The Technical Association of the Pulp and Paper Industry—TAPPI—held the annual meeting of its International Research Management Committee (IRMC) at Georgia Tech’s Global Learning Center December 7-10.  The focus of the event was innovation, and how universities and companies can collaborate more effectively in creating new opportunities.  Dr. Norman Marsolan, RBI executive director, was program chair and RBI served as host organization.  In addition to the IRMC meeting, the forest products industry’s Agenda 2020 Technology Alliance—of which RBI is an affiliate member—held an All-Members’ Meeting (see related article).

The IRMC Meeting led with a series of speakers presenting case histories of innovation as well as the techniques and distinguishing factors of successful innovators. A panel of forest products manufacturing company representatives described their approaches and critical success factors in encouraging innovation.  In the afternoon, companies and universities shared perspectives what each could do differently to enhance collaboration.  The discussion groups that followed identified the building of trust relationships; clear shared purpose and expectations; developing strong business cases, and speaking the language of business; and adherence to timelines, budgets, and deliverables agreements among many important factors.

A session on the Internet of Things featured presentations by Professor Eric Vogel, MSE, and Director Andrew Dugenske of the Georgia Tech Factory Information Systems Laboratory.  Vogel defined Internet Generation 4 as leveraging the ability to harness on-demand data and expertise.  Dugenske described capabilities to create new levels of monitoring and wirelessly communicating with multiple manufacturing sites and with individual areas within them.

Dr. Satish Kumar reported on promising developments in his research to make advanced fibers from lignin for applications as textiles and automotive applications, among others.  Don McConnell, VP-Industry Collabration, described a series of vehicles to facilitate industrial research partnerships with Georgia Tech.

About two dozen companies, five universities, and seven associations, representing seven countries, attended the event—as did a representative of the US Government, from the US Forest Service-Forest Products Lab.