Success is based
on expertise in Finland

According to many recent international reports, Finland is amongst the leading countries in competitiveness and growth potential. The strengths of Finland are an active innovation environment, scientific and technological expertise and a high level of education. It is the universities, the Academy of Finland and Tekes, the Finnish Funding Agency for Technology and Innovation, that have a key role in the development of the national innovation system. The majority of public technology funding to companies is channelled via Tekes. The Government has played an active role in increasing the public funding of R&D.

Since the beginning of the 1990s, the volume of research and development investment in Finland has tripled and its share of GDP is now 3.5%, one of the highest in the world. The number of researchers per thousand employees is currently over 10 in Finland, which is by far the highest figure within the OECD countries. These strengths of the Finnish national innovation system combined with effective local research and cooperation within industries have made regions more attractive places for R&D investment.

Centres of Expertise

The regions - and especially the biggest cities - have also increased investment in science parks and technology centres. In order to support the development of regional innovative environments the Government launched in 1994 the Centre of Expertise Programme. The result is a strong and efficient network of 21 centres of expertise which has been spurred to meet the demands of globalisation and new digital economy. A Centre of Expertise is the cooperative network responsible for the development of the certain selected field of expertise. The science parks and technology centres that house the Centres of Expertise have matured into attractive locations. They serve as platforms for new open innovation and their sites in the vicinity of universities offer good availability of qualified R&D personnel at competitive costs.

Local Network in Use

As the cost of R&D increases, and as R&D cycles become ever shorter and faster, cooperation between companies and universities, polytechnics, research institutes, as well with other companies, is emerging as an increasingly integral part of the development of business know-how. Centres of Expertise work closely with universities, polytechnics, research institutions and companies in order to develop and create new businesses, based on local excellence. For foreign companies in particular, this type of cooperation offers much greater opportunities for participating in local cutting-edge research and innovation than doing it alone. Correspondingly, local companies are able to strengthen their own core competencies through the network of centres of expertise which is build on national and international connections and resources.

From Nanotechnology to Intelligent Machines The Centre of Expertise Programme for 2007-2013 focus on nationally remarkable Clusters of Competence. The Government has nominated 13 Clusters of Competence, which are

• HealthBio Cluster
• Well-Being Cluster
• Food Development
• Future Energy Technologies
• Ubiquitous Computing
• Digital Content
• Tourism and Experience Industry
• Nanotechnology, Microsystems and Future Materials
• Maritime Cluster
• Intelligent Machines
• Forest Industry Future
• Housing Cluster
• Environmental Technology Cluster

These clusters are appointed based on strong and developing research, education and business activities with fluent collaboration between top centres. Clusters are carried out by 21 Centres of Expertise specialized in different fields, the majority of which are indisputably world-class.

CENTRES OF EXPERTISE Hyvinkää-Riihimäki Region Centre of Expertise Lifting, Moving and Logistics Industries www.techvilla.fi Häme Centre of Expertise E-Learning Intelligent Machines Housing and Construction Industries www.innopark.fi Jyväskylä Region Centre of Expertise Nanotechnology Forest Industry – Paper Techology Energy Technology - Bioenergy Ubiquitous Technology - Software www.jklinnovation.fi www.investinjyvaskyla.com www.businessinjyvaskyla.com South-East Finland Centre of Expertise High Technology Metal Constructions Forest Industry Future Russian Business Development www.lprinno.fi Kainuu Centre of Expertise Measuring Technology www.measurepolis.fi Kokkola Region Centre of Expertise Chemistry www.ketek.fi Kouvola Region Centre of Expertise Multilingual Communication and Content Management www.excen.net Kuopio Region Centre of Expertise Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Development Wellbeing and Healthcare Technology Food and Nutrition Development Environmental Technology www.teknia.fi www.investinkuopio.fi Lapland Centre of Expertise Experience Industry www.elamystuotanto.org Western Finland Centre of Expertise Energy and Maritime Technology www.merinova.fi Mikkeli Region Centre of Expertise Composites and Coatings www.miktech.fi Oulu Region Centre of Expertise Wireless Technology Well-being Industry Nanotechnology, Microsystems and Future Materials Environmental Technology www.ouluinnovation.fi

North Karelia Centre of Expertise Wood Technology and Forestry Plastics and Tooling Energy Technology Nanotechnology, Microsystems and Future Materials www.carelian.fi Lahti Region Centre of Expertise Environmental Technology Housing www.lahtisbp.fi Satakunta Centre of Expertise Material and Energy Technology Ubiquitous Computing Maritime Industries www.prizz.fi Savonlinna Region Centre of Expertise E-business in Tourism www.innovaatiokeskus.com Seinäjoki Region Centre of Expertise Food Processing Industry Smart Systems www.foodwest.fi www.stoy.fi, www.investinseinajoki.com Tampere Region Centre of Expertise Intelligent Machines Nanotechnology, Microsystems and Future Materials Ubiquitous Computing Digital Content Optoelectronics Biomaterials, Diagnostics and Pharmaceutical Development Health Care Technology www.hermia.fi, www.finnmedi.fi www.investintampere.com Helsinki Region Centre of Expertise Nanotechnology, Microsystems and Future Materials Health Bio Functional Food Development Ubiquitous Computing Well-being Digital Content Housing Tourism and Experience Industry Environmental Technology www.culminatum.fi South-West Finland Centre of Expertise Bio Materials, Diagnostics and Pharmaceutical Development Material Surface Technology Maritime Industries Functional Food Development Tourism www.turkusciencepark.com Bothnian Arc Region Centre of Expertise Steel Constructions and Stainless Steel www.steelpolis.com

www.oske.net     www.investinfinland.fi    www.tekes.fi     www.tekel.fi

 

Jyväskylä Science Park
a one stop shop for your R&D

Jyväskylä Innovation Ltd

Managing regional Centre of Expertise Programme, comprising Clusters of Competence in

• Forest Industry Future – Paper Technology
• Future Energy Technology – Bio energy
• Ubiquitous Technology – Software
• Business from Nanotechnology

Managing national Cluster of Competence ”Nano and Micro Systems and Future Materials”

Technopolis JSP Ltd

A subsidiary of Technopolis PLC

• managing modern premises at the Lake Jyväskylä, next to downtown
• providing an efficient network to science parks in major cities in Finland and in St Petersburg

Providing company location services

University of Jyväskylä

Multi-disciplinary, over 16 000 students, in the science park

 

World-class Expertise in Nanotechnology

Jyväskylä is the first city in Finland to host a modern centre for nanotechnology. The NANOSCIENCE CENTER (NSC) of the University of Jyväskylä is a home for education, research and business. It provides facilities and clean rooms for physics, chemistry, biology and their collaboration – real nanoscience - as well as offices for firms.

Core Scientific Expertise

• Nano and molecule electronics
• Supra and macro molecular chemistry
• Functional nanoparticles
• Carbon nanotubes
• Structure and function of viruses
• Modeling of nanostructures
• Nanoscale charactrization

Application Possibilities

• Solar cells
• Flexible displays
• Electronic components
• Active coatings
• Composites
• Bio compatible materials
• Drug delivery

Next Generation Solar Cell Technology
NSC is focused on development of techniques suitable for low-cost roll-to-roll production. One of the new photovoltaic devices that have potential is a dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC).

Memory Elements Based on Carbon Nanotubes
NSC has used commercial multi walled and single walled carbon nanotubes as a FET like conduction channel in a study of memory effects. NSC aims at optimization of hysteretic behavior of the gate voltage effects towards device applications.

Use of DNA in Future Molecular Electronics
DNA and other molecules with self-assembly properties hold a promise as components in future molecular electronics. NSC is focused on trapping and manipulating such molecules, and on the study of their electrical properties. Metal-molecule contacts are studied using different types of linker molecules.

 

 

Turku Science Park: Biomaterials
provide spare parts for humans

Established as a result of the Centre of Expertise Programme of Southwest Finland, the Turku Centre for Biomaterials specializes in the research and development of biomaterials used for medical purposes, as well as helping the academic materials development to make contact with the business world as early as possible. The internationally acclaimed expertise based in Turku has already produced a number of applications that improve the quality of life, and give new hope in the treatment of difficult cases.

Biomaterials have proved to be particularly efficient in the treatment of e.g. different bone damage, whether resulting from an accident, illness or congenital defect. An excellent example of the potential of biomaterials is the case of a man who was seriously injured in a boating accident. The young man fell off a boat and was hit hard on the head by the propeller. It resulted in a serious cranial injury which was impossible to treat with traditional methods due to the large hole in the skull. ”It was, however, possible to help the patient back to normal life using a method developed in Turku. First we took MRI of the skull. On the basis of the image, the local company Alphaform Oy, specializing in rapid prototyping, made a life-size model of the patient’s skull. An implant of fiberreinforced composite was made over the model, and it was finally attached to cover the damaged part of the skull using special technology”, says Docent Heimo Ylänen, Director of the Turku Centre for Biomaterials.

According to Dr. Ylänen, the new method can be used in the treatment of almost any bone damage. The essential thing in the method is that it allows for tailoring the implant for each patient in all cases. A new method developed by researchers in Turku with which the patient’s own soft tissue can be made to grow on, for example, a titanium screw used in the treatment of bone fractures is also coming to the market. “The method can prevent the spreading of bacteria from the joint of tissue and the screw inside the body, thus diminishing the risk of infection related to the treatment”, Heimo Ylänen explains. According to Dr. Ylänen, the great strength of biomaterials research in Turku and the Turku Centre for Biomaterials is networking, also internationally.

By reducing overlapping research and focusing the strength it is possible to speed up the development work which is typically slow in the medical fields. By creating contacts between research groups and companies the Turku Centre for Biomaterials promotes the generating of products that meet the needs of companies and, above all, of people.

www.bioturku.com
www.turkusciencepark.com

 

BioTurku® – The leading biotechnology cluster in Finland

City of Turku – Urban legends since the year 1229 The City of Turku, the cradle of Finnish civilization, is known for its rich history, high level of education, vibrant cultural life and eye-pleasing archipelago landscapes. Its seaside location and tradition for solid expertise have made Turku into an interesting location for both domestic and foreign companies. The business strengths lie in the region´s diverse structure; its most important fields include life sciences and ICT fields, marine and metal industries, as well as logistics and tourism.

The Turku region biotechnology cluster BioTurku® comprises of around 80 biotechnology companies as well as training and research centers, most of which are located in the Turku Science Park area. The focal fields include drug development, diagnostics, biomaterials and functional foods. Strong areas of application include hormonal illnesses and cancer, inflammatory diseases and infectious diseases, diseases of the central nervous system, as well as regenerative medicine and biomaterials.

Located on the Southwest coast of Finland, Turku Science Park is one of the largest and oldest science parks in the country. Within a walking distance from the city-center, the 5 km2 area hosts three universities and Finland’s largest university of applied sciences. The oldest of them is the University of Turku, the roots of which date back to 1640.

In total, there are some 13,500 employees and around 25,000 university students in the Turku Science Park area.The growth of the focal areas, i.e. biotechnology and ICT and the service companies supporting them, indicates the cluster’s tried and tested expertise, and the attraction is reflected in construction projects: there are more than 250 000 m2 of premises.

What are biomaterials?
Biomaterial can be used in medical care to repair damaged tissue; for example, by using biodegradable sutures, or to replace parts of the body, such as worn-out joints. Biomaterials have therefore become important accessories in surgery. Growing artificial tissue in a laboratory is also possible: biomaterials can already be used for producing blood vessels and cornea. Biomaterials can be natural substances, such as human or animal bone, connective tissue or skin, or synthetic material, such as metal, ceramic materials or polymers.

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