Strategic Centres for Science Technology and Innovation DM

Strategic Centres for Science, Technology and Innovation DM 249834 12 -2006 Copyright © Tekes

What? Strategic Centres for Science, Technology and Innovation will provide a new way of coordinating dispersed research resources to meet targets that are important for Finnish business and society. In the strategic centres l Companies, universities and research institutes will agree on a joint research plan. The plan will aim to meet the application needs for practical application by companies within a 5 -10 -year period. l In addition to shareholders, public funding organisations will commit themselves to providing funding for the centres in the long term. DM 249834 12 -2006 Copyright © Tekes

Strategic Centres for Science, Technology and Innovation Research institute Centre A, B International partner Company R&D and innovation program 1, 2 of centre Strategic partners l Cooperating companies l Universities l Research organisations Cluster Ltd. Companies Universities Research institutes Virtual research organisation Technology transfer DM 249834 12 -2006 Copyright © Tekes

Why? l While the current innovation system has worked well, it no longer meets future challenges in all respects l Research, development and innovation, and funding for them, have taken place mostly as fragmented short-term projects l International exposure has only been managed by a handful of organizations and individual top researchers A new approach is needed to strengthen areas of research and technology that are important to Finland to create new areas of national competence. DM 249834 12 -2006 Copyright © Tekes

How will the centres benefit companies? At the centres, companies will be able to l Improve the speed and effectiveness of their innovative activities l Participate in determining a research plan for the centre so that it meets their needs l Harness diverse know-how necessary for meeting their targets l Obtain longer-term public research and development funding than is currently available DM 249834 12 -2006 Copyright © Tekes

How will the centres benefit universities and research institutions? At the centres, universities and research institutions will be able to l Participate in long-term strategic research and development l Network with other scientific top researchers in their field l Create and strengthen contacts with businesses and researchers in them l Improve both the qualitative and quantitative operational preconditions of their high-level research teams l Improve their appeal among students due to their increased business contacts l Obtain users for the knowledge and know-how they produce DM 249834 12 -2006 Copyright © Tekes

How and when? l Tekes will manage the practical preparatory work needed for establishing Strategic Centres for Science, Technology and Innovation in cooperation with the Academy of Finland. Autumn 2006 l Companies, universities and research institutes will determine a joint research plan and agree on administrative arrangements for each centre. 2007 DM 249834 12 -2006 Copyright © Tekes

Five centres in the first phase l In the first phase, centres will be established, as decided by the Science and Technology Policy Council of Finland, for the following areas: l l l Energy and environment Metal products and mechanical engineering Forest cluster Health and well-being Information and communication industry and services l Any proposals concerning other possible centres will be made by a management group set up by the Ministry of Trade and Industry DM 249834 12 -2006 Copyright © Tekes

Further information Tekes l Executive Director Jussi Kivikoski l Responsible directors: l Energy and environment: Teija Lahti-Nuuttila l Metal products and mechanical engineering: Lauri Ala-Opas l Forest cluster: Christine Hagström-Näsi l Health and well-being: Pia Paaso l Information and communication industry and services: Kari Tilli Academy of Finland l Director Ritva Dammert DM 249834 12 -2006 Copyright © Tekes