COMFOR (Collective work science approach to solving the common problems of occupational health and performance in European forest operations SMEs) Project (2006-2008), funded by the EU under the programme "Horizontal Research Activities Involving SMEs".

The objective of COMFOR was to develop knowledge about effective work practices for SMEs (Small and Medium Enterprises) in forest operations to provide answers for health. It initially involved entrepreneurs in 10 European countries (research phase): Finland, Sweden, Germany, the Netherlands, France, England, Ireland, Poland, Romania and Bulgaria, and focused on several key advancements:
- Standardization of Data through the adoption of the StanForD standard, which enabled different brands of forest harvesters and forwarders to communicate with office management software using a universal language.
- Supply Chain Optimization, through the introduction of ICT solutions to improve the logistics of wood mobilization. By using GPS and digital maps, SMEs could better plan transport routes.
- Enhanced Competitiveness, providing SMEs with the same technological advantages as large forestry corporations, ensuring that small contractors remained viable in a tightening European market.
- Mobile Solutions, via early mobile data transfer systems that allowed operators in remote forest locations to send production reports.
The project’s findings were disseminated through workshops and handbooks specifically tailored for forestry entrepreneurs. The project includes four major Work Packages: SMEs research demands;
Research; Knowledge transfer; Training activities.
CEETTAR served as the primary coordinator for the project, ENFE played a crucial role as a core partner. Their involvement was centered on two key areas:
- Stakeholder Representation: As the representative body for forest service enterprises, ENFE ensured that the ICT tools and data standards being developed were practical and user-friendly for small and medium-sized contractors working on the ground.
- Knowledge Dissemination: ENFE was instrumental in communicating the project’s findings and digital solutions to its members across 31 countries (EU-25 Member States plus Bulgaria and Romania and Turkey and Norway and Switzerland).
the COMFOR project was intrinsically linked to Social Dialogue, serving as a technical foundation for policy discussions between employers and workers at the European level.
While the project's outward focus was ICT, its implementation was a strategic priority for CEETTAR and ENFE within the framework of the European Social Dialogue Committee. It addressed several core social pillars: Health and Safety at Work; Sectoral Competitiveness and Jobs; Modernizing the Sector’s Image to make forestry more attractive to young workers.

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