Insights

Do you know an exceptional CTO in Finland? We are now looking for nominations to find the CTO who is the most inspiring team-builder and leader, who adds significant value to the company through technology.  you can submit your nomination at http://www.ctoforum.fi/nominate. Anyone who is responsible for their company’s technology in Finland is eligible. The selection criteria are very comprehensive and are divided into three section: the person, the CTO's company and societal impact.

Eyal Shimoni, CTO of Strauss Group and Sebastien Equis, CTO of Nanolive have been awarded with the title European Chief Technology Officer of the Year 2017 in their respective categories: large corporations and SMEs. The awards ceremony took place during the CTO Forum 2017 at Empa Academy, Zurich, Switzerland on October 26^th, 2017. Both awardees serve as prominent role models fuelling growth and strengthening European innovation and technology leadership.

Companies are now investing in digitalisation due to the competitive advantage and customer value it brings and not due to cost savings. Finnish CTOs believe that the key challenge in digitalisation is to develop related knowledge and skills. The latest CTO Survey conducted by Spinverse, Tekes and Technology Industries of Finland focused on how digitalisation transforms Finnish companies.

During the summer, Spinverse Innovation Management and Spinverse Management Consulting have joined forces and are now Spinverse Oy.  Spinvese is now better equipped to offer its customers expertise to fulfill their requirements in today’s fast-paced global environment.

There is a growing need worldwide for digital health solutions. A new innovation ecosystem coordinated by HUS (The Hospital District of Helsinki and Uusimaa) called CleverHealth Network, brings together the health technology knowhow, healthcare professionals and the precise healthcare data of HUS. The aim of the CleverHealth Network is a turnover of 11 billion euro and export earnings of 7,7 billion euro for the companies in the ecosystem.

EuroNanoForum 2017 event concluded on 23^rd of June in Valletta, Malta after three successful conference and exhibition days that attracted participants from over 40 countries and brought nanotechnology and open innovations in focus to strengthen the competitiveness of European manufacturing industries. In addition to being a co-organiser of the event, Spinverse took an active participant role as well, with Managing Director Laura Koponen, headlining a plenary session on "nanotechnologies for industrial success".

SME Instrument has gained great first results, proving its worth in the European innovation ecosystem, stated European Commission's report "Accelerating Innovation in Europe". The SME Instrument is EU’s first research and innovation funding programme for high potential and high risk disruptive innovation in single SMEs. Part of Horizon 2020, the 80 B€ funding program is targeted for small and medium-sized businesses with high growth potential and global ambitions.

Vast amounts of plastics are used on a daily basis resulting in heavy impacts on the environment. The groundbreaking PEFerence project provides relief to the situation: applications such as packing materials, plastic bottles, personal and home care products and foil pouches can be produced from bio-based plastic, polyethylenefuranoate (PEF). Specifically, PEF can replace the most commonly used plastic, PET, in e.g. soda bottles and other packaging materials. The world's first industrial scale biorefinery plant, which will be built by the PEFerence project, can also produce other bio-based plastics for e.g. Lego bricks and industrial applications.  The products made of PEF will significantly help to replace fossil-based packaging materials and to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Spinverse leads the project management of PEFerence, which has been awarded with 25M€ from European Joint Undertaking on Bio-Based Industries (BBI).

Spring 2017 brought many reasons to celebrate at Spinverse. Firstly, a 10-year anniversary celebration for Maria Papina, a consultant at Spinverse. She started work as a summer trainee at Spinverse 10 years ago in May 2007. The company has gone through quite a few changes since then, including the growth to a team of over 50 people in various countries.

Two large industry-driven DIMECC innovation programs led by Spinverse have successfully boosted both science and competitivity of the manufacturing industry in Finland through application-driven digitalized material R&D&I.