Spinverse and EIRMA, the European Industrial Research Management Association, have announced that they will launch the quest for Europe’s CTO of the Year 2014 in June. The CTO of the Year Award is to highlight the role of the most prominent leaders of technology-based growth, promoting innovations to renew European industry and to upturn competitive advantage.
FIMECC research programmes have already proven their strength as target-oriented public-private partnerships (PPP), capable of creating new solutions and implementing results effectively. Now a new wave of intensive research cooperation between academia and industry is brought alive through an industry-led FIMECC Breakthrough Materials Doctoral School. Built as a part of the FIMECC BSA and HYBRIDS programmes launched in the beginning of 2014, it will involve 22 doctoral students in its first phase. Focusing on fundamental scientific challenges and modelling, this multi-disciplinary group of young scientists with their senior advisors and international partners will tackle critical research questions set by the companies involved to build new solutions and relevant competence for the industry.
In the previous column ‘Large Cooperates Join SLUSH too!’ I regretted the absence of large corporations in SLUSH. There was an appreciable amount of feedback; for example, Kimmo Alkio reported he brought along the entire management group of Tieto to the event. Excellent!
Spinverse will team with eight European companies and research institutes in the EU-funded research and innovation project “IP4Plasma” in an effort to fight the second biggest killer among infectious diseases. The aim is to produce a highly sensitive tuberculosis test that will allow a diagnosis within minutes with costs as low as 1€ per test.
FIMECC has launched two new research programs that will have a major impact in bringing innovative and sustainable materials solutions for many emerging and growing industry sectors. The programs will also enable a major renewal in the Finnish metals and engineering cluster. Spinverse facilitated the preparation of these novel industry driven public-private partnership (PPP) programs and has now been selected to manage both of them.
The Green Growth & Cleantech Summit 25.2.2014 in Helsinki brought together over 600 top Finnish influencers and experts. Tekes’ Green Growth programme, coordinated by Spinverse, was one of the main partners of the event.
Luc Jones of Antal Russia wrote in his recent publication: “Russia is not a country where you can just show up and make a quick buck – you need to be in it for the long term. Many have tried and failed, but even more have done extremely well in Russia.” Finnish-Russian economic co-operation has been intensively in the spotlight recently, as the growing Russian market offers plenty of business opportunities for Finnish companies. Though entering the Russian market requires careful planning, and it is vital to get expert advice.
The Tekes Functional Materials Programme has invested altogether 150 million euros to renew and strengthen the Finnish industry. The Programme coordinated by Dr. Markku Heino from Spinverse Oy has systematically built new competences and base for new global business. The results are promising: more than 100 patents, 200 publications, 14 new start-ups, and a set of emerging technologies developed in new areas like printed intelligence, renewable energy and biomedical applications.
The Final seminar of the Tekes Functional Materials programme coordinated by Spinverse gathered together close to 300 experts at The Circus, Helsinki, 11.12.13. The event arranged in a former rock club provided a cosy atmosphere for digesting the scientific novelties and technological result highlights provided by short and sharp presentations. A special session and exhibition focusing on “Coatings & manufacturing” showcased highlights regarding the theme. Exciting keynote speakers: Prof. Nasser Peyghambarian (holographic telepresence), Paul Kallmes (Strategic IP Management) and Kivi Sotamaa (Design & 3D manufacturing), a bunch of fresh result highlights from science and industry and a multi-disciplinary audience made it THE EVENT in the field. The “hard day’s night” culminated with an interactive networking session around demos, posters and live blues music – a great forum to build new ideas, multi-disciplinary co-operation and next steps to the future.
Many Finnish companies miss an opportunity to get EU funding because Finland lacks a national strategy to support this.