The U.S. segment of the Blue Sky Awards is sponsored by the American Forest & Paper Association and TAPPI. The top 2 U.S. finalists will advance to the international competition, hosted by the International Council of Forest & Paper Associations.
Categories & Eligibility
Blue Sky Young Researchers Innovation Award
- Applicants must be students or researchers who are 30 years old or younger on September 19, 2024.
- Applicants must be carrying out research and innovation projects relevant for forestry, forest products, and/or forest products processing technologies.
- Applicants must have links to academia, public or private research centers, and/or corporate research and innovation departments.
Blue Sky PRO Young Professionals Innovation Awards
- Applicants must be young professionals who are 35 years old or younger on September 19, 2024.
- Applicants must be carrying out research and innovation projects relevant for forestry, forest products, and/or forest products processing technologies.
- Applicants must have links to private research centers and/or corporate research and innovation departments.
Awards
A panel of judges, including representatives from industry, research and academia, will select up to 2 finalists in each category for the U.S. competition. Applicants will be judged on their research and development, as well as the potential impact of their project has towards climate positive forestry and forest products, clean manufacturing and the forest bioeconomy.
Up to 2 U.S. candidates in each category will be nominated to the international Blue Sky Awards competition, which is sponsored by the International Council of Forest & Paper Associations (ICFPA).
- The top international finalist will receive $1,500.
- The second and third place international finalists will receive $750 and $500 each, respectively.
- Travel and accommodation expenses for the 3 international finalists will be covered to present at the ICFPA CEO Roundtable in May 2025 in New York City, United States.
Schedule
| Timing | Action |
|---|---|
| September 20, 2024 | Applications open for U.S. Blue Sky Awards |
| December 9, 2024 | Deadline to apply for U.S. Blue Sky Awards |
| By December 20, 2024 | U.S. Blue Sky Award Finalists selected; up to 2 U.S. finalists in each category advanced to the international competition |
| By February 14, 2025 |
International Blue Sky Award Finalists selected |
| May 5 - 6, 2025 | Presentations and International Blue Sky Awards – ICFPA CEO Roundtable, New York City, New York |
Deadline
Application deadline: December 9, 2024
Please contact Jamie Tiralla, Senior Director, Strategic Communications if you have any questions, Jamie_Tiralla@afandpa.org.
Application
2024-2025 Theme: Time for forest-based sector to showcase its innovative solutions for forest products, wood bioindustry, and forest conservation, management, and restoration.
To carry out research work that promotes innovation and decarbonization in the forest products sector either in the forest, at production facilities, along the supply chain, or via product innovation, some of the topics related can be (but are not limited to):
- Artificial intelligence
- Social and inclusive innovations (better life for people and natural resources)
- Efficiency improvements in using resources
- Faster restoration techniques
- Forest tree breeding and biotechnology
- Precision forestry, measurements and inventory
- Bioproducts and wood chemistry, material substitution with wood
- Facilities, instrument and process control
- Recycling, de-inking and environment (circular economy)
- Analysis and properties of pulp and paper, panels and energy-products
- Timber for construction (mass timber, CLT, etc.)
Applications must include:
- Short CV (maximum one page)
- Summary of the project, including:
- 550 words; double spacing; font Calibri 12
- Objectives
- Description of the project
- Summary of Methodology
- Expected results
- Why is it relevant for the forest products industries
- What makes it innovative
- How is it fitting with the selected theme
- Direct and indirect links to each of the UN SDGs
- Please disclose whether, and to what extent, applicant used artificial intelligence to develop this project or prepare this application
- One letter of support