The Northern Hardwoods Research Institute (NHRI) has been named the winner of the Biomass Recovery Challenge, a cleantech initiative funded by the New Brunswick Innovation Fund (NBIF) and coordinated by Foresight Canada in partnership with Groupe Savoie.
The win marks the beginning of a 12-month pilot project between NHRI and Groupe Savoie to develop and test cutting-edge technology aimed at improving hardwood biomass recovery. The project will focus on increasing harvest productivity, enhancing forwarder payloads, and lowering operational costs. In parallel, the team will build advanced remote sensing and geomatics tools to enable smarter and more sustainable forest management practices.
“This collaboration demonstrates the critical role of innovative technology in tackling climate challenges,” said Jeanette Jackson, CEO of Foresight Canada. “NHRI’s winning solution is a powerful example of how innovation improves the productivity and competitiveness of our industries, particularly Canada’s forests.”
The NHRI brings together experts from the forestry sector, government, and academia to accelerate sustainable resource development. With extensive experience in hardwood and mechanized operations, NHRI will work with Groupe Savoie to identify high-impact opportunities that reduce fossil fuel use, increase renewable energy output, and promote long-term forest sustainability.
The pilot is the latest outcome of Foresight Canada’s Innovation Challenge program, designed to address the “adoption gap” in cleantech by directly connecting innovators with industry end users. With over 65 challenges completed to date, Foresight remains the only North American accelerator focused on linking cleantech ventures with real-world buyers.
By combining advanced technology with deep sector expertise, NHRI and Groupe Savoie hope to set a new standard for ethical and efficient forest management—one that balances environmental stewardship with economic growth.