Montreal researcher receives global recognition

Montreal, QC – Innovation in Canada’s forest products sector received international acclaim recently as a Montreal researcher was presented a prestigious award for his ground-breaking work.

Dr. Derek Gray received the prestigious Marcus Wallenberg award, considered the “Nobel Prize” for forestry in recognition of his cutting-edge research on nanocrystalline cellulose (NCC) fibre during his career with McGill University and FPInnovations.

The prize was awarded by His Majesty the King of Sweden at a ceremony held in Stockholm on September 23, 2013. A symposium on the award-winning theme and its importance to the forest industry and society took place the next day.

NCC is being hailed as a wonder material that could be used in everything from plastic car parts, to bone replacement and teeth repair, to additives for paint, pigments, inks and cosmetics based on its iridescent optical properties. The work by Professor Gray and his colleagues helped result in a pioneering NCC pilot project at the FPInnovations lab in Montreal and in the opening of a world first commercial plant, Celluforce, in Windsor Quebec in 2012.

“It is with great pleasure that I congratulate Dr. Gray. His innovative research efforts are a perfect example of how collaboration between research organizations can lead to spectacular results,” said Pierre Lapointe, president and CEO of FPInnovations. “This research will lead towards further enhancing of the economic value of the forest resource by diversifying markets and contributing to the development of a new, sustainable bioeconomy.”