Insights

The European Commission is launching the biggest Framework Programme for Research and Innovation, Horizon 2020. Its budget of 70 billion for seven years is the biggest of its kind in the world. In the previous Framework Programme, Finland was a net recipient: we received 1.33 times more money than we contributed. Many things will change this time around and there is a possibility that we’ll be left with nothing.

Have you ever thought of what is in your rejuvenating face cream, why sun screen protects your skin from getting burnt and why your carpets don’t get stains, even after spilling some red wine? The answer is nanotechnology and nano-materials.

The European Commission has chosen Graphene as one of Europe’s first 10-year, 1,000 million euro FET flagships. The mission of the flagship is to take graphene and related layered materials from academic laboratories to society, revolutionise multiple industries and create economic growth and new jobs in Europe.

On March 12th Beneq opened a subsidiary and operations in Saint Petersburg to commercialise its atomic layer deposition technology (ALD) in the Russian market. As part of the overall strategy, the company will sign an agreement to launch a joint laboratory for research and development of industrial applications in ALD with Saint Petersburg State Electrotechnical University (SpbGETU).

Spinverse Ltd. continues to grow, becomes more international and renews its organisation:

Solar energy supply and demand is growing constantly. Many new solar energy construction projects are being launched in Finland. Finnish technology companies are at the forefront of development. In addition to export transactions, new businesses and job creation are expected to arise significantly from this sector in the near future.

The CTO (Chief Technology Officer) Forum at Aalto Design Factory was a memorable collection of interesting presentations, enthusiastic discussions, and the unforgettable Award gala where Kenneth Ekman (CrisolteQ Ltd) received the well-deserved CTO of the Year 2013 award.

Finnish Chief Technology Officers have stayed optimistic according to the CTO Survey 2013, which was published last week. Almost half of the CTOs believe in increasing their R&D investments and nearly a third their recruitments. The number has however decreased from the last two years.

Both Neste Oil and start-up Ekolite are developing new business from waste formed in the production process as part of the Tekes Green Growth programme. Moreover, these new processes save resources and the environment.

According to the annual Chief Technology Officer (CTO) Survey by Spinverse, investments in research and development (R&D) will increase in 2013 in almost half of the Finnish companies, and almost a third of the companies will recruit more this year. However, CTOs are not as optimistic as in the previous years: less companies are increasing investments and recruitment.