Insights

SWEETWOODS is a 43-million-euro joint pilot project that was recently granted 21 million euros in funding under the EU’s Horizon 2020 programme’s Bio-Based Industries financial instrument. Horizon 2020 is the biggest research and innovation programme in the world, supporting the development and introduction of new technologies. SWEETWOODS represented the only flagship project in the bioeconomy sector. The project is implemented through collaborative efforts of nine partner companies.

Innovation is proven to be the single most efficient way to encourage growth and renewal. Should Finland once again be made the spearhead of innovation all others compare themselves to?

The bi-annual CTO Forum spring event was held on 19th of March at restaurant Palace. This time the focus of the event was on Finland 4.0 - how to increase the R&D expenditure of GDP to 4.0%.

Does your company have an innovative idea or solution you want to pilot with Valmet? Are you looking for new business opportunities? Do you need world-class expertise to help you commercialize your idea?

Vesa Varjonen, Vice President of Research and Technology at Planmeca and Matti Heikkilä, CTO of MetGen have been chosen as CTOs of the Year 2018.  The jury consisting of leading Finnish technology influencers emphasized the significant role of the awarded CTOS on renewal of the industry. The CTO of the Year Awards are given by Spinverse together with Technology Industries of Finland and Business Finland to highlight the importance of Chief Technology Officers work on the future competitiveness of Finnish industries. 

LuxTurrim5G, the Nokia Bell Labs driven collaborative ecosystem project coordinated by Spinverse, enabled Espoo City to reach the finals of the Intelligent Community of 2018 contest. The Intelligent Community Forum (ICF) announced the seven finalists on the 8th of February in New York. The think tank describes the finalists as cities that have done the leap from Smart Cities to Intelligent Communities.

Open Innovation (OI) ecosystem projects are complicated and demanding. Ecosystem partners have multiple roles and different internal drivers and objectives. Typically innovation projects involve high technological and commercial risks, which increase the level of complexity. Furthermore, there may be competing ecosystem projects either running parallel or about to be initiated. These characteristics require special measures and actions when leading and managing OI ecosystem projects.

Spinverse and the Nordic Council of Ministers through the Danish Business Authority have broadened the CTO Forum concept to cover all Nordic countries. The first ever CTO Forum Nordics was held in Stockholm, Sweden on the 14th of December 2017. The aim of the day was to find ways to enhance Nordic cooperation in industrial digitalisation: Industry 4.0.

Tekes Smart City and Environment event “100 Lasissa”, Helsinki, 12.12.2017

Helsinki-based edtech software company 3DBear Ltd has raised over one million euros of seed funding. Investors are New York -based Rethink Education VC, a publicly listed media and publishing company Keski-Pohjanmaan Kirjapaino Oyj, chairman of the Board of Directors of Basware Hannu Vaajoensuu through his investment company, angel investor Tero Lehtonen and an edtech investor and founder Mitch Weisburgh. Current investors Spinverse Group, Glyn Eggar, Kaisa Olkkonen and Veli-Pekka Saarnivaara made additional investments.