What is Nextfor?

Nextfor is an industry-led ecosystem of intentional collaborations. Together we create and accelerate new technologies for Ontario’s Bio-Economy.

Nextfor’s ecosystem is built on four themes:

Optimize forestry feedstocks.

Explore new market opportunities.

Develop high-functioning value chains.

Educate to drive market traction.

In 2019, CRIBE launched Nextfor – an Ontario forest-based innovation and collaboration network. With over 80 registered partner organizations and over 200 participating organizations, Nextfor represents an open, inclusive and interactive platform created to identify opportunities and overcome barriers to success (i.e. commercialization of innovative products and technologies). Through facilitated forums, industry leaders and other stakeholders roadmap common goals and actions, develop challenges and demonstrations to overcome/address impediments and gaps, and share results.

Our Collaboration Pathway

Nextfor is working to encourage market realization of innovation in the following areas:

Ontario has a world-class R&D capacity. How do we build on this strong primary sector to capture the economic benefits?

Align

By 2021, leaders in industry, commerce, governments and research will be aligned on our Bio-Economy’s needs and priorities.

Innovate

Shared collaboration will show progress towards measurable goals.

Deploy

New technologies & products will be driven to market with support from the Centre for Research & Innovation in the Bio-Economy (CRIBE).