Future Forest Initiative

The Future Forest Initiative (FFI) is a dynamic innovation network dedicated to developing sustainable solutions for the forest of the future. Founded in February 2022, the initiative brings together start-ups, innovators, scientists, forest owners, and investors to find new ways of sustainable forest management.

The main mission of the FFI is to develop a new innovation ecosystem for the regeneration of damaged forest ecosystems by combining innovative power, scientific expertise, and the empirical values of the established economy. At the center is the Planetary Health approach, which focuses on the health of our planet and aims to protect and promote human health and the environment.

• Future Forest Accelerator: This program supports start-ups at various stages of establishment. It includes formats such as Future Forest #connect, #accelerate, and #seed, ranging from networking to validation of business models to financing and market entry support[2][3][4].

• Future Forest Forum: This is the annual highlight event of the initiative, serving as a platform for the exchange of ideas, networking, and showcasing new technologies. The forum brings together hundreds of experts and offers keynotes, panels, live presentations, and startup pitches[2][3].

• Future Forest Innovation Hub: As the first sustainable innovation hub in Germany, the FFI consolidates expertise and innovative power in a strong community. The hub includes the Future Forest Institute, the startup accelerator, the annual Future Forest Forum, and the Forest & Climate Innovation Fund[3].

The FFI focuses on three central areas of solutions:

• Smart Forestry: Development of key technologies for climate-smart forest management that increases sustainability, flexibility, and efficiency in forestry[2].

• Ecosystem Services: Creating new value for forest owners by rewarding ecosystem services such as CO₂ compensation and biodiversity[2].

• Climate Solutions: Supporting technical and natural solutions for climate neutrality, carbon compensation, and circular bioeconomy[2].

The initiative aims to strengthen the CO₂ compensation capacity of forests, restore biodiversity, and improve soil quality through sustainable land use. By developing its own impact framework, the ecosystem services of forests are taken into account, and measurable goals for the use of startup innovations are defined[4].

The FFI is part of the nationwide Digital Hub Initiative of the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action and works closely with partners such as the Technology Park Weinberg Campus, the Agricultural Pension Bank, the DBU Deutsche Bundesstiftung Umwelt, and numerous other organizations and companies. This network provides access to state-of-the-art infrastructure, high-quality startup programs, and an extensive network of mentors, investors, and partners[3].

The headquarters of the FFI is located in the Großen Schloss Blankenburg in the Harz region, an area heavily affected by climate change. This location serves as a model region with a pioneering role for the regeneration of damaged forest ecosystems. The initiative significantly contributes to the economic transformation in Central Germany and beyond by promoting disruptive technologies and sustainable business models[3].

• 1 - https://sigu-plattform.de/foerderfinder/future-forest-initiative/
• 2 - https://www.futureforest.de
• 3 - https://www.futureforest.de/innovation-hub
• 4 - https://www.dbu.de/projektdatenbank/38009-01/
• 5 - https://www.forstpraxis.de/wald-und-klimawandel-innovationen-auf-dem-3-future-forest-forum-22387