What is the product/service about?
fo?recast is a deep-tech forest intelligence solution designed to offer accurate + updated forest inventories in a multi-purpose platform. It provides real-time Earth Observation geo-information products by leveraging and integrating data from satellite, airborne LiDAR, aerial orthoimages and ground plot sampling to create advanced algorithms for unparalleled accuracy, reliability, and high resolution to forest assets across different ecosystem services. förecast supports forest users decision-making relative to multiple forest characteristics. Users include forest owners and managers, and wood and pulp&paper industries.
The VAP seeks to adapt this product from its initial scope in Spain to the Mexican market, proposing an innovative business solution for a sector with a great potential in the target third country, where the market size and the technology gap allow a successful entry and a future business opportunity. There is no evidence of solutions such as förecast in the target market
Developed by:
Fora forest technologies, SLL
Where did the project idea come from?
The idea of förecast came from the need of the forest sector to have reliable and updated forest inventories. Using remote sensing information and Artificial Intelligence, we are able to address these needs.
Why did you select that specific target country?
We selected Mexico because we know there is a huge gap in forest technology in the country and, at the same time, is a very big market. förecast-MX can be an excellent solution for many of the forest sector needs in Mexico.
Who are your partners in the target country?
UPUCODEFO No. 4 is a Mexican non-governmental organisation, dedicated to providing technical forestry services, development of investment projects and consultancy for forest certification. The aspects of the project where UPUCODEFO No. 4 works are mainly the ones related to the knowledge of the mexican market, both in forestry and technology awareness and the technology scouting and compliance verification. Also, we are working closely to develop the first förecast projects in the Americas.
What is your long term vision for your company working in your chosen partner country?
The long term vision is establishing Mexico as the starting point of an international deployment of förecast in the Americas. Mexico has huge opportunities for technology providers and we aim to have a succesfull relationship with our partners and the whole mexican market.
What impact do you believe INNOWWIDE will have on your company?
We expect to have a great impact in terms of internationalization. The opportunity of the Innowwide project aligns perfectly with the way we think internationalization: with local partners and through a well analyzed market analysis. For all that, the impact in our strategy is expected to be great in the following years
Can you offer any advice or guidance to others looking to apply for INNOWWIDE grants?
Take advantage of the opportunity! The methodology of the VAP is perfect for a new market entry.