From ideas to impact

Our Research

AFWI delivers a nationally coordinated research and innovation program to strengthen Australia’s forest and wood products sector.

Our research is designed to address the sector’s most significant challenges and opportunities—spanning forest resilience, fibre productivity, climate solutions, and low-carbon construction—while ensuring strong pathways to industry adoption and real-world impact.

AFWI operates as a national research and innovation system, integrating leading universities, industry partners, and government through coordinated investment, shared platforms, and collaborative delivery models.

Our multi-disciplinary research agenda seeks to address strategic objectives to:

Improve industry sustainability, circularity and resilience and reduce carbon emissions

Increase local wood processing and value adding

Create innovative, higher value products

Drive economic growth and more higher-paid jobs

Build long-term research and innovation capacity

Strategic Research Pillars

AFWI’s research is organised around four Strategic Pillars:

Healthier Forests

Building resilient, productive forest and farm forestry systems across Australia’s landscapes.

This includes:

climate-adapted forestry and silviculture
genetics and tree improvement
forest health and biosecurity systems
digital forest monitoring and analytics
expanding opportunities for farm forestry and integrated land use systems

This pillar supports a stronger food and fibre system, regional resilience, and long-term fibre supply.

Maximising Fibre

Unlocking greater value from Australia’s forest resources.

This includes:

precision forestry and yield optimisation
advanced manufacturing and automation
circular fibre systems and residue utilisation
bioproducts and advanced materials

This work improves efficiency, reduces waste, and enables higher-value products and new markets.

Climate Solutions

Providing the scientific and technical foundations for Australia’s climate transition.

This includes:

forest carbon accounting and lifecycle modelling
natural capital and biodiversity frameworks
climate-risk analytics
low-carbon materials and circular systems

This pillar supports policy, investment, and credible carbon and environmental markets.

Housing Innovation

Accelerating the adoption of timber and modern construction systems.
This includes:

engineered timber and hybrid structures
modern methods of construction (MMC)
digital design and manufacturing systems
demonstration projects and regulatory pathways

This work supports faster, lower-carbon housing delivery and sovereign manufacturing capability.

How We Deliver Research

AFWI delivers research through an integrated national model:

Research Centres – multi-institution programs aligned to the Strategic Pillars
National Open Calls (NOC) – competitive funding to expand participation and innovation
Matched Funding Rounds – targeted co-investment with industry and government
Strategic Initiatives – national programs in carbon, digital forestry, housing and bioeconomy
Translation & Adoption – demonstration projects, tools, and industry partnerships

This approach ensures research is coordinated, high-quality, and adopted at scale across industry and government.