Interfacing with business all over the country
The TEKEL network is a nationwide co-operative body for Finnish science parks. Its 33 member centres interface closely with business. The operational impact of TEKEL centres extends to 14,100 companies, 2,200 of which are based in science parks. In addition, customer companies operating in the 20 technology incubators employ about 1,800 people (in 2007). (See TEKEL centres in a nutshell.)
The network actively develops science park activities, in order to make Finland into an even more internationally attractive environment for innovation. Through the science park services of the TEKEL network, there exists nationwide coverage for different functions and project implementation.
The Board of Directors of TEKEL consists of representatives of members of the network from all over Finland. Teams also play a key role in developing science park activity. Their activities include the preparation of procedures shared by the network concerning various functions.
A key network-co-operation and management tool is TekelNYT, TEKEL’s electronic forum, which acts as a channel for discussion and information, and also as a reporting and archiving tool.
Examples of project co-operation in recent years include the Centre of Expertise Programme (OSKE), the Enterprise Europe Network that began in 2008, the Sitra (Finnish Innovation Fund) Technology Incubator Development Project 2003 – 2007 (YRKE), the Tekes TULI (Research to Business) project and the Enemmän OsKesta (more from OSKE) project run by the national Centre of Expertise Committee and the ministries that sit on the committee.
An efficient and accessible network
Closely involved in the Centre of Expertise Programme
In the Centre of Expertise Programme (OSKE) programme, support is being given to regional strengths, areas of regional specialisation and co-operation between centres of expertise. The national programme involves 13 national Competence Clusters and 21 regional Centres of Expertise from different regions.
TEKEL member centres have been closely involved in the implementation of the OSKE programme since its inception. In practice, most of the TEKEL members and science parks are operating as Centres of Expertise in their respective regions.
(For further information, also check the OSKE website.)
TEKEL as a moderator for the Enterprise Europe Network
TEKEL acts as a moderator for technology transfer services and information on framework programmes in the Enterprise Europe Network. The technology transfer service offers small-to-medium-sized businesses, universities and research institutes the chance to find partners in more than 40 countries in the fields of the buying and selling of technology, production collaboration, product development and licensing. Information on framework programmes is provided in co-operation with the Finnish Secretariat for EU R&D.
In Finland, the network is coordinated by the Ministry of Employment and the Economy. Partners in co-operation are the Employment and Economic Development Centre for Southwestern Finland, the Helsinki Region Chamber of Commerce, the Finnish Science Park Association TEKEL, Licentia Ltd, Technopolis Ventures Ltd, Turku Science Park Ltd and Hermia Business Development Ltd.
(For further information on the Enterprise Europe Network, click here.)
YRKE brought efficiency to technology incubators and resources for entrepreneurs
The aim of YRKE, the Development Programme for Business Incubators, was to revamp the activities of 12 regional technology incubators, and thereby to increase the number and improve the quality of the companies developing inside them. During the project (2003 – 2007), the number of new incubator companies almost doubled and the quality of companies improved significantly. In the early stages, less than 10 capital investments per year were made in incubator companies, but by the end of the project, that number had climbed to 60.
In addition to Sitra, participants in the YRKE Programme also included Tekes, the Ministry of Trade and Industry, T&E (Employment and Economic Development) Centres, regional councils and TEKEL.
(For further information about YRKE and its results, see the Sitra website.)
Research to Business programme yields good results
Between 2002 and 2005, the most comprehensive commercialisation channel in Finland for business ideas stemming from research grew as a result of Tekes’ Research to Business Programme TULI. At that time, more than 2,000 ideas were assessed as part of the programme, and these ideas spawned 112 new companies. In addition, about 70 projects were commercialised through licensing.
The programme developed a regionally effective operating model for the identification, evaluation and further development to new researched-based business ideas. Universities, research institutes, science parks and other innovative organisations engaged in close co-operation. TEKEL coordinated the programme from 2002 to 2006.
(Find more information on the results of TULI at our news archive.)
