on success
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3 Focused Curiosity and the desire to experiment. Long-term research and the determined application of research results. Courage to try new things. Experts from three universities and numerous companies come together in the Turku Science Park, next to the city-centre. Here, the knowledge and creativity of individuals, together with the freedom of research, grow into innovations for companies and communities, creating not just world-class science but also fi nancial benefi t. TURKU SCIENCE PARK: Three universities: University of Turku, Åbo Akademi University and Turku School of Economics Turku University of Applied Sciences, Diaconia University of Applied Sciences Turku University Hospital 17,500 employees 30,500 students 400 professors 300 companies and organisations More than 250,000 m 2 of completed premises in an area of five square kilometres More than ten technology buildings Located along the Helsinki motorway, in the immediate vicinity of the Kupittaa railway station, within walking distance from the city-centre Less than a half-hour drive from an airport with international connections Turku Science Park joins together academic and business experts. Our key fi elds are biotechnology and ICT. We offer a unique setting for the commercialisation of research-based innovations and the creation and growth of business operations related to high technology. The Turku Science Park is an effective and inspiring operating environment in which all of the elements necessary for success are present. The innovation process is like a decathlon: it requires both endurance and the mastery of many skills. Companies need experts input for product development and growth, scientifi c innovations need channels for commercialisation, and the business world needs new successful companies. The Turku Science Park advances the realisation of these goals. The genuinely urban science park is one of the largest, oldest and fastest-growing in the country. Connect yourself with success bring your ideas or research group to benefi t from the interaction with the best in the fi eld!
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5 Helping the Turku Science Park Ltd To grow from a local to an international operator can be a long and challenging road. It is essential to fi nd suitable partners and fi nancing. That is where we come in. The Turku Science Park Ltd can help you reach your full potential. SERVICES OF TURKU SCIENCE PARK LTD Support for R&D project preparation related to spearhead fields and regional development, and the co-ordination of the projects High technology business development and incubator services: expert services and premises for start-up technology companies Activities and consultation related to the development of the innovation system Marketing and communication of the BioTurku and ICT Turku clusters and the science park entity Locating services in the Turku Science Park area The Turku Science Park Ltd is responsible for developing the science park entity. Our task is to increase the business that is based on the expertise of universities and companies. This is done by bringing together different components: researchers, businesses and the opportunities offered by the public sector. We promote the commercialisation of research and ideas by making it easier to fi nd partners and fi nancing channels. We provide business development and incubator services, implement Centre of Expertise programmes and technology programmes, and promote the growth and internationalisation of the spearhead fi elds biotechnology and ICT. Our key tools include projects, events and training. Moreover, we actively infl uence the continuous development of the infrastructure of the area and improve competitiveness. All of this is important to our principal owner, the City of Turku, as well. Our commercialisation and technology transfer services include activities related to the TULI (Research to Business) fi nancing of TEKES (the Finnish Funding Agency for Technology and Innovation) for researchers working together with universities, and our work as part of the international Enterprise Europe Network (EEN).
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targeting at health Biotechnology is the future in which we are already living. Turku is the national biotechnology pioneer whose persistence over many years has begun to bear fruit. High-quality research has evolved into drugs, diagnostics, functional foods and human spare parts. Service companies support the growth of the industry. BioTurku 7 BioTurku, the cluster of biotechnology actors in the Turku region, is Finland s leader in its fi eld and is well known also elsewhere in Europe. The BioTurku cluster comprises about 100 biotechnology companies as well as several educational and research institutes in the Turku region. The technological focus areas are drug discovery and development, diagnostics, biomaterials and functional foods. The four therapeutic focus areas are hormonal diseases and cancer, infl ammatory and infectious diseases, diseases of the central nervous system, regenerative medicine and biomaterials. We co-ordinate the HealthBIO network which combines the fi ve major Finnish regional bioclusters. This is a national network of health expertise that utilises the knowledge of specialists in multiple fi elds. The operations cover genomics, diagnostics, treatment and human spare parts. In addition to its international nature and the attractiveness of its innovation environments, the programme promotes the growth of SMEs whose operations are based on knowledge and expertise. HealthBIO is part of the national Centre of Expertise Programme (OSKE) which supports and develops the specialisation, positioning and competitiveness of the fi ve main Finnish biocentres. Applied ICT the generator of growth The greatest growth of information and communication technology still lies ahead, as the technology developed in the fi eld becomes more and more a part of everyday life and is integrated into other lines of business. ICT Turku is responding to this challenge with some 1,500 ICT companies in Southwest Finland. Information and communication technology (ICT) is the second biggest business sector in Southwest Finland, and it has been continuously growing at a steady rate. The fi eld employs a total of 13,500 people. Outside the Helsinki metropolitan area, the Turku Salo region forms the strongest ICT expertise cluster in Finland. The scientifi c centre is located in the Turku Science Park. In Southwest Finland, applied ICT is linked especially to social welfare and health care sector, the maritime and metal industries, and the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industry. Other strong areas include electronics, digital media, and speech and language technology.
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9 Successful Even a brilliant idea needs the efforts of experts from many different fi elds to become a product. Somebody has to fi nd the experts, link them to the chain and push them forward. The Turku Science Park is that somebody, the one that unites the doers. Extensive networking multiplies our ability to offer our partners the latest expertise, innovative applications and the most effi cient channels for fi nding partners. The international world opens up through us. We provide the how in know-how. Our involvement with national expertise clusters has proven to be a successful way to combine resources and create synergy by bringing experts from different fi elds to the same table. An example of this is our work to prepare and implement research and product development projects fi nanced by the EU and TEKES in our spearhead fi elds. In addition, we have more than ten years experience in developing and co-coordinating EU projects, the utilisation of research framework programmes, and in networking and regional development. The generation of success and profi t for the actors in the area is our primary objective. Turku Science Park Ltd implements its business policy task by networking with national and international expertise clusters. Biocelex Ltd, a joint venture of Turku Science Park Ltd and Karolinska Institutet Holding Ab, is an example of our efforts to create a competitive cluster in the global market. Located in the Turku Science Park, the company provides innovation and business development services for the internationalisation and growth of biotechnology business.
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11 esearturns into a product The fi rst few years are the most critical for a new company. It needs capital, partners, different kinds of special expertise and, of course, customers. The special expertise of the Turku Science Park includes business development and incubator services to support start-up companies. SERVICES FOR START-UP COMPANIES AND THOSE PLANNING THEIR BUSINESS: Evaluating the potential and development needs of the idea, and deciding on further measures Pre-incubator service: developing the idea to fit the incubator Drawing up a business plan Acquiring initial financing Incubator service: a development service subject to a charge, maximum duration 3 years (public funding support) Premises and office services primarily for incubator companies Activation for TULI financing and project work: finding and commercialising innovations made in universities In business development, well planned is much more than half done. With the help of our experts, start-up technology companies are able to clarify their business idea and facilitate the starting of operations at the initial stage. At the same time, their opportunities for success are signifi cantly improved. Turku Science Park Ltd operates two incubator units: the Bio Incubator with laboratory premises, and the DIO Business Centre for other technologies. Companies within the development service can also be located elsewhere in Southwest Finland. We offer services for fi nding innovations viable for commercialisation, evaluating business ideas, fi nalising business plans and fi nding partners and fi nancing. The Business Incubator is a special service concept that provides premises and consultation specialised in business development. The Business Incubator develops the idea, together with the entrepreneur, into a profi table business. The survival rate of companies that have started in our business incubators is nearly 90 percent. The business incubators of the Turku Science Park Ltd have given start to more than 160 new technology companies which have created 850 new jobs. The most common lines of business are ICT and biotechnology, but companies operating in shipbuilding, wood processing and various expert services have also started in the incubators.
FINLAND Turku Turku Science Park Oy Ltd Itäinen Pitkäkatu 4 B FI-20520 Turku Finland www.turkusciencepark.com