EXPERIENCES OF LAHTI AND THE FINNISH CLEANTECH CLUSTER

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1 3rd EU-Russia Innovation Forum - Lappeenranta Workshop How can public policies boost clusters of excellence through Smart Specialization Strategies? EXPERIENCES OF LAHTI AND THE FINNISH CLEANTECH CLUSTER Mika Sulkinoja Director, Finnish Cleantech Cluster Programme Powered by Lahti Science and Business Park

2 One of the most successful incubators for new firms are industrial clusters combining regional skills, specialized services, venture capital, universities and research labs The Economist April 21-27, 2012

3 TOWARDS SMART SPECIALISATION case Lahti BEFORE Tradional industries No own university Unable to focus NOW Practice based innovation system Clear focus Respected center of industrial design Critical mass of cleantech business Lahti is one of Europe s leading regions of 3rd generation innovation system Professor Phil Cooke, Cardiff University

4 COMPETENCE CLUSTERS IN FINLAND - Turning top-level expertise into new business and jobs Cleantech Digibusiness Energy Technology Food Development Forest Industry HealthBio Health and Well-being Intelligent Machines Living Business Maritime Nanotechnology Tourism and Experience Management Ubiquitous Computing

5 The Finnish Cleantech Cluster Branches Lahti, the coordinator Promoting venture capital and internationalizing business operations of cleantech companies. Kuopio Creating business with top research in environmental health. Oulu Developing business in water technology and catalytic air purification technology. Uusimaa Combining ICT with environmental monitoring and energy efficiency in urban areas.

6 FINNISH CLEANTECH CLUSTER - Powered by Lahti Science and Business Park GO GLOBAL WITH THE CLUSTER Focus on BRIC countries Global Cleantech Cluster Association EU Networks and Projects PLATFORM FOR VENTYRE CAPITAL AND CLEANTECH COMPANIES Cleantech Venture Days Nordic Cleantech Open Later Stage Award Finnish Cleantech Cluster was ranked the 3rd best Cleantech organization globally in 2010 by Sustainable World Capital, USA.

7 FINNISH CLEANTECH CLUSTER - Role in the Finnish business development ecosystem NEW BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES Weak market signals - foresight Conceptualization of business opportunities e.g. Smart Cleantech Living Labs ja demo-platforms GROWTH - PROMOTION OF VENTURE CAPITAL INTO CLEANTECH Incubation and Coaching Competions: Nordic Cleantech Open & Later Stage Award Events: Cleantech Venture Day INTERNATIONALIZATION Authority services for SMEs China and Russia Finnish Environmental Cluster for China Russia: International Advanced Water Technology Centre, Tatarstan India, USA etc. on ad hoc basis POSITIONING OF THE CLEANTECH CLUSTER Nordic Countries: Cleantech Scandinavia and Nordic Cleantech Alliance EU: Networks and influencing policy frameworks via EU initiatives and projects Global: Global Cleantech Cluster Association - GCCA

8 FINNISH CLEANTECH CLUSTER - Results Participating Companies New companies New jobs New projects Tekes & EU research funds EU structural funds Tekes & EU research funds EU structural funds 16 MEUR 24.8 MEUR 11.5 MEUR 23.5 MEUR

9 CLUSTER S INTERNATIONAL COLLABORATION - International Advanced Water Technologies Centre with St. Petersburg Vodokanal Background: 20 years of cooperation between the St. Petersburg water utility and international partners initiated major investments The adoption of new ways to manage and operate the company: St. Petersburg water plant became the leading institution in its field IAWTC was iniatiated under Northern Dimension Business Council Objective: exchange of knowhow on modern water technologies IAWTC kick-started in 2011 with over 1300 participants!

10 CLUSTER S INTERNATIONAL COLLABORATION - Tatarstan Cooperation agreement with Technopark Idea Technology and business radar working two ways from and to Tatarstan Cleantech Environmental monitoring Waste and waste-to-energy Nanotechnology

11 EU PROJECTS SUPPORTING CLUSTER FORMATION - BSR Star Dust - Clean Water pilot The vision: to create a Clean Water Cluster with new and innovative technologies, products and services. Co-financed by the European Union's Baltic Sea Region Programme Partners: Lahti Science and Business Park, Finland, Institute of Oceanology, Poland, Sustainable Sweden Southeast, Sweden, Kaunas University, Lithuania

12 EU PROJECTS SUPPORTING CLUSTER FORMATION - EcoCluP Aiming to test and implement innovation services and tools supporting the growth and internationalisation of eco-innovative companies across Europe: Finland, Sweden, Denmark, UK, France, Spain, Germany, Austria, Hungary and The Netherlands. Internationalization workshops and match-making Training: How to Attract Investors Risk and Innovation management tools

13 Finnish Cleantech Cluster Founding Partner of Global Cleantech Cluster Association

14 GCCA - exchange of best practises - implications for Policy Design 1. Wide range of potentially successful, but not widely replicable models. 1. Need to promote richness in diversity, allow local strengths to be leveraged, and enable coopetition instead of competition between clusters. 2. Enable public-private partnerships, mobilize financing through loans and private capital, incentivize green procurement targets through market-based strategies. 3. If (private) equity finance is the objective, the cluster portfolio needs to match what the money wants.

15 Spasiiba! Lahti Science and Business Park Ltd Niemenkatu 73, FI LAHTI FINLAND Fax info@lahtisbp.fi