1. FOsteRing Efficient long term Supply parTnerships FOREST IEE/09/656/SI2.558320 June 2010 to December 2012 Version: June 2010

2. Project Summary Work with businesses in the biomass supply chain, from farmers and foresters to architects and designers Develop and consolidate long- term supply partnerships Increase end-user confidence and so encourage greater investment in renewable biomass heat. Escos/Hea t contracts Direct supply partnerships Partnerships and co- operatives

3. Background Market developing from stoves to commercial boilers Commercial end-user wants confidence in a reliable source of heat in order to invest Need greater integration in the supply chain to provide this reliable and quality market Leading experience in Sweden and Austria Exchange with developing markets in the UK, Ireland, Spain, Italy and Poland

4. Project objectives Capacity building with bio-businesses to increase integration in the supply chain using: Best practice tools on business models and contracts; Business to business networking to exchange business practice and facilitate partnerships Direct capacity building to pilot new and developing existing supply chain partnerships

5. Project outputs An extensive interactive online toolkit of best practice resources and training materials; Three regional trade fairs and 6 cross-regional business exchange visits to allow direct networking between businesses Capacity building in the supply chains through training with the tool-kit materials and direct support actives to pilot new supply partnerships and help consolidate existing ones. A comprehensive project website providing extensive access to all the tools and services developed in the project and supporting wider business networking activities and knowledge exchange.

6. Project partners Regen South West, REGENSW, UK Seven Wye Energy Agency, SWEA, UK Energikontor Sydost, ESS, SE Bałtycka Agencja Poszanowania Energii SA, BAPE, PL O.Ö. Energiesparverband, ESV, AT Comitato Termotecnico Italiano, CTI, IT Tipperia Energy Agency, TEA, IE Agencia de Provincial de la Energia de Burgos, AGENBUR, ES Project co-ordinator: Dr Guy Hitchcock, University of Exeter, UK Email: g.s.j.hitchcock@exeter.ac.uk, Tel: +44 1392 264141g.s.j.hitchcock@exeter.ac.uk