Additionally, information developed under the agreement can be kept confidential for an agreed-upon period of time. Grant, waive, or agree to grant in advance patent licenses or options. Permit employees to participate in efforts to commercialize inventions they have made. This strategy, combined with the vast renewable forest resources available in the United States, will help to insure the long-term prosperity of the wood industry. The Forest Products Laboratory can help provide basic and applied information on wood and wood-based composites.
Industry can then develop new products, based on that information.
New product development is a key ingredient for competitiveness. Entire markets have been threatened by developments in competing industries. Good examples of these are the inroads that concrete, metal, masonry, and plastic-clad products have made in both residential and nonresidential construction markets. A continued awareness of new product opportunities is essential to the long-term growth and overall health of the wood industry. Additional assistance is available through our long-standing relationship with a number of universities.