Innovation in global forestry: Evolution towards a diversified industry

Productivity in the global forestry industry increased between 1950 and 2000 but thereafter stagnated. This study sheds light on the types of innovation that drove this productivity increase to inform future research. Analysis of patent data from 1970 to 2022 shows that patents related to chemical and mechanical productivity historically dominated the innovation landscape. Recently, a wide range of sustainability-focused patents to mitigate climate change and environmental degradation have been introduced. Current trends seem to indicate that this tendency will continue. This study contributes to the discussion around innovation by examining 50 years of data on patents in the forestry industry. It also provides practical implications for managers and policymakers. A methodological contribution of this study is that it shows how patent analysis and KeyGraph techniques can be combined to yield valuable insights to inform innovation in business sectors beyond forestry.