Run as an open competition, the Challenge seeks to drive innovation by offering supported access to the facilities and expertise at the Construction Scotland Innovation Centre (CSIC) Innovation Factory.

Speaking at trade body ConFor’s annual conference today, Mr Ewing, said: “Scotland’s forestry and timber sectors have two great assets: a healthy supply of raw materials and a very talented pool of designers, engineers and fabricators.

“This Innovation Challenge aims to capitalise on both of those things. It will give companies the chance to develop and prototype new products and systems to provide solutions for the construction sector.

“The SG Climate Change plan incorporates a target to increase the amount of Scottish timber utilised in construction. This is an excellent opportunity to develop new products and markets towards achieving this.”

The Challenge is part of the Timber Development Programme’s effort to meet the Climate Change Plan’s target and is backed by Forestry Commission Scotland (FCS) and the Construction Scotland Innovation Centre (CSIC).

Winning projects will share in a total of 80 days of free access to both the Innovation Factory and to technical support.

The £3 million CSIC, located at Hamilton International Technology Park in Lanarkshire, offers the construction industry 30,000 sq. ft. of workshop space filled with state-of-the-art production and prototyping equipment and technology.

The building also provides a range of collaboration and training facilities to allow organisations in the private, public and academic sectors to share knowledge and information.

For more information and an application pack for the Advanced Timber Products Innovation Challenge, contact the Construction Scotland Innovation Centre.