Timber engineering and construction concepts have immense potential to reduce carbon emissions. The use of biomaterials in the construction industry allows for increased carbon storage and reduced energy-related emissions, but scaling-up wood construction has cross-sectoral implications. Benefitting from expertise from four Swiss research institutions, the MainWood project will provide the scientific basis for the transition to construction bioeconomy in Switzerland and beyond. Working across the wood construction supply chain, the MainWood research team will address forest dynamics impacted by climate change, timber production systems, new wood-based construction materials, innovative design and construction, life cycle assessment, and retrofitting concepts. MainWood is also working with policy and societal actors to contribute to a transition to a circular bioeconomy that connects rural and urban landscapes.