the project formulated
technology roadmaps and assessed the potential for forest
industry renewal. Fourthly, the project provided detailed
policy recommendations based on the findings in the
project.
The integrated methodological approach of the project
provided a robust basis for construction of policy
recommendations. The company assessment grouped the local
companies in four categories for comparative assessment
purposes: forest owners, harvesters and hauliers,
sawmills, and specialised suppliers. For the roadmap
construction, the main information categories were
drivers, markets, regulation, customer needs, solutions,
and enabling technologies, and the specific dynamics
connected to all these categories. This information was
structured into three temporal spans: present, short term
(ca. 3-5 years) and long term (ca. 5-10 years). There
are, at least, three novel aspects of the project.
Firstly, the integration of multi-criteria evaluation,
value chain analysis and roadmapping creates new
opportunities, but also new challenges. Secondly, the
future-oriented view of the Australian forest industry is
a new aspect. Thirdly, the project also had a strong
regional policy perspective, especially connected with
the discussions on path dependency and path creation in
the regional development context. The project had both
practical and managerial implications. Firstly, the
company assessment identified the domains where each
individual firm had weaknesses as well as where the group
as a whole lagged global best practice. Secondly, the
value chain analysis showed strengths and weaknesses of
the present structure, but also delineated the necessary
components to be developed in order to move towards
higher value added production. Thirdly, the roadmaps
showed the frontiers of research and business in advanced
cellulose fibre-based industries, and made possible the
positioning of the Green Triangle region. The project had
two wider implications for policy. Firstly, the
integrated methodological approach of the foresight
exercise enabled the production of detailed policy
recommendations that were embedded in the local
industrial context. Secondly, the project open a window
of opportunity to consider so-called platform policies,
that is, policies that aim to develop the fragmented
regional structure of the Green Triangle's forest
industry towards an integrated cluster-based platform,
which would enable the region to benefit from
agglomeration economics through a collaborative strategy.
Original language | English |
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Number of pages | 15 |
Publication status | Published - 2014 |
Event | 5th International Conference on Future-Oriented Technology Analysis: Engage today to shape tomorrow: FTA 2014 - Brussels, Belgium Duration: 27 Nov 2014 → 28 Nov 2014 |
Conference
Conference | 5th International Conference on Future-Oriented Technology Analysis |
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Abbreviated title | FTA 2014 |
Country/Territory | Belgium |
City | Brussels |
Period | 27/11/14 → 28/11/14 |
Keywords
- foresight
- forest industry
- cellulose
- value chain
- technology roadmap
- cluster
- regional platform
- policy
- Green Triangle
- South Australia