"Forest Future" Paves the Way for Young Innovators in the Timber Industry

With the participation of students, teachers, companies, and actors from the innovation ecosystem, the launch of the project "Forest Future TVET: Creativity, Innovation, and Sustainability" took place. This initiative seeks to bring the technical-vocational educational world closer to the real challenges of the forestry sector in the Los Ríos Region.

The activity was held at the San Luis del Alba Technical-Vocational High School in the commune of San José de la Mariquina, marking the start of a program that will last 10 months and will directly benefit approximately 120 students from specialties linked to the forestry field, such as forestry technician, Furniture and Wood Finishing, and Industrial Mechanics, among others.

The project, executed by Corma and Disruptiva Lab, and financed by Fomento Los Ríos of Corfo, has as its main objective to strengthen the capacities for innovation, entrepreneurship, and industry linkage in students and teachers. It addresses one of the main gaps in the sector, such as the disconnect between technical-vocational training and the real needs of the industry.

During the launch, the scope of the initiative, the alliances with companies in the forestry sector and actors from the innovation ecosystem were presented, along with the student teams who will be the protagonists of the process and who signed a commitment to the program's objectives.

The president of Corma, Rodrigo O'Ryan, stated that "the forestry sector operates with a long-term vision, in cycles that can range from 8 to 21 years. Therefore, advancing alongside technology and strengthening human capital is fundamental. We need to prepare our young people so they can integrate early into the industry, with a clear vision of the future."

He added that "instances like this allow us to bring the sector closer to them, motivate them, and awaken their interest in being part of this path. This is about generating development for Chile, opening opportunities for young people, and building a sustainable future for the country."

The initiative includes the formation of a Forestry Innovation Network in the region, integrated by companies, high schools, and organizations from the ecosystem, with the purpose of generating spaces for collaboration, practical learning, and the development of innovative solutions for the sector.

The dean of the Faculty of Forest Sciences and Natural Resources at the Austral University of Chile, Oscar Tiers, said that "this is a very positive initiative because it brings the industry closer to young people and provides them with a concrete development framework. It allows them, from their own experience and with a fresh perspective, to address real sector problems and propose viable solutions, incorporating new visions from youth, which undoubtedly enriches and projects the future development of the forestry industry."

The deputy director of Innovation and Entrepreneurship at Fomento Los Ríos of Corfo, Carla Paredes, pointed out that "this program seeks, on one hand, to bring students closer to innovation and entrepreneurship methodologies that enhance their creativity, and on the other, to strengthen the link between technical-vocational high schools and the forestry sector from a different perspective." In that sense, she highlighted that the initiative "aims for young people to learn new ways of working with wood, expand their development opportunities, and project themselves towards more innovative business models, overcoming the traditional vision of the trade."

In a context where the forestry industry faces significant challenges in attracting and developing talent, this project seeks to position itself as a concrete tool to boost young human talent, promoting more relevant, connected, and sustainability-oriented training.

Future in the Forestry Sector

The enthusiasm and aspirations of the students were the protagonists of the day. Sara Pulquillanca, a student at the San Luis de Alba High School, highlighted her motivation for the specialty. "I am in the first year of high school and I chose forestry technician because it seemed like one of the best options. I really like firefighting, especially because we learn how to act and control fire, something very important for those of us who live in rural areas."

For his part, Alexander Ampuero, from the Renewable Resources and Technology Institute Los Ríos, stated that "I like working with the teachers and the machines, learning how furniture is made, taking care of the wood, and varnishing. In the future, I would like to study construction and cabinetry."

Meanwhile, Constanza Casanova, from the Río Bueno Technical-Vocational High School, highlighted her connection with the environment. "I really like the forestry specialty, being outdoors and working with trees. I live in the countryside, so I feel very identified. Later on, I would like to be a firefighter or a forestry technical teacher."

The next stages of the program consider the start of innovation labs, where students will work on real sector challenges, strengthening key skills for their future work and contributing to the productive development of the region.