ABSTRACT
At the beginning of the 1990s, the Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences (Kungliga Ingenjôrsvetenskapsakademien) published an investigation considering 'Sweden's role in the global forest industry',1 which became an important source of inspiration in my present research field. The publication described the Finnish forest industry as supported by a state-industrial policy and as a very strong competitor in the European market. This fierce market situation was given the dramatic name 'the Battle for Europe'. In a consequent publication, the Academy raised the question whether or not the Swedish forest industry would still be in Sweden after 2000.2 The atmosphere in the industry was depressed.
