TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER AND TECHNOLOGY CLINICS Helsinki 8. May 2003 Tekes, National Technology Agency of Finland Juha Suuronen

Technology Clinics 1.Finland 2.Tekes 3.Budgeted Tekes funding for applied and industrial R&D 4.Base for Technology Transfer in Finland 5.Tekes Technology Clinics 6.Workflow in a Technology Clinic 7.Strenghts and Weaknesses 8.The Future of the Technology Transfer in Tekes

Finland

Tekes Tekes’ primary objective is to promote the competitiveness of Finnish industry and the service sector by technological means. Tekes is headquartered in Helsinki. Tekes has 14 regional units throughout Finland. In total, 315 people is working for Tekes. Four Tekes offices abroad: Brussels, Tokyo, San Jose, Silicon Valley and Washington D.C. Lapland Oulu Kajaani Seinäjoki Kuopio Jyväskylä Joensuu Mikkeli Tampere Pori Lappeenranta Turku Tekes, Head office, Helsinki Vaasa Lahti

Tekes Selective project funding Technology programmes Activation for innovation Development of the innovation environment International technological cooperation and inter- nationalisation of companies Functions

Budgeted Tekes funding for applied and industrial R&D Tekes received additional funding from EU Structural Funds, 5 million euros in 2000, 9 million euros in 2001 and 10 million euros in 2002 and Million euros National share of EU Structural Funds Industrial R&D loans Capital loans for R&D Industrial R&D grants Coordination of programmes Research funding

Base for Technology Transfer in Finland

Tekes Technology Clinics Overview Technology Clinic is a set actors consisting of coordinator, service providers, Tekes and SMEs in need of know-how and technology Main goal of the initiative is to promote adaptation of specified technologies for problem solving in SMEs in order to introduce new technological possibilities and to raise their awareness of external R&D resources. Technology Clinics are focused and selective in terms of technology themes Each clinic is in operation 2…3 years

Tekes Technology Clinics Matchmaker between research institutes/universities and companies not familiar dealing with researchers Access to the best experts in the country New customers for research institutions Rapid and flexible way to finance smallish problems

Tekes Technology Clinics Average costs around 12,000 euros, half paid by Tekes and half by the commissioning company Technology Clinic Initiative was launched in Technology Clinics in operation since the initiative was launched and some 850 assignments so far. All together 10 million € used, 5 million € of that granted by Tekes. Examples of clinics: Machine vision, Rapid prototyping, Noise and vibration, Food hygiene, Wood drying, Technology strategy for construction industry, Simulation etc.

Workflow in a Technology Clinic Setting up a clinic Choosing the theme (suggested by Tekes, research institute, university, company…). Marketing study in SMEs if needed. Choosing the coordinator, service providers and Tekes contact person And when the clinic has been set up 1.Marketing, brochures, seminars, newspapers… 2.Suitable problem in SME –contact to any party 3.Closer look at the problem 4.Offer from service provider to the SME 5.Approval of the assingment by Tekes 6.Agreement between parties 7.Work 8.Company gets the results 9.Customer will be charged 50 % of the price and Tekes will pay another 50 %

Strenghts and Weaknesses Strenghts Reduced bureaucracy in funding application process Rapid assingment approval and execution Flexible themes and organisation Effective tool for technology diffusion such as results cumulated in a national technology program Weaknesses Consept is rather push than pull operated => the theme and time window doesn’t meet all actual technological needs in SMEs Marketing is time consuming and hit rate is low Insufficient general awareness of technology clinics –what is a technology clinic and what clinics are ongoing at the moment? Challenges in SMEs Constrains: Lack of time, resources and money Multi problem environment –identifying focal problems Requirements for investment’s pay-off period are tight Tendency to do the R&D itself (learning by doing), not purchase

The Future of the Technology Transfer in Tekes Development Project in Tekes during spring 2003 Possible changes Themes => liberalization => more pull operated and at the same time broader time window for themes Assingnment application process more systematic More systematic way to diffuse results gained in a national technology programs More visibility in regions and regional needs taken into account (i.e. in polytechnics)