Ponsse and its technology company Epec have embarked on the FORWARD’27 ecosystem program, which targets the research and development of responsible and environmentally friendly solutions for mobile work machines. Source: Timberbiz
FORWARD’27 is a joint program with Ponsse’s and Epec. It was granted funding by Business Finland in the challenger competition for leading companies in the spring of 2023. In total, the funding received by the program is up to 30 million euros. The goal of the program is to promote export growth in Finland through research and product development.
Current and potential ecosystem partners for the FORWARD’27 program were invited to a launch event in Tampere on 19 September 2023.
The launch event offered a great opportunity for both current and potential ecosystem partners to discuss and learn more about FORWARD’27 and its possibilities. Experts from Ponsse and Epec introduced in more detail the four-point roadmap of the program, the goals of which are focused on researching and developing responsible and environmentally friendly solutions in the field of mobile work machines.
The roadmap’s various themes aim to solve the technology and commercial challenges of off-road vehicles through ecosystem projects. The projects evolve around the program’s themes, which are Autonomous Solutions, SustainaUble Power, Data-driven Solutions and a Sustainable Supply Chain.
The aim of the program is to push the sustainability of mobile work machines to another level. This includes significantly reducing emissions from mobile work machines themselves or the manufacturing stage, cutting energy consumption and improving productivity, while maintaining or improving quality at the same time without tiring the operator.
“In the field of mobile work machines, there are several sustainable development targets. We hope to benefit the entire industry in the long run through this programme and its results,” said the CEO of Ponsse, Juho Nummela.
A wide ecosystem is built around the FORWARD’27 program, which consists of companies and other partners such as universities and research organisations. The first members of the ecosystem have already been found.
