University of Oregon President Michael Schill hosted a discussion on Tuesday about the future of wood products in Oregon. The Tuesday roundtable included Sen. Ron Wyden D-OR, Springfield city leaders, faculty from UO and Oregon State, research associates and students, according to Around the O.
The conversation was framed around the National Center for Advanced Wood Products Manufacturing and Design, a collaboration between UO and OSU focusing on the development of wood products and innovation in Oregon. Sen. Wyden and U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley announced an economic development grant of more than $400,000 to the research center last month.
“If you were to think of an area where Oregon would really like to go in decades ahead, a sustainable forest product sector that is built around opportunities like this would be right at the top of the list,” Sen. Wyden said in his opening statement.
The research center partners with Oregon building designers and manufacturers in an effort to allow Oregon to compete in the domestic and global wood markets.
“I’m particularly excited about the partnership with Oregon State,” President Schill said. “I think it’s a great opportunity to bring the two schools together to achieve more than we could alone.”