The intention of the preliminary research project was to evaluate and assess the potential for expanding trainingactivities to the forest industry companies in the Republic of Karelia. The goal was to identify and create acooperation network suitable for the purpose between forest industry companies in the Republic of Karelia,POHTO, and other partners potentially needed in the future. The project was to develop suitable training andhuman resource development programmes in order to implement training activity in forest industry companies inthe Republic of Karelia. In addition, a goal was to create mutual prerequisites between the counterparts for the viableexpertise development projects and to plan pilot projects that prepare for implementation. In practice, the projectwould defi ne the goals and POHTO personnels participation in the various forms of cooperation, seek contacts forcooperation in the Republic of Karelia, plan seminars that initiate cooperation, organise a planning congress, anddesign the pilot projects and implementation phase. Achievements: The project created communication contacts between Russian partners, companies and educational institutions as well as between Finnish companies. Information about the POHTO Foundation was sent to Russian organizations along with offers regarding its available customer-oriented training. Discussions took place with universities and other higher education institutions regarding potential joint-venture projects in the Republic of Karelia. POHTO signed a cooperation agreement with Petrozavodsk State University. As a result of the cooperation discussions, participants from the Republic of Karelia attended maintenance training conducted in Lappeenranta. Values and Culture pilot training was implemented for one cooperation company and management training and other various types of maintenance training were being initiated for another.