April 10, 2025 — Foresight Canada, Groupe Savoie, and are excited to announce the Northern Hardwoods Research Institute (NHRI) as the winner of the Biomass Recovery Challenge, funded by the New Brunswick Innovation Foundation(NBIF). The NHRI unites the forest sector, governments, and academia, to drive the development of effective solutions for improved resource growth, increased harvest volumes, and long-term sustainability.
As the Challenge winners, the NHRI will collaborate with Groupe Savoie on a 12-month pilot to develop technology solutions that optimize hardwood biomass recovery. The pilot will target improvements in harvest productivity, forwarder payloads, and operational cost reductions, alongside the development of customized remote sensing and geomatics tools for smarter forest management. Leveraging their deep expertise in hardwood and mechanized operations, the NHRI will help Groupe Savoie identify high-impact optimization opportunities—reducing fossil fuel use, increasing renewable energy output, and promoting sustainable forestry practices.
This collaboration demonstrates the critical role of innovative technology in tackling climate challenges. By ethically managing Canada's vital forest resources, the partnership aims to ensure both environmental stewardship and economic prosperity.
Addressing the Adoption Gap
While North America is home to many accelerators, a significant gap remains in supporting the adoption of cleantech solutions. Recognizing the need to bridge innovators with industry leaders, Foresight introduced the Innovation Challenge program. To date, Foresight has conducted over 65 challenges, establishing itself as the only North American accelerator linking cleantech ventures with end users. These targeted challenges aim to connect national and international buyers with innovative solutions that enhance efficiency, profitability, and environmental sustainability, thereby addressing the adoption gap for innovators.
Learn more about Foresight’s Innovation Challenges.
The Northern Hardwoods Research Institute is privileged to have been awarded this opportunity by Foresight Canada and NBIF to collaborate with Groupe Savoie on developing feasible and sustainable solutions for utilizing residual forest biomass in their harvesting operations. This initiative is critical to increasing production volumes that will contribute to greener energy solutions and reduce GHG emissions both locally and globally. Without this funding initiative, this important project would not have been possible.
NHRI's winning solution is a powerful example of how innovation tackles tough climate challenges while improving the productivity and competitiveness of our industries, particularly Canada's forests. We are excited to see the impact of their partnership with Groupe Savoie as they work together on this critical pathway.
Jeanette Jackson CEO, Foresight Canada
Groupe Savoie is proud to collaborate with the Northern Hardwood Research Institute (NHRI) to improve the biomass recovery process. With the institute's expertise in hardwood and mechanized operations, we are confident that this collaboration will allow us to reduce the use of fossil fuels while producing renewable energy more efficiently and in greater quantities. Together, we are working towards a more affordable and environmentally friendly renewable product.
Yves O’Brien Vice President Vice President, Procurement, Groupe Savoie
NBIF is proud to support bold solutions that push innovation forward. By sponsoring the Biomass Innovation Challenge with Foresight, we’re helping unlock the potential of New Brunswick’s forest biomass as a renewable energy source. The winning solution from Northern Hardwoods Research Institute, in collaboration with Groupe Savoie, marks a significant step toward accelerating bioenergy adoption. This pilot project is part of NBIF’s Climate Impact Fund, a strategic initiative advancing clean technology and climate adaptation in support of the province’s transition to a low-carbon economy.
Jeff White CEO and President, NBIF
About Northern Hardwoods Research Institute (NHRI)
For ten years now, the Northern Hardwoods Research Institute has supported the forest sector in its implementation of management systems and tools aimed at improving wood supply. Today, NHRI is a recognized innovation hub within the forest value chain. Their applied research efforts are always focused on finding effective solutions to pressing forestry issues.
About Group Savoie
Founded in 1978, Group Savoie has built a strong reputation as a leading producer of a wide range of top-quality hardwood products, including pallets and pallet components, cabinet and furniture components, hardwood lumber, tone wood components, ecological fuels, wood chips, and more. Their vertically integrated business model ensures optimal processing and transformation of forest resources into premium hardwood products.
Groupe Savoie’s vision is to be a company recognized for adding the maximum value to available forest resources. Their mission has always been to manufacture products of exceptional quality—all while ensuring sustainable forest practices and contributing to the development and quality of life of our employees and communities.
About NBIF
The New Brunswick Innovation Foundation (NBIF) helps people propel their innovative ideas onto the global stage. Since 2003, NBIF has invested more than $175M into startup businesses and applied research in New Brunswick. These foundational investments have attracted an $825M of additional investment, giving New Brunswick innovators $1B to take their ideas further.
About Foresight Canada
Foresight Canada helps the world do more with less, sustainably. As Canada's largest cleantech innovation and adoption accelerator, they connect public and private sectors to the world’s best clean technologies, de-risking and simplifying the adoption of innovative solutions that improve productivity, profitability, and economic competitiveness, all while addressing today’s most urgent climate challenges.
