The Forest Sciences Center of Catalonia (CTFC), based in Solsona (Lleida, Spain), began life in 1996 in the form of a consortium jointly run by Solsonès County Council, the University of Lleida, Lleida Provincial Council, the Catalan Foundation for Research and Innovation, the Integrated Rural Development Centre of Catalonia and the Government of Catalonia. Its dynamic has been characterised by growth meaning that nowadays the institution has more than a hundred professionals on its staff, including scientists, technicians, students on work placements and administrative staff, and it enjoys the support of administrations, institutions and companies that help with its day-to-day work.

The CTFC’s activity is not merely restricted to competitive research but also includes technology and knowledge transfer and training, which represents a considerable volume of its activity, making use of its results. Technology transfer in the form of agreements with the private sector and public administrations is complemented with the organisation of seminars for the general public and agents from the sector (managers, owners, experts, the administration, scientists, etc.) at national and international level, contributing to the transfer of this knowledge and the generation of debate. In the training sphere, the CTFC’s activity embraces everything from basic training for workers to life-long learning and specialised education in the form of post-graduate studies and masters degrees.

This activity carried on by the CTFC fits into its institutional mission, which is to contribute to the modernisation and competitiveness of the forestry sector, rural development and the sustainable management of the environment through research, training and technology and knowledge transfer to society.